Monday April 9, 2012

 

 

Baptism Service

For

Will Stoner

 

 

We were honored to be invited to our friend Will Stoner’s baptism.

 

 

Prelude by Crystal High

 

 

Will’s parents and grandparents

 

 

Will’s wife, Sherry, welcomed everyone and shared a bit of the process on how Will came to the place of accepting Christ into his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Brian shared a challenging meditation.

 

 

Trent was fascinated by the pool.

 

 

Sherry and Will shared a scripture reading.

 

 

Their friends met in the original sanctuary of Manheim Brethren in Christ church.

 

 

Sherry’s parents were in front of me – taking care of Will and Sherry’s youngest son, Jack.

 

 

Will shared his struggle to understand that salvation was for him. During that struggle, Sherry prayed for the right words or verse that would help him understand, but nothing “turned the light on” for Will.

Then she thought about the ABC’s to salvation that are listed in every edition of TFC’s Highway News and Good News. Will and Sherry are familiar with TFC because he is a trucker.

That did it! The words made it clear to Will that salvation was indeed for him. Before long he wanted to be baptized. Though he grew up in a Christian home, he had never chosen to commit his life to Christ and follow Him in baptism.

 

 

 

 

It was a special service – knowing that TFC played a part in his salvation.

 

 

Following Pastor Brian’s baptismal prayer, Will’s dad Geff closed the service with prayer.

 

 

There were lots of smiles, hugs, and tears.

Will with his grandparents (his father’s parents).

 

After Pastor Greg and Bev greeted him, it was Cerwin’s turn. 

Jay was one of the last to share encouraging words with Will before we went to the fellowship hall.

 

 

Refreshments included two cakes that were decorated with a copy of Will’s truck.

 

 

There was a lot of good fellowship. Will’s grandparents saying goodbye to him before going home.

 

 

Sherry’s parents were entertaining Jack and Trent in a hallway when we left for home.

Trent loved when grandpa slid him back and forth on the table – pretending that he was a truck.

Sometimes he acted like Trent was going to go off the back edge. As we walked by, I heard grandpa tell him that he will have to change gears if he wanted to go forward.  So Trent shifted gears, and grandpa moved him toward his brother.

~~~

Thanks Will and Sherry for including us in the evening.