A Weekend of Celebration

As a demonstration of their faith in Jesus Christ, 79 people were baptized at Willow Creek’s weekend services on September 27-28.

In preparation for the service, each person wrote a private note confessing their sins, acknowledging their need for a Savior, and thanking Jesus for his sacrifice on their behalf. As they walked on stage to be baptized, they pinned their note to a cross, symbolizing that they have been fully forgiven and reconciled to God through what Jesus did on the cross.

Baptism is such a beautiful picture of Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of one individual person,” said Chris Hurta, director of pastoral development. “The Bible says in 1 Peter 3 that Christ died for sins once for all, to bring us to God. As we pin our sins to the cross, go down under the water, and come back up again, it reminds us of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.”

One woman had been praying for her husband for many years. During a recent weekend service, her husband finally realized that God had been searching for him all along. He committed his life to Christ, and he and his wife were baptized together.

Willow Creek offers Baptism several times a year, for people who have made a personal decision to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The next Baptism will take place in 2009.