Baptism at Grace Baptist Church

Today, three young girls stepped down into the small baptismal pool at Grace Baptist Church. Pastor David Braneky said a few words, led a prayer, then gently guided each girl under the water and up again. 

For those not familiar with Baptists, the basic tenets of our faith include the attainment of salvation through faith in God and Jesus Christ. We also believe in the Bible. We differ from many Protestants believing that the person being baptized needs to be wholly immersed in water. 

The immersion represents the resurrection of Christ and also being born anew into a committed life of Christian faith. 

I looked at our humble baptismal pool and thought of the church when it was in the city in the building that is now Temple Performing Arts Center. In the interviews for the book, so many have recalled it in such detail that I can envision it. 

The entire design of the Baptist Temple was more like an auditorium than a normal church. Conwell, our famous fourth pastor, did not want the formal stiffness of his childhood church. Instead of hard pews, the seats were plush red velvet. The sanctuary could hold 3,000. Many children and adults chose to be baptized, or maybe it was encouraged, on Easter Sunday. 

The pulpit floor would be removed for the baptismal service. The entire length of the front of the auditorium was removed, and underneath lie the baptismal pool.  Palms, greenery, and flowers adorned the pool. Conwell tried to emulate the beauty of the river Jordan in its design. The baptismal candidate would enter from one side, wade slowly to the pastor, who'd then immerse them, symbolizing resurrection and a commitment to Christianity. The person would then wade slowly to the other side. Rose petals floated in the pool. As the newly baptized person waded to the exit area at the other end of the pool, they are handed a rose dipped in the water.

While the current baptismal pool does not have the elaborateness of the city church, it still is beautiful. It's beautiful in its symbolism. It's beautiful in the milestone in the young person's life. It's beautiful in the life of the church. 



 

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