A Baptism Tonight

Most of our worship service tonight centered around the baptism of Ira Ryzhenko, a second-year university student. We got to know Ira when she first entered university. She came to our student night, eventually began attending a small group, and finally began showing up at the evening assembly. She also was a regular participant in our Soup Group and got to know our intern Jonathan Shaub quite well. (Remember to keep praying for Jonathan who is in critical condition in NYC after being hit by a truck.) Ira is from a very small town and is a very serious and determined person. She had been reading the Psalms with Lena for a while, and for some reason, this Friday, she decided it was time to decide: to follow Jesus or not. She chose the former. Say a little prayer for Ira as she begins her new life.

No matter what we do it seems like nothing ever goes the way we hope it will. We were going to the church building early to fill up the baptistery (AKA a large bathtub). An SMS arrived with news that everything was ready. By the time we arrived, someone decided to drain the bathtub and we were already almost out of hot water. Pots were filled on the stove with some warm water, but it’s quite a process to get that tub full enough to immerse someone. So the baptism that was supposed to happen at about 5:15 had to wait until about 6:00. It didn’t really matter. It was all simply very joyous.