Intergenerational, Inspirational

What is a baptistry? If your faith tradition sprinkles for baptism, you may only be familiar with a baptismal font. But churches that immerse often have a deep pool of water near the front of the sanctuary. In our Cincinnati church, the Central Church if Christ, the baptistry is almost always filled, ready for anyone who wishes to be “buried with Christ” in baptism.

When we arrived three weeks ago, I noticed that the baptistry at Igreja Comunicade de Cristo was filled with red and white balloons! Evidently after a party someone wasn’t sure what to do with the balloons, so they left them there. Occasionally after the Sunday morning assembly, we’d hear a “Pop!” and see a youngster scurrying away or  looking toward a parent in panic. Not my problem.

And then this week Josh and Gina finally agreed to Knox’s pleas from the last few years. He could be baptized. They asked him if he wanted to be baptized  here or wait till he was home. He did not want to wait.

So Sunday afternoon I got to work. I popped 90 balloons and cleaned out the mess, then scrubbed the baptistry with Pine Sol. I turned the faucet. No water emerged.

I emailed Cris, our missionary contact, and she said there was an outside valve, so Kinley and I took on the task. We searched for 30 minutes or more and finally gave up. We threaded a narrow garden hose through a window and were glad we’d started early. Then she noticed that the water was flowing out of the drain.  She went outside and found a stream of water exiting the building and turned that valve off.

i was resigned to the hose approach, but Kinley was determined. Even as dark descended, which it does very quickly here, she kept searching and finally yelled, “Namma! Turn on the faucet again!”

i did, and behold! Water gushed forth. Kinley shouted in triumph! So we put the garden hose away and watched the water get deeper. It was wonderful that Kinley could have an important part in the logistics of her little brother’s baptism.

Knox requested that two readers/friends be invited and others came also. It was a blessed gathering as we sang, at Knox’s request, “In Christ Alone.”  Then Knox confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  He and Josh went down into the water and Josh immersed him for the forgiveness of his sins. Sins? We might not think of  an almost-eight-year-old as having sins, but he did, and he was glad to be rid of them.

As they dried off a bit, Steve led “Trust and Obey” and then “I Love You, Lord,” one of Knox’s favorites. We stood around and various ones gave him words of encouragement and affirmation.

A child’s birth is often referred to as “a blessed event.” This child’s birth into the kingdom of God was truly a blessed event for him and all who know him.  Thank you, God, for the faith of a child!

“And a little child shall lead them…”  Isaiah 11:6c