My name is John Jeffers, and I chose to be baptized at Stone Oak Bible Church approximately a year and a half ago. And for those who know me, you also know that I no youngster; either chronologically or spiritually.
Jesus become my Lord and savior during my 2nd year of graduate school. Following my conversion, I was fortunate to have been discipled by both the staff from Campus Crusade for Christ, and later by the staff of the Navigators. I then embarked on a military career, got married, and began raising a family all in a short period of time.
During this time, there was 11 moves, as well as participation, membership, and serving in many different churches, Kathi and I attempted to serve faithfully, usually in ministries revolving around our three children. Neither of us had ever been baptized as adults, following our individual conversion experience of becoming believers and following Jesus Christ.
Following our most recent move to San Antonio, my subsequent retirement from the military, and our children’s launch into college and adulthood, we began attending Northeast Bible Church, the parent of Stone Oak Bible Church. It was at this time that God began working in my heart regarding baptism. Between observing adult baptisms on a regular basis, several discussions with my life group leader, God began stirring in my heart the desire to be baptized. The relation that baptism was an act of obedience and a public display of faith, and not a requirement for salvation, began taking a firm hold.
While baptism had never been a requirement for church membership, it began to weigh on me that this baptism thing was a matter of obedience.
When Kathi and I decided to follow God’s leading and participate in the adventure of a church plant, we joined this endeavor with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement. All the while, under the surface, the prospect of baptism was percolating. When membership was pursued and baptism was offered, it was as if the straight jacket had been removed. Without reservation, both Kathi and I determined to be baptized. Again, this was not as a requirement of salvation, but as an act of obedience, and a public proclamation of faith.
What I realized when I was submerged in that baby pool full of cold water was that my sins were completely washed away by the blood of Jesus, that I was given new life, and that I was ransomed by the blood of the Savior once and for all.
Since undergoing this act of obedience I have been further energized in my faith to serve. While I would never coerce or cajole anyone to be baptized, I would certainly encourage any believer in Jesus Christ who has not been baptized as an adult to prayerfully consider before God being baptized as a most public profession of one’s inner faith and obedience.
Being baptized is something that I will never forget for the remainder of my days.