Jeff's Blog: 28 or 30 Baptisms

I'm still trying to confirm the stats but it was somewhere between 28-30 people baptized this weekend at Alive Church. What's impressive is how lives have been changed as decisions have been made to follow Jesus and to take this Next Step of baptism. I have to share a couple of stories, at least as an overview, that were so moving to me this weekend. The first is of a family reunited after many years and they have made faith decsions to follow Jesus over the last couple of months. This weekend Dad, the son and his family were all baptized. Hearing the story from the daughter who has been praying for them all for so many years is overwhelming. God answers prayers. There were several other entire families or parent/kid combinations that have made recent decisions to follow Jesus that were baptized this weekend - this is why we do this - seeing people. entire families, come Alive from hopelessness to hope in Jesus!

• Baptism kits - for the first time we were prepared with what we are calling batism kits for those who felt led to get baptized but did not come prepared. The kit included shorts, an Alive Church tee shirt and an Alive Church towel. I was thrilled as a few people obeyed the Lord and took the next steps in their faith by getting the kit and getting baptized even though they did not come prepared with dry clothes. As a church this is just one more way we can continue to remove barriers that keep people from following Jesus.



• I have had alot of cake this weeken!d. Baptisum is a time of celebration so we party, not only with worship and applause but with cake. One of the things I love is seeing everyone sign the certificates. All of the pastors and friends sign certificates for those who were baptized. If you have never had a chance to do that - next time don't miss it - many write notes of encouragement on the certificates as a memory of the occasion.



• Reuniting and Refocusing - while it was sad that it was our last weekend to broadcast to the Twin Peaks campus, it is also a time of renewal, reuniting and refocus. I am looking forward to having everyone together next weekend on one campus. Service times will be the same. 5pm Saturday and Sunday 9:30 and 11.



• All New Weekend Talk Series: "Why". This weekend I started the new weekend talk series called "Why" as we asked the question "Why Don't I Always Feel God?" Many of you were very encouraged as we started this series. It was a time to build our faith - if you missed it I encourage you to go to Alive Church.com and watch the weekend talk. Next weekend we are going to talk about the question: "Why Didn't God Answer My Prayer?" Remember, if the weekend talk encourges you, it will encourage your friends, neighbors, co-workers and loved ones. Take a min and invite someone to join you at a servie next weekend - they will be gald you did!!!