A Page in Time

Sunday, July 29th - What an incredible day. It was hot and humid, not unlike the summers that I am used to in Oklahoma. We are still in Bangalore and I still can't believe that I am here. How does a guy from a small town in Oklahoma get to India? It is amazing where God will take you when you are willing to say "yes."

Today we attended a church service at the Bangalore campus. Our hosts gave it the name, "The Day of Celebration." Many of our fellow Christians were invited to attend from the villages around the area. Many of them traveled all night just to be there. Some came by bus, by car, by bicycle - many had walked. All came to praise the Lord and to witness as friends and family members came to publicly acknowledge their faith in Christ and follow in baptism.

There was a glow on each face that is the unmistakable light of salvation. In this country where there is such poverty and sadness, the light of God truly reaches out to those who are in darkness.

John was asked to preach and he delivered a great sermon. He had one of the pastors climb on his back and used it as a visualization of how each of us is born with a sin debt and that this sin is a heavy burden on us. The crowd watched intently as John went through several different scenarios of how he tried to remove the burden. Nothing would help until he was introduced to Jesus. By the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, our burden is removed. Then he told the people that it didn't matter where they come from, what things they have done in the past, what status they hold in society - Jesus loves them and died for them. God has a specific plan for them.

After the service there was a baptism ceremony where more than 250 were baptized. Most of these had come to Christ as a result of seeing the film. As I stood there watching my brothers and sisters emerge from the baptismal pool, I was overcome with emotion. This is what it is all about.  This is why we are here.