The VERY Best Decision

The date?  October 20, 2002

The place?  Francesville Christian Church

The occasion?  Our baptism

Backstory - maybe at the end of the post

Gary and I had studied with Jim (our minister) and Junior (our neighbor who was an elder at the time) for several weeks and had prepared for our baptisms (again) and placing our membership at the church.

That morning as the end of the sermon approached (and I knew that because I always took notes and following Jim's outline), I became nervous.  Alex was sitting close to us, and he was fidgeting, ready to run down the aisle as soon as Jim gave the altar call.

When Jim FINALLY got to the point where he asked if anyone wanted to come forward to be baptized, and the song began, and the congregation sang....Gary, Alex, and I arose from our seats, scooted toward the end of the pew, and walked down the aisle to the front of the church.

As Jim met us, he took my hand and said "You walked down this aisle many years ago for one of the best decisions of your life.  Now you are walking down the aisle for the very best decision you will ever make."  How true! 

The first decision?  Marrying Gary.  We were married in the Christian Church (but in the old building) in 1976. 

The second and very best decision?  Being baptized.

As we stood in front of Jim and the congregation, he asked for our profession of faith, which we gave.  Gary and I together.  Alex by himself.

Then Jim said that we were going to be baptized by Blaine, and I remember hearing a collective "Aw......." from the congregation.  Blaine, at the time, was dating Hilary.  Everyone loved Blaine.  He had grown up in that church.  And because he was in his first year at Ivy Tech and had just turned 19, he was considered an adult male, and he was a member of the church, so he qualified to baptize us.  Gary had asked Jim if he could do it for him, then later I asked Blaine if he would baptize me also (and promise not to drop me or hold me under the water :) )    Jan said that Alex woke up one night, yelling, and wanting to talk to Jim because he wanted to be baptized too and he wanted Blaine to baptize him. 

What I remember:

Wearing that little gown that all new baptizees wear.

Watching Gary and Alex being baptized.

Going into the water and totally blocking out the congregation, only focusing on Jim's words as he stood at the end of the tank

Putting my hands over my nose, shutting my eyes, and feeling myself going under the water totally and being lifted up again

Feeling a cleansing of my sins - really

The feeling of cleaning was so powerful, so real, so poignant.  It is something I will NEVER ever forget.

I also remember being told that just like Jesus' being tempted for 40 days, we would be tempted (or scorned) because of our decision.

Jim had told me, when I asked if we could be baptized privately, that he really wanted me to be baptized in the Sunday service.  Why?  Because I was a teacher.  Several students attended our church.  What better example of making the best choice of her life than their teacher coming forward, professing her faith, then being baptized? 

On Monday I heard "Congratulations" from so many people at school--staff members, faculty, and students. Good news traveled fast!

But also I felt the anger.  Jim had called the current minister at St. Marks to tell him our membership had been transferred.  While Jim never shared any of the details of that conversation with us, I am certain that the minister was livid.  His phone call to me indicated thus.  He told me that we were not welcome in the church ever again.  We were to return the keys (I had been an organist and Gary had been the church treasurer), all music that I had which belonged to the church, our positions were terminated immediately, and, the icing on the cake so-to-speak, we would burn in hell forever for what we had done.


But we persevered.  Over the years both daughters have been married in the same church where we said our vows (only in the new building!).  I was one of the organists.  Gary was a deacon.  I was a deaconess.  He served communion.  I was on the worship preparation committee and prepared communion and helped with baptisms.  We cooked once a month for Wednesday Family Nights.  I was a Crew Leader for pre-school VBS twice with Landon and twice with Tessa.  I volunteered for the Red Cross Blood Drives at the church. We have helped with funeral dinners.  We have used the church for Megan's graduation party and for bridal and baby showers. I sang in the choir. 

Never will I forget that day.  It WAS the VERY best decision ever. 

Thank you, Jim and Junior, for studying with us.

Thank you, Blaine, for baptizing us.

And Thank you, God, for your redeeming love for us.

I am a daughter of the Lord.