Over the last six months, South Australian Baptist churches have experienced a surge in baptisms, indicating a growing desire to publicly proclaim our commitment to Jesus.
Ben Nah, from the Korean Fellowship of Rostrevor Baptist, reminds us of the unifying nature of baptism with the quote, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” This quote, taken from Ephesians 4:5, emphasises that baptism is not only a personal act of faith, but also a unifying factor for all believers. Regardless of our backgrounds, cultures, or traditions, we share in the same faith.
On January 22nd, two women from the Rostrevor Baptist Church Korean Community were baptised. They have graciously shared their testimonies with us:
“The time I worked and ran for my children was futile and exhausting, and the relationship was also emotional. It was so divinely difficult that I felt like I was standing on a cliff. I’d never been to church.. I was challenged by the passionate ministry of a Korean community pastor struggling with cancer, and I was comforted by the pure life of faith, service, and love of the community members and opened my heart… I learned about Jesus’ forgiveness and put it into practice. After that, I went through difficult things in my life, but I came to rely on Jesus more strongly, and I obeyed the Lord who held on to me so that I could live…” – Kyung Lee Park
“I went to temples with my Buddhist mother, and all my friends around me were Christians when I was in college. She naturally came to know about Jesus and went to churches to live a life of faith, but it did not lead to faith. After marriage, I came to give thanks to God through the children I gained through hardship, and while educating my children in Adelaide, I was led to {the} Korean community… and I realised the love of the Lord who never gave up on me. I give thanks to the Korean Community… and I give praise and glory to God for leading me to the path of salvation.” – Sinjeong Moon
Andrew Turner emphasises that the surge in baptisms is a reflection of the power of a genuine connection with God. He says, “The real experience of reconciliation to God, knowing forgiveness, security, identity, and empowerment by the Spirit – these are what will result in transformed households, neighbourhoods, and nations.”
Baptism is an opportunity for us to come together as a community of believers, to celebrate our shared faith and to support one another in our spiritual journeys. As we witness the baptisms of our brothers and sisters, we are reminded of the unifying power of our shared faith and the transformative power of a genuine connection with God.
