NewSpring Church, a rapidly growing Southern Baptist church in Anderson, South Carolina, recently hosted a baptism “tailgate party” on their parking lot. They set up three above-ground swimming pools and invited everyone to come before the baptism and “party on the parking lot.” People showed up with RV’s, lawn chairs, and cooking tents. many watched football games on their TV’s as they cooked and awaited the beginning of the baptism service. People shared the fruits of their grills. It was, apparently, a very festive, gala atmosphere.

Then they began to baptize. It took six staff ministers 90 minutes to … get this … baptize 562 people! Approximately 800 people had accepted Christ during a recent sermon series preached by senior pastor Perry Noble.

But … wait a minute … aren’t we supposed to hide within the “inner sanctums” of our churches to baptize? Aren’t we supposed to gather quietly on a Sunday evening, turn down all the lights, fire up a little background organ music, and shine a spotlight on the people being baptized?

I think not. I like NewSpring’s approach. Let’s shine our baptism “spotlights” on Jesus … in public … for the whole world to see.

Can they do that? You bet they can!

May all of our churches truly celebrate baptism!

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