Our church has a very special culture when it comes to baptism. It’s not only those being baptized who dress up — the entire congregation comes to worship dressed formally, as if attending a wedding. One brother once said he thought it was natural that everyone would wear suits for a baptism service. Not every church does this, but at God’s Vision Church, we do. I find this tradition deeply meaningful, because it shows how seriously and joyfully we regard this moment, with all our hearts.
As I led baptismal classes with four sisters, I found myself feeling like a father sending his daughter off to be married — a mix of excitement, gratitude, and concern. Baptism is not just a ceremony; it is a confession of new identity, belonging, and status in Christ. Because of that, I prayed earnestly for God’s protection, knowing that spiritual resistance and attack often accompany such sacred preparation.
Our first baptismal class began on a late autumn evening in mid-October. Though it was after Sunday worship and cell group gatherings — quite a late hour — rather than tiredness, I felt renewed strength just from sharing the gospel together. It was as if the Holy Spirit Himself was empowering us.
This baptism and confirmation class included four sisters: Yujin Kim, Hyerin Park, Joy Won, and Hyena Kwak. Hyerin, as the eldest, maintained calmness and maturity, keeping everyone centred. Yujin asked thoughtful questions at just the right moments, deepening our discussions. Joy bravely shared how her life changed before and after meeting Jesus — through her testimony, we were reminded again of the gospel’s transforming power. And then there was Hyena, the youngest, who captured everyone’s hearts with her warmth. This small gathering that God brought together shone like jewels, each with a different hue.
During our third meeting, I invited them to my home for a meal. I was reminded once again that Bible study is not merely about gaining knowledge — it’s about learning God’s love through shared life, laughter, and food. What lingered longer than the meal itself were the warm words and hearts we exchanged.
At the same time, this class was also marked by unusual spiritual resistance. One thing I often realize in my faith journey is this: when I stay still, Satan stays still too. But when I take even one step of faith, when I make a holy decision, that’s when trials and attacks begin. Some of the sisters in this group experienced such spiritual resistance firsthand.
Two days before the baptism, on Friday, we held our final meeting online — but from the start, the connection kept dropping. We had to reconnect three times. There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t share it all. Still, the greater the hindrance, the greater the grace God has prepared. With that faith, we ended our last session in prayer.
Now, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, during the Central Worship Service, three will receive baptism and one will be confirmed. It will be a time to publicly declare their new belonging and identity before God and the community. This is not just a religious ritual, but a sincere act of devotion before the living God.
“Hyerin, Yujin, Joy, and Hyena — every time I met with you, I felt an indescribable joy in my heart. I believe that joy was God’s own heart for you.”
Baptism is not the end — it is the beginning. I believe the Lord will walk with them as they start anew in the life united with Christ. I pray that their testimonies and confessions of faith will become the starting point of change for someone else’s tomorrow, and that through this baptism and confirmation, hearts will quietly draw one step closer to God.
“Lord, may this baptism service be a time when all of us once again stand before Jesus, who is the Gospel Himself.”
