By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
PINEVILLE – As he held his son’s hand in the baptistery waters, Stewart Holloway had just one thought right before the big moment.
“Take it in. This only happens once.”
The moment that happened in late October was surreal, said Holloway, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pineville where the baptism occurred. Having baptized so many at the church before, Holloway said he always wondered what it would be like to baptize his own son one day. He found out on Oct. 25 when he baptized Zach.
“After the baptism we were in the back and Zach told me this was Daddy and Zach time,” Holloway said. “It was the best Daddy and Zach time ever.”
Immediately following the Sunday morning worship service, around 100 people attended a special party in honor of the baptism. Held in the church fellowship hall, the reception featured decorations, refreshments, a photo album and time with people who made a spiritual impact in the life of Zach.
The baptism of his son was the sixth one to take place since late September at First Baptist Pineville. When he first became pastor of the church in 2008, they baptized one. The following year, that number jumped to 14.
Last year, 22 were baptized at First Baptist Pineville.
The reason for the increase, Holloway said, is a greater emphasis on baptisms.
At First Baptist Pineville, different milestones are celebrated in a child’s life. Baptism is the second milestone, behind a parent-child dedication.
Holloway believes the more exposure children have to the Gospel through certain events such as Vacation Bible School, missions’ classes and Sunday school, the better foundation they will have for accepting Christ and following through with believer’s baptism.
“Children in our church are around the Gospel constantly, but it’s not a high-pressure thing,” Holloway said. “As other kids trust Christ and baptisms are kept in front of the church, it prompts questions. We then share what it means to be baptized. And that sometimes leads to them accepting Christ and going through baptism.”
Ryan Smithee, minister to students at First Baptist Pineville, said his six-year-old daughter’s exposure to various spiritual activities including baptisms played a part in her accepting Christ as her personal Savior and Lord. After talking with Smithee and his wife for several months, his daughter, Jaydan, came forward during one of the Sunday morning services to declare to her church that she was now a Christ-follower. A month later, Smithee baptized her.
Smithee, who has baptized all three of his daughters along with his wife, called it one of the greatest honors in his lifetime.
“It’s such a blessing and humbling to discuss baptism with my wife as she accepted Christ as a teenager and had never been baptized after that decision, then one by one see all three of my girls discover their need for a relationship with Jesus, their salvation, baptism, and then the discipling process begins,” he said. “They all have so much trust in Jesus and I pray every day that God gives me the wisdom to lead them in His footsteps.”
Post-baptism celebrations
Just like the post-baptism celebration for Holloway’s son, the church encourages others to do the same after their children participate in this special moment.
Holloway said baptisms are one of the most important milestones in a child’s life and that having a huge celebration with those who have impacted the person is something First Baptist Pineville has decided to emphasize.
“We encourage our parents to make this a big deal,” Holloway said. “Most of us celebrate birthdays and award ceremonies, so it should be the same for a baptism.”
Once a child or adult is baptized, discipleship follows: younger children participate in a new believer’s class, using the “I’m A Christian Now” book; a youth minister disciples teens as new Christ-followers; adults are paired up with another believer for one-to-one discipleship.
“You’ve got to know what you believe and why you believe it,” Holloway said. “It helps you be grounded in the faith. One of my frustrations as a kid is I wasn’t discipled after I was baptized. I was thinking then there should be something else. There was a hunger and desire. At our church, after being baptized, you are able to attach onto that initial desire and to grow and move forward and connect right then.”
