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CAROLYN NICHOLS
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| Jane Gilbert rejoiced after her baptism May 21. She was one of 95 baptized in First Baptist Church, Orlando’s baptism service at the Disney Contemporary Resort north beach. Senior pastor David Uth (holding Gilbert’s hand) was assisted in the service by several of the church’s ministerial staff members. Courtesy photo |
ORLANDO (FBW) — As Southern Baptist churches place renewed emphasis on baptism they are re-discovering the practice of public baptism in local lakes. First Baptist Church in Orlando and Lake Talquin Baptist Church in Tallahassee are among those who recently took the ordinance out of its usual stained-glass surroundings to public arenas.
More than 500 attended First Baptist, Orlando’s outdoor service at the Disney Contemporary Resort north beach May 21.
The man-made lake, just adjacent to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, was the site of 95 baptisms of believers ranging in age from seven to 88. Some couples and families were immersed together, including the Scalzo Family of five. The 95 baptisms were a record number for the church in one service, which lasted almost an hour, and included congregational singing to guitar accompaniment.
According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the baptism service at Disney World was “the latest act of reconciliation between the entertainment giant and evangelical Christians.”
The Southern Baptist Convention voted in 2005 to end a 10-year boycott of Disney that was initiated after Convention leaders considered the company to have abandoned its family-friendly values.
For the baptism service, Disney’s Contemporary Resort’s Convention Services provided restroom facilities, water, a sound system and chairs on the beach for the First Baptist Church service.
First Baptist media/communication pastor, Steve Smit,h said some who were baptized had been attending the church a long time, but had never been baptized.
“This unique opportunity prompted them to follow through in their obedience,” Smith told Florida Baptist Witness.
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| Wearing his “Everyone Can” t-shirt from Crossover 2005 in Nashville, Pastor Milton Harrington baptized Robert Taylor in Lake Talquin Baptist Church’s first lake baptism. Taylor was among nine baptized April 30. The “Everyone Can” motto is from the Southern Baptist Convention’s year-long emphasis during which SBC leaders hope to realize 1 million baptisms. Courtesy photo |
Lake Talquin Baptist Church in Tallahassee held its first lake baptism April 30 in what Pastor Milton Harrington told the Witness may become an annual event.
Most boaters and fishermen stopped their activities while Harrington baptized nine in Lake Talquin as church members and visitors watched from the shore. Harrington wore a “Everyone Can” t-shirt from Crossover 2005 in Nashville. “Everyone Can” is the motto of the Southern Baptist Convention’s year-long emphasis during which SBC leaders hope to realize 1 million baptisms.
The congregation moved its morning worship service to the Williams Landing boat ramp at the man-made lake. Church members parked at a nearby ball field and rode the church van to the lake shore, where they sat in lawn chairs to view the ordinance.
According to the pastor, a mother drove 21 miles from downtown Tallahassee with her two teenagers for the event. The teenagers made professions of faith during the service and were among the nine baptized.
The church decided to plan the outdoor ordinance after the long-range planning team proposed planning more community events. Harrington said he attended a recent conference with other church leaders in the Florida Baptist Association, “The Present Future Church,” which also spurred him to plan the event.
“We want to do it again,” he said. “It brought back a lot of memories for church members who were baptized in lakes and rivers.”
The congregation, which averages 130 on Sunday morning, totaled 165 for the outdoor service and picnic lunch.
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