A Reason to Memorize
"I think I should be baptized again. I was only 12 when I became a Christian, and I didn't know what I was doing."
Ministers often hear the refrain: "I was so young. I don't know if I was sincere. I was only going along with my friends."
Gary Fenner, minister at Fairmount Christian Church in Richmond, Virginia, found so many people in their teens and twenties questioning their earlier baptism that he decided to do something about it.
"Four years ago I started meeting with every child (age 13 and under) wanting to be baptized," he says. "After discussing why they want to become a Christian, I have them put their reasons down in writing."
The children list their reasons on church stationery. Then Fenner seals each personalized testimony in a church envelope and attaches a note to the outside: "These are my thoughts when I became a Christian." The envelope is given to the child or, for younger children, sent home to the parents for safekeeping.
"When they grow older," says Fenner, "if they ever have doubts about whether they understood what they were doing, they can open it and read what their faith meant to them."
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,358 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
