i can't even think of a good title for this blog...just read it and rejoice

We just finished shooting five baptism videos this evening. Five incredible stories of life-change. Five people who love Jesus so much that they're making a public declaration of their new association with him.

We're going to be baptizing a whole bunch of people later this month and early next month. I love it.

Four of the people whose videos we shot today were in the Starting Pointe group I recently led. I can't tell you how proud I am of those guys. All four of them had concerns/reservations about doing the video and then being on stage in front of so many people on Sunday morning. But they each decided that baptism was something they absolutely needed to do. I'm pumped.

Mostly I pumped because I got to hear each of their stories first-hand tonight. Most people wouldn't know this but when the baptism candidates are talking on video, they're actually talking to me (I sit right next to the camera). Everyone else leaves the room and then it's usually just the two of us having a conversation about how Jesus has changed their life. I love my job!

Tonight I got to hear Paul and Sharon W.'s story. You can see the video on July 8 but here are some highlights:

They moved to our area a few years ago because Sharon has rheumatoid arthritis and M.S. and is confined to a wheelchair...and they just wanted to be closer to the Cleveland Clinic. Shortly thereafter they discovered NewPointe. What she had to say rocked me: She said (as she began to weep), that she considers her handicap a blessing...because if it weren't for that she would have never found NewPointe and wouldn't have met Jesus. All I can say is, "Wow!" Is that unbelievable or what?

Her husband, Paul, shared that Starting Pointe was the catalyst that caused him to become a Christ-follower.

Dave C. also shared his testimony with me. Dave came to NewPointe one Sunday in January and got in a Starting Pointe group the next week. Now he's getting baptized because, as he said, he wants the whole world to know that he loves Jesus. Dave was extremely reluctant to do the video and be baptized on stage but he's going through with it because of what Jesus did for him.

His sister, Cheryl W. is also being baptized. Cheryl was also in our SP group. She's one of the quietest, most reserved and unassuming people I know. She said she gets nervous around people, even just a few people. But when I asked her about how she met Jesus and what her life is like now, I couldn't get her to shut up! You can see her video and baptism on July 8 as well.

I can't wait.