Baptism is a crucial part of being a disciple of Jesus, and our annual summer baptism is always a special and beautiful time. As we approach this year’s baptism, we asked Lucy to share what brought her to be baptized at Woodland.
I found Woodland Hills in 2021 and began watching the sermons and the Musecast each week, but I didn’t think about getting baptized. Then my life began to change profoundly; I was taking to heart the messages, joining in online opportunities and deepening my relationship with God.
In 2022, something happened that I would have never predicted: my spouse and I decided to recommit to our marriage. We had been “permanently” separated for about a decade (after raising five kids together). The truth that he was as unsurpassably valued and loved by God as I was sank in and changed the way I understood our past troubles. Soon he joined me in watching online and began his own faith journey.
I had recommitted to my faith while enjoying what seemed to be flourishing health, and that faith saw me through when I abruptly suffered a difficult health setback in October 2022—one that plagued me for over a year. Through my faith, I was able to lean on God, praying for hours at night when the intensity of the symptoms kept me awake.
I continued to watch the sermons, took notes and discussed each one with my spouse. I watched the Musecast (while taking more notes!), took some online classes and deepened my prayer life. Everything had shifted for me. I realized I could have questions and even doubts about certain scriptures (or common interpretations of scriptures) and still have a joyful faith. I could even use the questions to go deeper in my faith. I learned to center Christ and agape love in all of it.
As I recovered partly from my health trouble, I knew I wanted to get baptized so I took the baptism classes in summer 2023. Our adult kids have their doubts about religion and faith, but they joined us that day in July for my baptism. I feared I wouldn’t have the stamina to stand in line for a while, waiting my turn, but somehow I felt completely fine that day!
This summer, my spouse hopes to get baptized at Woodland Hills, too! We each have different faith journeys, but we found our way back to each other and to Jesus. We thank God for Woodland Hills and the lovely people we’ve gotten to know here.
We’re thankful for you, too, Lucy!
If you are interested in being baptized at this year’s Summer Get-Together, you can join the 3-week classes starting July 27. They’ll be offered right after church, and you can sign up here.
Beautiful testimony, Lucy. God is so good!!