Your Baptism Encourages Others!

“On the Sabbath we (Paul and his missionary companions) went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household…”
Acts 16:13-15a (NLT)

Each of Paul’s missionary journeys, chronicled in the Book of Acts, resulted in miraculous encounters of life change as he shared the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. Among those was a successful businesswoman named Lydia, in Acts 16. God brought her all the way to Greece so that she might hear the Gospel and receive Jesus as her Savior!  Wow! Talk about a “Divine Appointment!”  A Divine Appointment is when a seeking soul crosses the path of a willing witness and experiences the forgiveness of a gracious God! Lydia was called "a worshiper of God," a Gentile who was not a full Jewish proselyte but who openly worshiped with the Jews. She was seeking truth. Because God always honors the desire of a searching heart, He sent Paul and his missionary team to Philippi. This was a major city in the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. Paul met Lydia there and shared with her the glorious truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. God opened her heart to receive Christ as her personal Savior and Messiah, and her life was forever changed! She boldly identified with Christ by being baptized in the river just outside the city. Her faith and baptism made a significant impact on other members of her household who were baptized as well!

One of the great joys of Super Summer Baptism at Woodlands Church each year is to witness the domino effect one person’s faith can have on others. Your baptism encourages others. That was the case for a man in his 40s who called the church and asked if we could do his mother’s funeral service the week before Super Summer Baptism. But the real story started 16 years prior on June 7, 2009. A woman gave her heart to Christ, and as an act of obedience, she chose to get baptized. She had lived a difficult life, walking through many struggles, but God brought her healing and restoration. Fast forward 16 years. Her 40-year-old son was now interested in getting baptized as well. He said 16 years ago, a wonderful volunteer named Dennis had baptized her. A month ago, she saw Dennis at church and said she would like him to baptize her son. He agreed, and they exchanged information. Before they could reconnect, she passed away. Her son wanted to honor his mom and honor God by getting baptized. He came up to the church early on a Saturday morning to search for Dennis. He found a gentleman who knew Dennis and got them connected. Dennis contacted one of our pastors who did his mother’s funeral on the Thursday before Super Summer Baptism. As part of the message, the pastor shared about her baptism. On that Saturday, June 7, 2025, 16 years to the day, the very same person baptized her son. There were 10 to 15 friends and family members who were at the funeral that came to support him. I believe God smiled on the son as he got baptized, reminding him that his mom is healed and in his presence.

Just as Lydia’s faith and baptism influenced her household, this mother’s faith and baptism encouraged her son to take that step of obedience. Your decision could impact the eternity of others. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it than at Super Summer Baptism 2 this weekend at Woodlands Church!  Why not invite a friend or family member to join you? You can register now.

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.