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October 01, 2008 >> 10:13:18 PM
Baptism via Skype: A KingdomTide Story from Asbury Alumni World
Here's one that will simultaneously stretch and bless you. It comes from CornerStone Church in Auburn, Alabama. Asbury graduate Rusty Hutson serves as Senior Minister along with associate Josh Agerton, who graduated from Asbury just last year.
Here's the story. (recounted with permission). About two years ago a woman named Cindy visited the church. Cindy was baptized as a baby and yet was raised outside of the church. She grew up as a non believer. Decades later, as an adult with a profoundly scientific mind, she decided to take her unbelief to the Church and determined to wrestle with God for some conclusions. She moved from a vague notion and belief in God to a deep wrestling with the person of Jesus. Finally, two years after participating in the Church and through countless conversations with pastors and parishoners, Cindy approached the pastor and said she was ready, professing that she had met Jesus. She wanted to be baptized. She determined to be baptized on September 19, 43 years to the day marking her baptism as a baby.
Small problem. The entire pastoral staff had long planned to be at a conference in South Bend, Indiana that same day. They put their heads together and came up with a plan: Baptism via Skype. They would gather a group in an Auburn swimming pool while the pastors would gather in their hotel around a computer. They would link up via Skype and Screens. You have to see this to believe it: Watch the YouTube clip below at least through the actual baptism. Then read the Post Script below.
On the following Wednesday, co-workers found Cindy unresponsive in her office. She died suddenly and shockingly from an aortic anneurism. It's an amazing story of the uncanny timing of God's grace. It makes me proud of this church and of our alumni. This is a KingdomTide Story for sure, demonstrating the reaches of the creativity of the mercy and grace of God.
You can see a more photos here.
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This continues to be such an incredible story of God's will and timing. Thanks so much for sharing it with your readers... anywhere along the way any number of people (and staff members) could have said no, and from the view of hindsight, they would have been saying no to God.
Great story! And, for all the UMers out there, now you can have an elder present anywhere!!
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