As a young girl, Lorena Garlington accepted Christ, but she never followed him in believer's baptism. Never, that is, until a couple of months before her 100^th birthday. She always knew she was supposed to be baptized, but never got around to it. "I've struggled with this so long," Garlington told Gerald Squyes of Huntington Beach Baptist Church, "because I know the Bible says you should be baptized." When she emerged from the water, she said, "This is the greatest day! It's the best thing that's happened to me in years."

Acts 2:38 NASB And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Though Marine Battalions have been fighting fierce battles in Iraq, they have been thinking about spiritual matters too. After one of bloodiest skirmishes in which one Marine was killed and 15 others wounded, four Marines asked a chaplain to arrange a battlefield baptism for them.

Lance Corporal Chris Hankins from Kansas City said, "I've been talking to God a lot during the last two firefights. I decided to start my life over and make it better." Sgt. Andrew Jones from Indiana said he had been considering getting baptized before he left for Iraq. His combat experiences convinced him that the time was right.

Navy Lt. Scott Radetski is the battalion's chaplain. He says battlefield baptisms are not unusual among front-line troops. The military even has a two-page instruction sheet on how to create a battlefield baptismal. Radetski performed one baptism ceremony when Marines were waiting to move into Iraq. Three Marines at another encampment in Falloujua also have asked to be baptized. Radetski says, "When chaos shows its head, we need an anchor for our faith. You need that rock that God promises to be. I consider it an honor to fulfill their request."

—http://news.yahoo.com, Marines Find Faith Amid the Fire, by Tony Perry, Thursday April 26, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 John 5:4 (NIV) “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

In response to a advertising campaign launched several months ago by the National Secular Society (NSS), over 100,000 Britons have downloaded a ”certificate of debaptism” from an Internet resource in order to renounce their Christian faith. President of NSS, Terry Sanderson announced, “We now produce a certificate on parchment and we have sold 1,500 units at 3 pounds ($4.35 US) a pop.”

John Hunt, from London, was one of the first to get one of the certificates. Hunt claimed he was too young to make any decision when he was christened at five months of age. When approached, the church suggested Hunt place an official announcement in the London Gazette. Hunt’s notice of renouncement appeared in May 2008, and since then many other Britons have done the same.

Sanderson said, ”The fact that people are willing to pay for the parchments shows how seriously they are taking them.” In the meantime, a church spokesman told reporters the official position of the church was not to amend its records, adding, “Renouncing baptism is a matter between the individual and God.”

--Following atheist trend, Britons seek ‘de-baptism.’; http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.ae71a038e9b3b47af4f0e9eac9598fd8.2b1&show_article=1; March 29, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

When I first heard about this, I thought it was awful that people would turn from their faith, but after I thought about it awhile I realized that they weren’t turning from their faith, but from their parent’s faith. Their parents had them baptized, it wasn’t a decision they made for themselves. This story reminds me that baptism is for believers, not for babies.

Acts 2:41 (YLT) then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,

Because of the low attendance in services at British Anglican congregations, and the fact that many un-churched parents still desire for their children to be baptized, the church has downgraded the language and symbolism of baptism.

Some critics have accused the church of “dumbing down” Christian teaching instead of “preparing people for these great rites of passage.” Whereas once parents were asked if they “repent of the sins that separate us from God,” as well as renounce the devil and “rebellion against God,” the new text simply asks them on behalf of the baby if they “reject evil, and all its many forms, and all its empty promises.”

We need to call believers to once again “contend for the faith.” --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

World, February 8, 2014 p. 65

Jude 1:3 (ESV) (3) Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Baltimore Raven’s Offensive lineman James Hurst and his wife, Amanda have been hosting a couples Bible study in their home for the past three years. In the last of their sessions for this season Quarterback Trace Mc Sorley indicated a desire to be scripturally baptized. He said, “We’re a pretty religious, faithful family,” McSorley said. “But as a baby, I didn’t have a decision in it. Now it was my decision. I wanted to choose it for myself.”

Team Chaplain Johnny Shelton baptized McSorley in a ceremony held in one of the team’s training room recovery pools. Offensive lineman and Bible Study host, James Hurst helped lower McSorley into the water.

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/trace-mcsorley-got-baptized-at-the-ravens-training-facility

The Raven’s chaplain commented, “God is doing some amazing things in the hearts of men. It is truly an Honor to God to be able to baptize Trace McSorley.” —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.