What a weekend! Sunday we celebrated my wife’s 50th birthday. About 40 neighbors and another 20 friends & family gathered at a neighbor’s home for a garden party. People read comments to Gail about her impact in their lives. Elders were there, members of small groups, close friends, and her 77 year-old dad, who is battling stage 4 lung cancer. Throughout the day came greetings and words that reflected the impact of just one life over time. It was amazing. But we all do that—one way or the other. I watched their faces—and Gail’s—as people recalled how she showed up for them in crises, as a mentor, a leader, an elder, a friend, and a soul-mate.
Then came the icing on the cake. A guy in my men’s group had been on a several-year journey observing, critiquing, and experiencing Christianity. He had watched neighbors, group members, and attended many services. His questions were honest and often difficult. But it all came together this weekend around a church-wide baptism celebration at the small lake outside Willow. About 550 people were baptized—an amazing thing to experience.
When Roger heard the message given about baptism he said, “This is it—I am ready.” I asked him when it all came together for him and he described that it was a long journey over many years, but that about a month ago he knew he wanted to follow Christ. “But I still have lots of questions, and still am reading my books about history and the life of the church.” I assured him we all have questions—probably more now than ever. “I was just waiting for the right time to tell everyone—they guys in the group, the neighborhood, and family. This is the time.”
He wanted his family present, and the Willow service had ended earlier in the day. So about 35 of us gathered around him at a neighborhood pool—the same pool we had baptized his wife, 3 sons, and other neighbors in 3 years earlier. And Roger made his newfound faith known before the group of people who had lived in community with him all the way. It was a fitting conclusion to an amazing party. All I could think of was the applause of heaven as we all cheered for Roger. And I remembered what we had declared at Willow for years: “Life-change happens best in small groups” – and in neighborhood communities, and at dinner tables, and parties, and any place that Jesus’ people hang out.
