For the first time since its founding, CHC’s Jesus For All Minds (JAMs) service held its first water baptism for 34 of its members.
Water baptism is a significant milestone for all born-again believers: through baptism, a believer identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a public declaration of one’s faith in Jesus Christ.
On Dec 8 and 9, 2018, 34 members from of City Harvest Church’s Jesus for All Minds service made this public declaration of their faith. JAMs serves members with special needs, and this was the first ever water baptism session for the service.
The members were evidently excited during praise and worship, as they jumped up and down, praising God enthusiastically. Afterward, Lily Yong, pastor of the JAMs service, went on stage to share the significance of baptism and lead the water baptism candidates in a declaration of faith.
Following that, as the baptism candidates prepared to enter the pool, many family members, caregivers and JAMs volunteers streamed up to the roof garden to cheer them on. It was a most touching sight.
A JAMs member present, Bessie Koh, 28, shared her happiness over one of her good friends getting water baptized—she was extremely proud of her friend for making the decision. Another member, Goh Gek Hong, 47, remarked that if there were ever to be another JAMs water baptism service, she would definitely sign up.
WHY WATER BAPTISM?
“The reason why we organized this very first JAMs baptism was because our members have been with us for almost 20 years, and as they have grown in many areas such as their love for God, and their understanding of God, we felt that this is a season where we want to encourage our students to go through water baptism. In fact, we are planning to do this yearly from now on,” shared Pastor Lily.
She added that over the years, one or two JAMs members had joined the main church’s water baptism service—this signalled their readiness and desire for baptism.
The JAMs members got to know about water baptism through the home visitations conducted weekly. The volunteers doing visitation explained the significance of water baptism to the parents or caregivers of JAMs members, before asking if they would like their ward to be water baptized.
If parents or caregivers of the JAMs members are keen to let their children get baptized, they fill in a water baptism form, and attend a water baptism class that teaching the members what it means to be water baptized.
Baptism is an important decision that must be personally made by a believer. “All we do is tell them what water baptism is, where and when the service is going to be held, and encourage them to let their kids get water baptized. The choice is theirs to make,” said Pastor Lily.
