Stephanie's Baptism

A month or so ago you were introduced to Stephanie. She has been on such a journey with God these past few years. If you remember she and her boyfriend Luis came to check our church years ago when we met on Sunday nights at the community center. Then the pandemic and life hit they were beaten down and really struggling. They were having many serious issues with their families; the pandemic, and Stephanie suffered from post partem depression and anxiety. Luis never stopped praying for her and she never gave up on God even in her darkest moments. Then a couple of months ago I reached out to reconnect with them after a couple of years, I thought it was random that I was thinking of them, but it turns out it was anything but random. Just before they got my text Stephanie was talking with Luis about a finding a home church because they hadn’t found a fit anywhere else. It turns out God had very intentionally prompted me to reach out to them because He was pursuing them and heard their cries and prayers.  I texted them almost exactly when they had been praying for God to show them where He’d have them plug in. God is at work even when we don’t see it.
Stephanie and Luis joined us for worship gathering about a month ago and haven’t missed since. Stephanie immediately wanted to get baptized so we sat down for lunch a couple weeks ago to explain what baptism is. She was eating up every word of scripture and was so ready. She expressed that she loved the beach and would like to get baptized there. She even invited her family members that don’t believe in Jesus to come and support her in baptism, which they did, and now Luis, Stephanie, and I are praying for their salvation and what our role is in pursuing them, what a turnaround! We all met down at the beach that Sunday afternoon and celebrated Stephanie passing from death into new life through Jesus. Stephanie is also stepping into more and more freedom through God from her anxiety and worry. Praise the God who never gives up on us and continues to pursue us even when the hour seems darkest or even after we’ve walked away from Him, He’ll never stop inviting us back to Himself.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Romans 8:38-39