When was the last time you celebrated a life-changing event? How many people did you celebrate with, and how many people went through that same event with you? Most major celebrations in life revolve around personal accomplishments or achievements. Graduation, marriage, the birth of children, career milestones, or anniversaries are all good causes to celebrate and be cheerful, but when was the last time you shared a deeply personal event with someone going through the same moment?
Last month, Montana Rescue Mission saw not just one, but nine baptisms. Our Chaplain, Pastor P., and Executive Director Dyann performed the baptisms, and nine people with different backgrounds and stories expressed their inward dedication to a relationship with Jesus.
As a Christ-centered mission, our first goal is to help lift people out of homelessness, but our final hope is that the individuals we see day to day, no matter where they are in life, will experience the life-altering presence of the living God in Jesus Christ.
The moment began when one person told Pastor P. she wanted to be baptized. Soon, other shelter guests shared the same desire to make a public declaration of faith. After attending a class on the meaning of baptism, seven shelter guests and two staff members committed or recommitted their lives to Christ. During the ceremony, before each person was immersed, guests and staff shared what baptism meant to them and offered their testimonies to those gathered.
After the baptisms were over, everyone in attendance got the chance to celebrate with burgers, homemade potato salad, and even cake. The celebration, perhaps, was the most impactful portion of the ceremony for our guests. It was a chance to genuinely celebrate the renewal of life in an everlasting God among friends and newfound family.
To that point, we want to say, God worked through you! Our donors, volunteers, and the greater Billings community have stood by Montana Rescue Mission through thick and thin, paving the way for us to provide this opportunity to those we serve. Now, we are seeing the Kingdom grow in earnest thanks to you!
