For the past three years we’ve had over 1,000 baptisms a year. We love seeing people give their life over to Jesus, move from death to life, and get dunked. Recently, we’ve had baptisms at our local churches. Here are a few stories from these Sundays:
- At Mars Hill Portland, a man was struggling in Redemption Groups. He’d been combative, so two leaders sat him down to talk through the issues one Sunday. As the conversation went on, it became apparent he didn’t understand important pieces of the gospel and had never yielded his life to Jesus. Deeply convicted by their words and the sermon, the man became a Christian. In response he said, “If I’m united with Jesus in his death and raised up to new life through his resurrection, is there any reason why I shouldn’t get baptized right now?” He was baptized a few minutes later!
- At Mars Hill Everett, a woman came up to Pastor Ryan and shared her life. Two years ago, she was in an abusive relationship when Jesus saved her, and today she needed to repent and be baptized in obedience to Jesus. At six months pregnant, she got into the tank and was baptized. Her boyfriend and baby’s father now wants to step up, marry her, and be a father to their unborn daughter.
- An intern at Mars Hill U-District had been praying for her roommate to become a Christian. That Sunday, the roommate asked Jesus to save her and was baptized!
- Last month, a couple’s marriage was hanging by its last string. The husband wanted nothing to do with religion, while the wife had attended a Community Group a few times. They went to Mars Hill Olympia to seek out help. Jesus saved the husband and both were baptized! Leaders at Olympia have been counseling the couple and invited them to start going to Community Group consistently.
- A volunteer of Mars Hill Rainier Valley had been previously talking with his mom about Jesus. The conversations were met with resistance, but that Sunday the Holy Spirit convicted her through the sermon and she asked Jesus to save her. Her son got in the tank and baptized her that morning.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving people at Mars Hill Church!
