11 June 2007
Champions of the week
Talk about a no-brainer. The heroes of Southbrook, the freaks of the week, the servants who put others first for the past week were none other than the 1st Impression team members and volunteers who made everything go so smoothly for the spontaneous baptism! Thanks to all of you for your hard work 2 weeks before and right up on through the event itself. 
Question?
Are you up for another one?
Most of the children under 12 and around 200 more new believers are ready to go and waiting in the wings!
Is this awesome or what?!
Who ever said the day of Pentecost was a one time thing? We serve the same God, and His heart is to see this stuff happening 24/7 all over the world!
So gear up Brookies, and get ready because, as you hear me say over and over again…
God’s just getting started!
Read some of the comments already coming in from folks who were there…
001: jt,
Today was incredible!!!
If you weren’t there you missed a movement that confirms the work that God is doing in the heart of our leaders and in the hearts of people that call Southbrook home.
Absolutely incredible job by the staff for taking care of ‘every excuse’ thought of by man to not follow Jesus’ example in the new testament.
Today was AWESOME 118 times AWESOME!! ‘NOUGH SAID!
002: Susan,
Pastor Rob —- Thanks for continuing with the baptism during the 2nd service this morning! My son Jordan was one of the last ones and he was so ready! He had just graduated from Elementary School on Friday and he will be entering Middle School in the fall. He will now enter more prepared and more confident! To say ‘THANKS’ a thousand times is not enough! What an AWESOME DAY — INDEED!!
001: Kate,
so I think today is the most bummed I’ve been about missing going to Southbrook! The day sounds AMAZING- as it would with God being there. reading the blog, the comments, and seeing the pictures (can’t wait to see more!) really excites me about everything Southbrook is doing. Well, really, it excites me about everything GOD is doing through Southbrook. What a great vessel!
002: Michael,
This weekend was truly, truly awesome. Some might be upset that they had to serve this weekend, but I honestly had the greatest experience seeing all 118 people come in and get their baptizing clothes and fill out their cards. Seeing most of them return changed to change. Wow!
Really, wow does not even say it! Really, wow does not even begin.
003: Steve and Janie,
It’s always an emotional honor to witness such a powerful outward expression of a person’s commitment to God! We were at the Saturday service and watching people making the spontaneous decision to take that leap of faith is so moving!
The way Pastor Rob presented the 5 reasons people avoid being baptized, couldn’t be any simpler and clearer. And to hear that Jesus never hesitated with excuses, “will it hurt being nailed to the cross for the people I love”, will it be painful being humiliated in front of crowds etc. ( Not exactly in those words but the points were pretty clear).
if we make the commitment to be a light, reflective of God, then why wouldn’t we want to be baptized as Jesus did? As Rob pointed out, “if you don’t, then you aren’t ready to face the giants.”
Thank you Rob for preaching boldly on this subject! Those messages are so necessary! As a shepherd, you are guiding your flock in the way they should go (even if they want to wait and think about it). It reminds me of the birds nest that are created every summer in our ferns that hang on the front porch. There are always one or two birds that haven’t taken that leap to fly…they hesitate. But, when encouraged, they take that step and then soar.
For all of you that took that step of being buried and then to rise again, congratulations! You will never forget that decision. And, when you witness other’s being baptize, you will feel the emotions well up as you remember your own baptism day. You will share in the joy with others just as we all did with you this weekend.
Thank you to all that served with the German Mission Team. The food was yummy, the smiling faces in the sweltering heat and the hours it took to make that available are so appreciated!
Praising God for his encouraging love,
Janie and Steve
004: Chris Hogan,
Rob, this weekend was unbelievable! It is beyond words to describe the excitement and joy of seeing so many believers decide to take the plunge spontaneously and then see more, and more ,and more….
I’ve been praying for a service just like this since our last baptism. I can’t explain how amazing it was to see God make it all happen this weekend! Can’t wait for the next one!
3 Comments currently posted.
Christine Malone says:
Dee Langley says:
Not only were Matthew and I there on Saturday to see the baptism but I ws also there on Sunday! What an awesome experience we are so blessed to share in! When we arrive on Saturday our son Carl (who will be 7 on 6/15) He saw them taking down the guardrail on the pool. He got so excited! “Mommy do I get to get baptized today?” he asked me. This in itself is such a huge wonderful thing (I get teary just thinking of it) but it holds so much more. Carl is autistic and has asked Jesus into his heart over a year ago. He didn’t want to get baptized because he doesn’t like going under water. It was his fear keeping him from it. But to see how God has erased that fear and he knows that he is ready to tell the world he loves his Jesus is the one of the greatest gifts I get as a mom! Alex his sister was baptized 2 years ago and I couldn’t contain myself then. This one will be OFF THE HOOK! And we will just have to wait and watch as Will makes his decision!
Fred says:
Rob,
Thanks for continuing to push to bring the message of God to Southbrook and all those who are coming to our services. This week’s spontaneous Baptism service was impressive. Your explanations on what Baptism really means and why it is important was well presented and moving. As you said it should not be complicated. I watched all three services while working and was just humbled each time the people rose and went on the fly to be Baptised. Thats God working at Southbrook.
I also heard in conversations on how many people are showing up for the services that were invited in the past. People that were considered beyond reach, invited multiple times, and there they were at Southbrook. Thanks again Rob for the dedication and surprise us some more.
Fred Grotophorst
I was there as a volunteer this past weekend. Listening to people talk as they moved through the hallways, picking up there children was AWESOME. People were so happy coming to get there kids to watch parents or silblings commit to God. Our family unit Rob is showing what we are all about here at Southbrook!