Kingston Community Church in Palmerston North recently celebrated six baptisms, with testimonies sharing about God’s grace at work in people’s lives.
On 25 January, Sora, Kouta and Ethan were baptised at nearby Foxton Beach. The church heard how these teenagers are part of a regular Bible study with Akira Doi, and how God has been using these studies to grow them in faith. Sora shared that regularly meeting with Doi San has been incredibly significant in his growth as a Christian: “doing Bible studies...every week...we got a lot more of an understanding, and every time felt that we all grew closer to God.”
Elder and Discipleship Lead Kerry Rickard says, “We praise God for the way he has, is, and will shape these young men.”
Then on 1 February, Declan, Andrew and Mingfeng were baptised during the Sunday church service.
Declan overcame his shyness and shared that "Jesus Christ dies on the cross the save us, rose again, is alive, and will come again to bring us into heaven one day."
Andrew testified that "Jesus is in my heart and protecting me from Satan. I am relieved and glad that Jesus is always with me."
Andrew and Declan’s parents, Tim and Ruth, shared the ways they have been witness to the faith of their sons and how they have seen the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.
Mingfeng spoke boldly, despite her nerves, to share how she "always wanted to be baptised as a whole family, because that looks so good. I always used this as an excuse that I'm not ready because my husband isn't ready, it was actually me not ready.” She shared that taking this step of baptism was a public commitment of her faith in Jesus.
Mingfeng’s good friend Lynne shared the ways she has seen Mingfeng’s faith grow, particularly as they’ve opened the Bible and shared life together as part of a care group at church.
It was a joy for the whole church family to pray together for Sora, Ethan, Kouta, Mingfeng, Declan and Andrew—that they might know God’s blessing and continue to grow in faith and love for Jesus.
