It may come as a surprise for some of you to see me here. At my age you probably thought I was already baptised or I was a lost soul. The truth is that I was baptised 82 years ago as a baby.
I have asked Dr. Jim to do this service because I have great respect for Jim as a true Christian and a stalwart of our Church. I also feel safer having a Doctor present, in case there is a bolt of lightning when I am immersed in water.
I was born in what is recognised as a Christian country. The major factions are Catholic and Protestant. I considered myself a Presbyterian, although I was baptised in the Church of England, who practise infant baptism, as part of the Christening service. I have always considered myself to be a Christian, and I was quite surprised when, as an adult, I was asked how long I had been a Christian. I answered all my life, but then gave it serious thought. Although I was not raised by church going parents, I attended Sunday school all through my early childhood, and came to believe and trust in God, and to recognise Jesus as my saviour. I learned to pray to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, not fully understanding the significance of the Trinity. All my adult life I have lived with what I understood to be Christian principles. But I resisted going to Church because I was sceptical about organised religion. The division between Catholics and Protestants, and the fights we got into as children seemed to contradict a loving God.
On the other hand my wife Lee was a Billy Graham convert and has been a constant churchgoer from before we met, and I have always respected her beliefs. I frequently went to church gatherings with her and briefly attended Westview Bible Church in Montreal, and North Burlington Baptist Church in Burlington. More recently, in the past 6 years, I began to question myself about where I was going spiritually. I am happy to attend the OBC, and attend a bible study group, but it’s not enough. I have attended previous baptism ceremonies in this church, and I came to realise that I had never made a commitment to follow Jesus. I already feel different, having made the decision to get baptised.
I ask Jesus to forgive my sins and to accept me, as I accept him as my Saviour.
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