By Jana Sowards
LAKE ARCADIA, Oklahoma--"In all my 35 years in the ministry, this day has been the most rewarding," said pastor Don Lawson Sept. 8 after baptizing seven people who ranged in age from 13 years old to their mid-20s.
The baptisms took place on the final day of a youth retreat for the Oklahoma City church.
The Sept. 6 to 8 retreat was a Christ-centered camp that began as about 20 teens arrived Friday night for hot dogs, roasted marshmallows and visiting. By Saturday afternoon attendance had risen to 50 for a worship service conducted by John Abrell, youth ministries director. The service began with 30 minutes of praise and worship. Afterward the teens went to the nearby town of Edmond for pizza.
The teens gathered around a camp fire that evening for a praise and worship service that included a mixture of contemporary and inspirational music.
Sandy Heidrich read a couple of scriptures from Psalms about worship, then handed out words to the songs they were to sing. The teens were asked to pay close attention to the words and feel free to sing, clap, dance or raise their hands in worship.
Toward the end of the service some of the teens were in tears. Mr. Abrell invited those who would like to commit or recommit their lives to Christ to come to the front during the last song, "I Have Decided." About 20 responded.
After the song Mr. Abrell led the group in a prayer of repentance and commitment. Afterward there were tears and hugs. Hearts were being knit together by the Holy Spirit, bonding the youths and adults as well.
At 10 a.m. the next day, the baptism service was conducted. The group gathered on the water's edge and sang "Bind Us Together."
Mr. Lawson then gathered those to be baptized. He spoke for a moment and then asked if any of the seven wanted to speak.
Lesa Wilson expressed her feelings of how the Holy Spirit had brought her to this moment during a sermon at church a few weeks earlier.
Mr. Lawson and Mr. Abrell took the seven into deeper water and a hush fell over the crowd. As each baptism took place members on the shore applauded.
Onlookers watched from the road above the camp, in boats and along the shore.
When it was over and all had returned to shore, there were hugs and tears for all.
A great bonding took place that weekend, and all present were touched in some way. It was a great day for the kingdom of our Lord, the church, those who were baptized and their families.
The seven who were baptized that day are Sara Kelley, Rachel Heidrich, Daniel Heidrich, Joshua Sowards, Elizabeth Sowards, Kimberly Zerbe and Lesa Wilson.
A week later two more teens were baptized: Brandy McCart and Jo Ellen Lenhart.
Jana Sowards is a member who attends the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, church.
Dec. 17, 1996, Worldwide News, page 6
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