River Baptism

Several of the Youth of St. Andrews UMC, who had finished their confirmation class, decided they wanted to be baptized in the river.
So the entire Sunday morning service packed up and moved to the river. The retiring pastor was hospitalized and he asked me to do the praching. Tom Boggs, a retired Methodist pastor, conducted the Baptism.

People brought their lawn chairs, the choir sang, and they brought a podium for the preacher. When it came time for the offering we realized that we had forgotten an offering plate. So, we borrowed someone's hat and passed the hat!
They had dug out a place in the creek and piled stones to make a dam to make it deep enough to baptize.

Brandon Wyatt was the first one to be baptized and he got a surprise. Pastor Boggs triple dipped them. He dipped them one time for each; the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.



Pastor Boggs triple dipped them. He dipped them one time for each; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Boggs assistant is Bill Wyatt, the PPR chair for the Mount Airy Charge. He had the privilege of helping to baptize his son. Too Cool!

Next was Kelsey Adams. Even thought it was a warm June day, the water was still cold. At least that was the report I got. I decided not to check.

Let's just say no one stayed in the water any longer than they had to.


Our final youth being baptized was Dan Nuckols.

Even with the chilly waters, everyone came out of the water with a smile.

It was one of those really special days that you know folks won't forget. It just had that incredible New testament church feel to it. I was blessed to be able to participate, it was my first sense of what a blessing this whole new experience was going to be for me. God is good, all the time!

Dan Nuckols, Pastor Tom Boggs, Kelsey Adams, Bill Wyatt, Brandon Wyatt