Holy Water

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Yesterday I shared that I was baptized at the age of 12 years old. I took bible studies from a pastor of a Seventh Day Adventist church in Inglewood, California. This church was the church my family attended for many years. We made a lot of friends there. I had several mentors who took me under their wings and they showed me the love of Jesus. It seemed everyone was happy and I wanted to learn why. Through bible studies I learned what it meant to be a Christian. So through the encouragement of the Pastor, my parents and my wonderful mentoring friends, I was baptized as a Seventh Day Adventist. I held on to that faith and religion for many years until 1977. I never quite took on the whole vegetarian, non-make up or non-jewelry religion. I was what they referred to as a rebel. From Friday sunset until Saturday sunset, we weren't allowed to watch tv or do anything outside of worshipping and thinking of religion and Jesus. We observed the Sabbath. So what happened in 1977? I was a senior in high school and I had a boyfriend who attended the Calvary Chapel Church. He took me several times with him to church. I LOVED IT!!!

I remember during the time I was a practicing SDA, my family would go to the beach and I would be taken in by a group of people who were congregating at Pirate's Cove and performing baptisms. I would later learn that this was the "Calvary Chapel" group that my Mom referred to as heathens at the time. She was set in her ways as an Adventist. She thought that the radical music they were worshipping to was blasphemy because it had a youthful sound. She said they speak in tongues and do things outside the Bible. Oh really? Later as a senior, I would find out for myself what was happening with Calvary Chapel. I flipped between my "religions". One of the gatherings my friend took me to was where Pastor Greg Laurie was preaching, there was worship music and his message touched my soul. I answered the alter call there and again, at one of the Harvest Crusades when I was well into my twenties or early thirties.

In fact, I'll share that in college, I took Religion in America and were my eyes opened. I continued my religion journey. My first marriage, which was short, my husband was a "practicing" Mormon. So I studied with the Mormons and was rebaptized. After that baptism, I told my then husband that it just didn't feel right to be baptized after being baptized at 12 years old. Let me just add that as a baby, my mother had me baptized by the Catholic Church (I love the smell of holy water.) and I had a Godfather and Godmother that to this day, even though I am now a non-denominational protestant, I have never discounted their roles in my life. They brought me much joy and direction in my life that I am forever grateful for to this day. I studied with the Jehovah Witnesses, Southern Baptists, Pentecostals -- just to name a few. As a protestant, I recognize my 12 year old baptism the one that stuck.

In my older years, I have recognized Calvary Chapel to be the church that best fits my belief system. As a backslider, I did the best I could to keep my children engaged in a church atmosphere. When they turned 15, they were given the choice to attend or not. Probably one of my biggest regrets. I should have forced them to go with me until they left the nest. I never forced my children to be baptized, but that doesn't mean that I don't pray for their souls on a daily basis in the hopes that those mustard seeds grow.

My 12 year old baptism was very formal. It was in a baptismal that was warmed, I wore a black robe, and I was buried in my 12 years of sinful old self and reborn again. I never took that lightly. I recognized that from that point on (even before then) that I was a child of God and that because Jesus died for my sins that I belonged to the Family of God. Even in my imperfection, I have never denied my faith and love for the Lord.

I have to tell you that I wished I had gotten baptized at Pirate's Cove by Pastor Greg Laurie as he has had the biggest influence in opening my eyes and giving me the awesome relationship I have with Christ. His teachings of the scripture intrigue me and brings the Bible to life. He teaches in a way I can understand and relate. I found out that in the 70's when I glanced over at the group of people being baptized, there was a Jesus Revolution happening. God gave me a Godwink as to who would become a leader of a church that I love.

The reason I got baptized is in accordance to scripture -- John 3:5 "Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." NKJV





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