I have preached in Poland, Romania and Ukraine and in each country met pastors who suffered under communism. Baptism was a celebration in the body especially in Ukraine. I was invited to participate in one service where we baptized over 20 new converts in the Dnieper River in Cherkassi, no children BTW. They did not have a baptismal so they waited til summer to do baptisms. All wore white clothing. Their testimonies were given in the church before we went to the river. A key phrase was this, "when I repented and believed" . Never heard Jesus came into my heart. That weekend I preached seven times in 4 different churches including a new Korean/Ukranian fellowship having their inaugural in a new meeting place. I discipled some of those folks over two summers. After the service we had communion and each new believer was given a red rose. I have pix and video. One pastor was in prison for many years for baptizing a teen ager. Under communism it was illegal to do so under the age of twenty. The day he came out of prison, his congregation supported him and his family the whole time, the first thing he did was walk to the river and baptize new converts PUBLICLY who waited for him to be released. They would smuggle his sermons out of jail and read them on Sundays.After the baptism , he was promptly arrested and put back in jail. Thiswent on for 10 years. Joe On Apr 30, 2008, at 3:59 PM, Jeff Scanlan wrote: > Yes Anna you have a good point! > > Jeff > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: anna@... [mailto:anna@...] >> Sent: Thursday, 1 May 2008 2:58 AM >> To: soundofgrace@... >> Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Baptism Celebration >> >> Could it be that some of the easy-believism, easy-baptism (as well as >> the lack of concern to be baptized) stuff comes about b/c of a lack >> of preaching the whole salvation message, in the pulpits and in daily >> life? In many other countries, the believe/repent/baptize line is >> very clearly what will separate them from their family and even mean >> death. They see it all the time--they see the stark contrast between >> following Christ and not. Baptism is the clincher, and isn't >> entered into lightly (but IS entered into immediately after the >> profession of faith). In countries such as the USA that has some >> more religious freedom, being a disciple of Christ does not usually >> mean death, but a true walk with Christ will mean true persecution of >> some type, will mean emptying ourselves of all we hold dear, if need >> be, and will most definitely mean pursuing a life that is >> increasingly and obviously different than those around us. Maybe we >> don't see enough true Christianity to make the salvation message and >> believe/repent message.. very clear. Somehow, onlookers should see >> that, to enter into this means leaving all, counting the cost -- it >> becomes part of the whole message. It is no longer I that live. >> Baptism becomes profoundly clear, immediate, and not entered into >> lightly as well. "I was dead and now am alive w/Christ. Baptize me >> so I can be on my way as His follower!" >> >> -- >> Read the Sound of Grace pages at >> http://www.soundofgrace.com >> >> To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace- >> unsubscribe@... >> >> To view our online archive go to our web page at >> http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace >> > > -- > Read the Sound of Grace pages at > http://www.soundofgrace.com > > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace- > unsubscribe@... > > To view our online archive go to our web page at > http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > >