Every year we celebrate a “Stand Up Sunday” at Hope Fellowship. The name comes from the old hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and that’s exactly what happens. Men, women and children stand up and declare their faith in Jesus. They bring their young children to receive the promises of God through baptism. Those who have never been baptized are given the opportunity to be baptized, and those who received the sacrament of baptism as infants are given the opportunity to experience a reaffirmation of their baptism. And those of us sitting in the chairs hear about the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those bold enough to stand up and speak.
This year we started early, as two sisters professed their faith in Jesus and brought their young children for baptism early in May.
On Stand Up Sunday we had 27 people give their testimonies and one child was baptized. Several sibling groups gave their testimonies, new Christians shared, and people who have been Christian for many years also shared their testimonies and the working of God in their lives. Today we celebrate with Michael as he makes his stand for Jesus, as well as with two families as they bring infant daughters for baptism.
After the services on May 29 we were invited forward to hug, shake hands and congratulate the men and women who gave their testimonies. But really, if you think about it, those giving their testimonies should be congratulating the rest of us! We are blessed to have these new members at Hope Fellowship and are thrilled to see God’s hand at work in their lives. It’s exciting to see people commit or recommit their lives to Jesus and to know that we get to do this life with Jesus together. I made that comment to Gary as we stood in line after the service on May 29, while waiting to congratulate the next person. Whereupon Josh stuck out his hand, shook mine and gravely said, “Congratulations!”.
- Evelyn
This year we started early, as two sisters professed their faith in Jesus and brought their young children for baptism early in May.
On Stand Up Sunday we had 27 people give their testimonies and one child was baptized. Several sibling groups gave their testimonies, new Christians shared, and people who have been Christian for many years also shared their testimonies and the working of God in their lives. Today we celebrate with Michael as he makes his stand for Jesus, as well as with two families as they bring infant daughters for baptism.
After the services on May 29 we were invited forward to hug, shake hands and congratulate the men and women who gave their testimonies. But really, if you think about it, those giving their testimonies should be congratulating the rest of us! We are blessed to have these new members at Hope Fellowship and are thrilled to see God’s hand at work in their lives. It’s exciting to see people commit or recommit their lives to Jesus and to know that we get to do this life with Jesus together. I made that comment to Gary as we stood in line after the service on May 29, while waiting to congratulate the next person. Whereupon Josh stuck out his hand, shook mine and gravely said, “Congratulations!”.
- Evelyn
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