By Children’s Ministry Director Shan Applin

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10) The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11) In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

On our blustery Easter Sunday in West Seattle a few weeks ago, Shauna and I sat at the 11:15am service celebrating Christ’s resurrection. The sanctuary was decorated beautifully, the music was stimulating, the message encouraging. But the baptisms…wow! What a powerful display of God’s ability to powerfully change our messy situation and yet personally know us, love us, and transform us from the inside out. The testimonies so clearly pointed the audience towards God’s redemptive work.

As we sat there worshipping God’s goodness, his defeat of death and his ability again and again to change lives, I didn’t think it could get any better…then the spontaneous baptisms began. We watched families walk forward, brother baptize brother, and then quite a few children that we have grown to love through the children’s ministry. My heart overflowed with joy as we saw each child outwardly profess the personal relationship they have with their Abba, even at such a young age.

In particular, one almost 9 year-old girl we’ve watched grow these past years both physically and spiritually, who we have known since she was 5, when Mars Hill was still only in Ballard. We’ve watched her go from knowing no Bible to memorizing the books of the Bible, then memorizing Scripture, and now in West Seattle children’s ministry asking insightful questions during our time together. She sings worship songs with every part of her body and we have been through so much Scripture together that I believe she truly knows who her Savior is. And we got to watch her be baptized!

What an honor and a privilege to see moms and dads walking their kids forward and watching a few dads do the honor of baptizing. Praise Jesus for a church body that values the teaching of truth to children from a young age. Praise the Lord for dads who pastor their kids and moms who teach and nurture kids, pointing them toward their Creator, their Savior, and their friend. It has been, and continues to be, my privilege to witness these special moments with our many children at West Seattle.