Our son wanted to be baptized at the Lighthouse, a place that felt like home to our family since we worked there for 7 years. Our oldest son was also baptized there. It seemed like a near impossibility though since now we were working in a different city at a different church. But God in His goodness allowed our family to be blessed and to bless others through this special day last June.
Since we were already going up to the northern city of Sapporo for our all field Japan conference we were able to stay over the weekend and attend worship on Sunday at this precious church that we helped start 10 years ago. The missionaries now leading this church were very willing to accommodate our request. There were still several young people who showed up at church once in awhile who were original contacts of our family's from our boys going to the local Japanese elementary school. We hoped this baptism would be a great opportunity to invite some of these old friends to church again.We thank the Lord that several friends came to church that day and heard our son's testimony, which he wrote out himself and then read in Japanese. Many of our church friends said they were blessed and encouraged to hear our 13 year old explain his simple, yet heartfelt faith.
The "baptismal" at the Lighthouse Church is just a free standing tub that is stored in the closet. For a baptism it is moved out into the kitchen and filled with water.
Baptisms in Japan are important since most Japanese don't consider themselves a Christian until they are baptized. Even though we know becoming a Christian is a work of faith by God in a person's heart, we also have come to understand that this outward profession of faith is an important "milestone" for these Japanese believers who often find it hard to be bold about confessing their faith in Jesus to non-Christian family and friends.
Baptisms are a real celebration here in Japan. The worship service is centered around it and the person getting baptized gives a lengthy, testimony of how they came to faith in the Lord and how God has changed their life. In typical Japanese style close friends and church members give the person gifts, flowers or cards. Also friends take pictures together and the whole church has a special potluck meal together after the service.
