CC Pastors Baptize in UK
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Photos courtesy of CC Plymouth.
On a sunny day in May on Bigbury Beach in Devon, England, Calvary Chapel pastors were prepared and eager to perform many baptisms on the shoreline. Food and Bibles were on standby for the 60 believers expected to show up for this event.
However, by the end of the day, 170 had been immersed in the sea and had made a public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ.
“Here in the United Kingdom (UK), the churches are a bit legalistic, charging fees and demanding people take classes before they will baptize anyone,” explained Pastor Kenny Pope of Calvary Chapel Plymouth, England, offering insight on the spiritual state of the country. “So we opened it up as an outreach. We purchased 200 hamburgers, 60 sausages, 40 hotdogs and had a barbeque to feed anyone who would come.”
‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16
It is no small task to talk with 170 believers, ensure that they know the decision that they are making, and get out in the water, according to Kenny. He reached out to two other nearby CC pastors for help. Pastors Dan Arnold from Calvary Chapel Bristol, and Andy Ley from Calvary Chapel Exeter came to fellowship with the church on the beach and lend a hand. Additionally, two elders and believer Merlin Kraft from CC Plymouth assisted.
“We purchased 100 Bibles and New Believer Studies to hand out to all that came,” Pastor Kenny noted. “We also gave out a list of all the Calvary Chapels in the UK.”
It’s not a trivial decision to make a public declaration of faith and get baptized, Kenny acknowledged. Each pastor made the time to talk with the gathered believers about the choice that they were making that day on the sand. Kenny added, “We shared the Gospel at the beginning; three people who were just at the beach for the day came to Jesus! The power of the Word of God and the love of the brethren was evident on the beach.”
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So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Romans 10:17-18
Interest in the baptisms began when Merlin Kraft posted on his online ministry, BibleLadUK, that his church was hosting this event. He admitted that he didn’t expect the flood of responses that reached him after that post. “But the result was clear, God is working the hearts of believers in the UK. People traveled from all over the country to reach Bigbury Beach, even walking for hours when buses or cars were unavailable.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17
Calvary Chapel pastors in the UK will continue to provide opportunities for those who want to be baptized. The next planned baptism, for people responding to Merlin’s posts on BibleLadUK, will occur on October 10, hosted by Pastor Dave Sylvester of Calvary Chapel York, England.
youtube.com/@bibleladuk
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