Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
“Will we have failed if no one responds to the call to be baptized?”
I asked this ignorant question as I stood looking at the table of neatly wrapped transformed follower shirts and towels prepped and ready for spontaneous baptisms on Sunday. We had spent the whole week setting aside our work routines to run around in anticipation for God to move mightily in the hearts of our people. We filled baptismals, set up changing curtains, ordered clothes and gathered our staff to pray.
Two weeks ago, our team felt God leading us into something special. We knew that God was calling our church family to leave behind our tax booths—the weights and sins holding us back—to live a life of full surrender to Jesus and step into our true identity as new creations in Christ. It so happened that our discipleship team had scheduled baptisms to happen on Sunday, and our team believed that the Holy Spirit was prompting us to prepare for people to be moved to action, more than just the scheduled baptisms. And so we began to pray and prepare toward that end.
The worship team planned extra songs to fill in the time if we had a line of people wanting to get baptized. The discipleship team began to round up deacons and elders to be ready to meet people desiring baptism. Our elder Josh, who was preaching, was informed that he might only have time to present the gospel. And we began to pray.
I prayed that the Lord would soften the hearts of his people to respond on Sunday. But in the days leading up, I saw God answering that prayer even before Sunday morning. On Wednesday, four people filled out the baptism testimony form. On Thursday, another six. By Saturday night, 24 people had raised a hand to be baptized the following day. When I asked that nearsighted question, I had no idea I was going to have a tangible lesson on the power of prayer and the partnership God offers to his people. Even in the nearsightedness reflected in my prayers, God answered abundantly.
On Sunday, March 9, we baptized 57 people, plus another person at our Byron Center location, totaling 58. So many people stood up to respond to the call at the 11:00am service that Josh had to set aside his message to give a quick, 5-minute presentation of the gospel (watch the full service here). The worship team never left the stage and filled the 60-minute service with music the entire time. The Lord is so good.
I am reminded of a verse in Proverbs, which says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand,” (Proverbs 19:21). I’m deeply grateful for leadership that is walking in step with the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for being included in God’s plan for his people. And I am thankful for tangible reminders of the power of prayer.
To watch full services from Sunday, March 9, visit youtube.com/@ChapelPointe/streams.
Next Steps
Is God leading you to baptism? We have some opportunities for you to take this next step in your faith.
Baptism Class: We have a Baptism Class coming up on Sunday, March 23 at 9:30am. In this one-session class, we cover the biblical teaching about baptism and its significance in the life of the believer. We respectfully consider the various views and explain why Chapel Pointe practices believer’s baptism by immersion.
Baptism Registration: Do you need to follow God’s leading to get baptized? Visit chapel-pointe.org/baptism to learn more or be baptized.
About Chapel Pointe
Chapel Pointe is a non-denominational church headquartered in Hudsonville, Michigan. As one church meeting in multiple locations, Chapel Pointe is passionate about seeing the Kingdom of God expand throughout the world. The church is committed to helping communities, existing churches, and people who are far from God respond to God, be rooted in prayer and the Bible, and equip them as disciples of Jesus. Chapel Pointe has additional locations in Byron Center, and Holt, Michigan.
