Baptism Service June 2025
Baptism Service JUNE 2025
Baptism represents a profound spiritual transformation—dying to one's old life and emerging into new life in Christ. It's a public declaration of an inner change: forgiveness, restoration, and commitment to following Jesus. The testimonies shared during a baptism service revealed God's persistent faithfulness even when people wander far from Him. Many shared how they had drifted from their faith: Malia became lukewarm after 20 years as a Christian, prioritizing her children's activities over her relationship with God until her marriage collapsed; Antonio abandoned his faith after receiving a rugby contract, believing he could succeed through his own strength; and several young people discovered something essential was missing in their lives following personal tragedies. In each case, God met them in their darkest moments—whether through addiction, anxiety, or grief—and drew them back to Himself. Their stories challenge us to examine where we might be trying to succeed on our own strength, what God-shaped void we might be trying to fill with other things, and whether we're fully committed or merely going through religious motions.
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Finding Your Way Back to God: Lessons from Baptism Stories
Have you ever felt lost, disconnected from your faith, or wondered if God could truly transform your life? The powerful testimonies shared during a recent baptism service reveal how God works in our lives, even when we've wandered far from Him.
What Does Baptism Symbolize in the Christian Faith?
Baptism is more than just a religious ritual—it's a powerful symbol of what happens spiritually inside us. When someone is baptized by full immersion, going completely under the water represents dying to their old life. As they emerge from the water, it symbolizes being born again into a new life in Christ.
This outward expression reflects an inner transformation that has already taken place: forgiveness of sins, restoration from brokenness, and the beginning of a new life following Jesus. It's a public declaration that says, "I've died to my old life, and I've been forgiven. I'm clean, refreshed, and new."
How Does God Transform Lives Even After We've Wandered Away?
Several powerful testimonies shared during the baptism service demonstrated God's faithfulness even when we've been unfaithful:
Finding Your Way Back After Drifting Away
Malia shared how she had been a Christian for over 20 years but became "lukewarm" in her faith. She became so involved in her children's rugby club that she "forgot the Lord." She stopped attending church, stopped praying, and thought she "had it all."
But then everything came crashing down—her marriage fell apart, and her children seemed lost and out of control. In that moment of crisis, she realized what was missing: her relationship with God. She began praying fervently, even fasting, and giving everything to the Lord despite feeling there was no "light at the end of the tunnel."
Gradually, she witnessed transformation in her family. Her daughter, who once "hated church" and "hated everyone," began moving toward God and changing. Her other children followed, and even her husband started coming back to the Lord.
When You Think You Can Make It On Your Own
Antonio shared how he grew up in a God-centered family but was just "going through the motions" of faith. After high school, he was blessed with a three-year contract with a rugby team and thought his future was set. He began drifting away from family, friends, and God, thinking he "could do it on [his] own strength and knowledge."
This led him to live on his own in Brisbane, where he declined an offer to play in the World Cup, turned to drinking every day and drugs, and even stopped playing rugby. But God didn't give up on him. One night, he broke down when he heard God say to him, "Son, it's time you come home." He returned to his family and church after three years away.
Finding What's Missing in Your Life
Several young people shared how they discovered that something was missing in their lives—and that something was a relationship with God:
Ziggy shared that although his family had always been Christians, they never attended church. At a camp, he broke down crying, realizing he needed God in his life. Since then, everything has changed, including his behavior at school.
Joash described how after his father passed away, instead of turning to drugs or other worldly pleasures, he was "gripped by God." He felt that when part of his life went away, God filled that void.
Taylin, the first Christian in his family, started attending youth group when invited by a friend. When he lost his father to cancer, he went to a dark place and stopped attending church for a while, but the community helped him return.
How Does God Work Through Pain and Suffering?
A common thread through many testimonies was how God met people in their darkest moments:
Sione described how his life had become a cycle "dependent on hatred and substance abuse." He surrounded himself with people who affirmed his destructive lifestyle but eventually realized that material wealth is fleeting while spiritual riches are eternal.
Harley shared how anxiety and panic attacks led him to rely too much on himself. The Lord showed him that she couldn't put herself "in the big God-shaped puzzle piece that was missing inside."
Joash found comfort in Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" after losing his father.
These stories remind us that God often does His deepest work in our lives during our most painful seasons. When everything seems to be falling apart, He's actually putting the pieces back together in a new way.
Life Application
The transformative power of these baptism stories challenges us to examine our own relationship with God. Here are some questions to reflect on this week:
Where are you in your spiritual journey? Are you fully committed to following Jesus, or have you become lukewarm like some of these individuals once were?
What "God-shaped puzzle piece" might be missing in your life? Like Harley discovered, are you trying to fill that space with something or someone else?
Is there an area where you're trying to succeed on your own strength rather than relying on God, like Antonio was?
Has God been calling you to take a step of faith that you've been hesitating to take? Maybe it's baptism, returning to church, or recommitting your life to Him.
This week, challenge yourself to listen for God's voice saying, "It's time to come home." Whether you've never known Him, have drifted away, or simply need to deepen your relationship with Him, He's waiting with open arms to transform your life just as He did for these individuals.
Remember, as Malia discovered: "No matter what you're going through, no matter what anybody says, God is always there by your side." -
A discussion guide for the sermon can be found here.
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Alrighty, who's ready for baptisms?
Okay, so wonderful baptismal candidates, you know who you are. I want you to come on up the front and stand across the front here on the stage with me right in the middle and across.
Okay, someone come and stand up the front here. I'll stand in the middle.
Here they are. Let's give these guys a hand. Hey.
So the first thing we want to say is we are really proud of you and well done for taking this step. It's a bit of a nerve wracking one, but here's the thing. I've never met a person who's made a decision to get water baptized, who's regretted it. Every person I've ever met who said, yes, I want to get water baptized. I said, wow, that was awesome.
It took some courage, but it was an amazing experience and I'm glad I did it for God. And so, yes, you're going to have a great day and we are proud of you, we're supporting you. And here's the thing, if you're here watching loved one, this is how we do water baptisms at Connect Christian Church. We've got a tub here and it's full of freezing cold water. I asked them to put extra ice in there.
Because following Jesus shouldn't be easy. You've got to take. No, we didn't do that. It's nice and warm and nice and yeah, it's comfortable. And what we do is we baptize here what we call by full immersion, which basically just means we dunk you under the water, you go right under, head under, and for only like 1.2 of a second, right?
And then you back up and then you come back out of the water. And the reason we do that is because, mainly because that's the way that Jesus was baptized and the way the early church baptized people. They, they went under, Jesus went into the Jordan river and he went into the water and came back up. And that's how they did it in the early church. The reason they did it that way, or one of the reasons, is because water baptism is a symbolism of what's happening spiritually inside.
And so what we believe Jesus said this, that he said, you must be born again. He was talking about a spiritual rebirth that happens when Christ comes into our heart. When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we receive his forgiveness, forgiveness for everything we've done wrong and everything that's been done wrong against us. And we are given a new life, right? Our old life, which is dying and decaying and hurt and broken, is replaced with a new life in Christ.
And he gives us a brand new life that says, you're saved, you're forgiven, you're restored, and you're alive forevermore. And you're going to live for eternity with Jesus. But that life starts right now. It begins right the moment you give your life to Christ. And so you live for him and you, and you tell others about him and you know that you're going to be with him forever.
And this is what water baptism is about, why we go under the water, It's a symbol of I died to my old life. And it's a symbol of what's already happened inside. The pain, the sin, the regrets, all of that stuff, it's been forgiven, it's over, alright? God doesn't make you go, I'm going to keep making you remember that for the rest of your life. He goes, I forgive you and I cleanse you and I make you whole.
You go under that life and when you come back out of the water, it signifies the new life. I'm born again, born again. And so keep that in mind as you're going under that water going, just remind yourself, say, God, I've died to My old life, I've died to that and I've been forgiven. And when you come up, you go, I'm clean, I'm refreshed, I'm new. This is what's happened already in here and this is what the power of this symbol and that's why it is so powerful.
And that's why we do it the way we do. Because we believe in the life transforming power of Jesus Christ, don't we? We believe that he is the way, the truth and the life. And I want to encourage you today, if you have never been water baptized and some of you might want to say, I want to give my life to Jesus today and at the end of the service I'm going to give you an opportunity to say a prayer, to do that, maybe you want to come back into relationship with him. Someone here in the number of people, you might say, you know what, I want to get water baptized.
And I'll give you two options or three actually to do that because you might say, I need to get water baptized right now. And if that's you, you can come up the front while we're baptizing others and you say, hey, can I join in? And we had someone who did that today, joined the group of people getting water baptized. And every year we do that. Every time we do water baptism, someone says, I want to get water back in one of our churches.
So you can do that today. You might say, tonight we've got a water baptism service at Casey at 5pm in our cranberry service, you might say, I'm going to go there and get water baptized. You can do that. Or the other option you have a number of these guys did is you might say, hey, I want to put my name down to get water baptised. The next time you do in a three months time when you do service, can I put my name down?
Because I've got the courage, I want to follow. That's what a number of these guys did. So can I encourage you? If you haven't been water baptized and you follow Jesus, make a decision to get water baptized. It's the best thing you can do.
You will not regret it. And so that'll be available to you either right now or at the end of the service, you can put your name down. And we'd love to do that. Here's the thing, we're asking these guys some questions and questions about your faith because I am assuming that you are all followers of Jesus. And so we're going to ask you that because we don't want to just assume.
We want you to confess that that's part of why we do water baptism in front of everyone, that you're confessing in front of your fellow believers and family and friends that you're a follower of Jesus Christ. So I'm going to ask you three questions. You just have to say yes or I do to those questions. And then we're going to pray for you. And then we're going to start hearing some test testimonies and start seeing you guys baptized.
Are you ready? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God? Do you believe that he died on the cross for your sin and rose again on the third day? Have you accepted him as your personal Lord and Savior? Then on the confession of your faith, we're now going to baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
And why don't we pray for them as a group together? If you feel comfortable, reach out your hand. We're going to pray for you guys right now. Lord, we just pray, God, as these amazing men and women of God are getting water baptized today, Lord, we ask for your anointing upon them, Lord, we ask for your protection over them, God. I ask that you'd fill them with your holy spirit and let him feel your presence, God, in a tangible way today.
Let them sense your love and your grace, that you're proud of them, God that they are chosen and called, and God, that they can do great things in this world to follow you, God, and make a difference for you, God. We pray it. We ask it in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and all God's people said Amen. Amen. Alrighty.
We got this group. Group. Okay, so you. This group can go grab a seat for a sec. We've got a couple of groups.
We got two groups. So this group one are taking the shoes up. Come into the middle.
Okay, group one and two. So Malia, Anton, Sito, Stephanie, Angela, Sion, Harley, you guys come up the front, man. We got some powerhouse people getting baptized today.
We got some movers and shakers. Malia.
I don't mess with Malia.
Malia is Fua's older sister.
Fua doesn't mess with her either.
Awesome. Woman of God. All right, so this is what we're gonna do. I want you guys to introduce yourselves and. And then share what you want to share.
Yeah. To the congregation and then hand it to the next person who'll do the same thing. And we want to hear. And let's support them and listen in as they share today. So, hi, Money.
My name is Sita and today I've decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Couple years ago, I didn't really like coming to church because God is good.
So a couple of years ago I didn't really like coming to church because, like, I was like, oh, it's so long ago, like it's boring or something. And then when I want to use, it was like something new. Like we got to play games, we got to learn more about Jesus in like a fun way to like, make it easier to understand and stuff. So it really touched my heart. And then after you, I started to like, read my Bible and stuff, like a little bit more.
So, yeah. And I just like to say a huge shout out to Pastor Fua and Kai for encouraging me to grace, because without them, I wouldn't be standing up here.
Morning church.
For those who don't know me, my name is Malia.
I'm a bit nervous, but it's all good.
I've been a Christian for over 20 years and you could say that I've been lukewarm.
But my husband and my five children, which two are up here, have been at Connect Church for a while while now. And most of my children all serve. And so a little testimony.
Six years ago, six years ago, I was fully involved in a rugby club which all my kids played.
I was so involved that I forgot the Lord and that I was. Every weekdays I'll be at training or hanging out with my friends at the club. And then during the weekend I would go to the games and then I would miss church. I didn't want to pray anymore. I thought I had it all.
I thought, oh, this is a good life. Missing just church. But then after that I just, yeah, just drifted away from him. And then a year later, a year later, you could say everything came crushing down.
My marriage fell apart. My children were, I would say, going off the rails. They were all lost and out of control.
But God is good. So I knew that something was missing in my household.
And that was the moment that when everything fell apart, I needed to come back to him. I cried, I prayed. I've never prayed like how I prayed when troubles came. I got down on my knees and every night I would cry. And I had help with some of my brother and his wife and some of the people at Connect that were encouraging me.
But I knew deep down that no one else could help me. I have to help myself. And the Lord has always been there for me. But I Just neglected him and pushed him away. So I started praying hard.
I even fast. Can you believe it? I even fast. And I gave it all to the Lord. And I, I knew that at that time I didn't see there was going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
But I just kept pursuing and kept pushing on while everything else was falling apart around me.
And then I started to get suicidal depression and you name it, I had it all. But I just kept going because of my kids and because God is good.
And then all of a sudden, things started shifting in my family. My kids the started going towards the Lord. I saw my older daughter Faith changing right before my eyes. I saw she hated church, she hated everyone, like the whole world.
But then I saw her started moving towards God and changing. And then my other two started changing. And then my husband started coming back to the Lord. We're not perfect. No one is perfect.
But at that time I noticed the difference and I thought, wow. I want to be like my kids, hanging on, moving forward. Because there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what you're going through, no matter what anybody says, God is always there by your side. And so today I'm standing here with two of my boys to give God the glory that he deserves and also to renew my heart, soften my soul, because I want to walk like him, talk like him, and I want to follow Jesus.
So thank you, family.
Good morning, church. Yeah, this is my mom. My name is Antonio, if you don't know. But the main reason why I want to get baptized today is that God has done so much in my life that I can't ignore his calling upon me.
I come from a God center family, so I'm not new to Christ. However, I have been a lukewarm Christian myself growing up. When I was young, we always went to church and I was always going through the motions as if it was just a routine. There's a lot that's happened in my life and there's a reason why I'm still alive today. When I was younger, I couldn't hold my temper.
I was always angry. Even to this day, I still try my best, but I simply can't. I was either getting into fights, breaking something or breaking everything.
But I simply can't do anything without God. And that's the main reason why I want to make this statement today as I give my life to Christ.
There was this one time though, where God was blessed me. In 2021 when I graduated high school, it was A crucial time in my life where I was deciding on what was to happen after school. And I got blessed with a three year contract with the Melville Rebels. I signed straight after school. Seeing my eyes, I thought I had my future set towards the end of 2022 I started drifting, even distancing myself from family, friends and God himself.
All I was thinking to myself was that I could do it on my own strength and knowledge. Which then led me on to living on my own in Brisbane.
I got an offer in 2023 for the World Cup, Australia under 20s. But I didn't even take was a big blessing from the Lord. But I was already going downhill. I was drinking it every day, turned to drugs, even stopped playing rugby. However, the Lord didn't give up on me as I could have been in jail, hospital or even dead.
He's been too faithful to me. One night at the start of this year in Brisbane, I broke down because of what the Lord had said to me. He said to me son, it's time you come home. And that's exactly what I did. I came back to my family in May, started coming back to church after three years and that's why I'm here today, to take that next step with my faith and recommit to the Father.
There's a verse here that I found recently, it's Proverbs 3, 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own life understanding. I just want to give a shout out to all my family, you know who you are, I hope.
I just want to say thank you to everyone you know who love you need Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hey Good satisfaction.
So here's what we're going to do. These guys are going to share in a minute but I'd like to baptize these guys as a family and Fua is going to come and help baptize and then we're going to hear from you guys and then the next group after that. But isn't that amazing? God wants to save families, he wants to transform families lives. And so if you are, here's how we're going to do this.
And you guys have got a bit of family around, there's faith there. So here's an example. So as your loved one, your friend comes to get baptized, if you can keep this scent a bit clear. So we've got the camera can take footage here, but if you want to gather on this side here and you can even come up on the stage a bit and just be around that person being praying for Them, supporting them, taking some footage. And then once your loved ones have been baptized, if you can go back to seat and give opportunity for the next group, that would be fantastic.
So you guys want to come around this side? Viewers and pastors are ready to come baptized and the bands and team are going to lead us in worship. Let's support, let's be praying and let's cheer them on as they get baptized. Amen. Let's do it.
God is enough of me.
Everything I need is in you.
Everything I need.
Christ is enough for me. Christ is in love only.
Everything I need within you.
Everything I need.
Christ is enough for me. Christ is enough of me.
Everything I need is you.
Everything I need. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. I have decided to follow Jesus. You're turning back so turning back.
I've decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. I have desire to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.
Christ is me. Christ is in love on me.
Everything I need is in you.
Everything I need.
He made.
Congratulations. Well done.
A few tears. Okay, your turn, guys. Thank you for standing, being patient. Why don't you come right over the middle and we're going to hear some more amazing testimonies. So Steph, over to you first.
I'm not going to tell you my life story because we'll probably be here till next week, so. But I'll probably cry. So Just a trigger warning.
I've been saved. So thank you everyone for being here. You're all my friends and family. But we've got one true Father and that's got upstairs. So thank you, everyone.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Sione. For all my life, I felt the burden of sin. I'd been to church growing up, but I never knew Jesus personally.
I stood on my own strength. And because of that, my life became a cycle, one that was dependent on hatred and substance abuse. I surrounded myself with people who affirmed my lifestyle. I thought these people had my back no matter what. And those same people encouraged me to walk further into a life of darkness.
I always used to think I'd be content when my bank account reached a certain number. Now I realize material wealth is fleeting, but my spiritual riches will be eternal. In the kingdom of heaven, I found myself searching for in the world that which can only be found in God. True and unconditional love. Jesus saved me from death.
He paid my debts and he took my burdens upon himself.
I've already made my decision to follow Christ. And this is my public declaration of that. Thank you for listening.
Hey, I'm Harley. I'm a first generation Christian in my family and I've been coming to connect since 2022, which was very soon after having my first experience with knowing God. The end the of 2021, anxiety got the better of me. I was having panic attacks for the first time in my life. Something I think happens when you rely too much on yourself and your own understanding of the world.
The Lord came to me through many people to shadow my worldview and provided safe exit in his presence. In praying to him, in being with him alone, I believe he was showing me I can't put myself or anyone else for that matter in the big God shaped puzzle piece that was missing inside. The love and peace I've felt since then has given me new life and I'm here to show the Lord my gratitude in being baptized. Thank you.
Fantastic. All right, once again, time to get baptized. Pastor Fua. Trevor. Let's pray for them.
Let's worship as we watch.
How great is my God Sing with me how great is the God and always is how great, how great is that God how great it's done.
Sing with me how great it's the God it always seems how great, how great it's the God sa and my heart will sing how great is the sky beneath the name above all name you are mighty of your faith I will see how great is our God beneath the name of all name.
You are worthy of your praise and my heart will sing how great is the God God.
So Leon, Leon, please leave me on it's not me I'm leaving on Leave me on oh Jesus keep me today Leave me on leave me on Le me on We Leon it's not me I'm leaning on Le me oh Jesus lead me on Leave me on me on Amazing. Amazing. Okay, we've got our last group of youth. Six youth coming on up. Up you come, guys and girls.
Well, guys, very.
Isn't this amazing? Hey, stand right up the front, right up here, guys. Everyone always goes to the edges. I know, I get it. I like to sit up the back myself.
All right. Okay, we're gonna go up this end. You can, if you go to the edge, you get to start. Hey. So once again, introduce yourself and then share what you'd like to share.
And you're gonna be awesome and we're proud of you. So over to you. My name's Ziggy. I came here with my mum, dad and brother Makuro. I chose God because I felt like there was Always something missing in my life.
We've always had, like, we've always been Christians, but we've never been to church. I've always. There was like a.
There's somewhere to go to, just like a daily routine.
I just knew I needed God in my life. I knew that until when we went to camp and I broke down crying.
That's when I knew I needed God in my life. Since then, everything things changed. And I know, like in school, I get in trouble a lot before I turned to God and he became my father. But everything's changed since. I've turned to him for help and he's helped me to come to peace with the harsh truth.
Helped me find out more about my culture and more about it.
Hey, everyone. My name is Joash. I'm giving my life to Jesus today. Throughout most of my life, you know, I've been Christian, but being lukewarm, you know, was baptized when I was born, but, you know, lukewarm. And then early last year, my dad passed away and, you know, thinking of all the possible ways it could have gone, you know, resulting to so many other things like drugs and, you know, other forms of pleasure in the world, I was just gripped by God and just like held on, you know, and he just held on to me throughout that.
And I just felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was filled when he just, he just, you know, when a part of my life went away, he just filled me. And a verse that, you know, helped me through that was Psalms 34:18, which is, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. So, yeah, so although I face many challenges now, there's no way I'm ever walking back. And that's why I decided to give my life to Jesus today.
Hi, my name is Jason Tah. I'm getting baptized today because I want to fully commit to Jesus.
Hi, my name is Will. Before I went to Connect Youth, I went to church, but I never read the Bible and I never prayed. But when Taylin introduced me to Connect Youth, then I started to realize that I wasn't really a Christian. And then I wanted to follow God and I was more interested. Thank you.
Hi everyone, my name is Taylin and I'm first Christian in my family.
And I started coming to Connect Youth about three years ago when one of my mates from primary school invited me to come. I'm like, oh, yeah, I'll be alright. Night. And the first night I came, it was singing and dancing. Have a good time.
And the first time I realized it's not just having a good time and all that kind of stuff. It was getting to know the Lord and getting to have a better connection with him. And then the end of last year I started coming to church only and only started coming just see how it was. I thought it was going to be boring at first but it wasn't. Great time and getting to know all the people and getting closer to God and I can good stuff and start this year.
I lost my part to cancer and hurt me a lot.
Really seemed to a dark place for a bit saying that sorry that kind of stopped me from coming to church and started not really feeling it anymore and then just connect. Jesus helped me a lot.
I wouldn't be standing there without Michael and Justin giving me lift every Friday night. Sit up for that. And then got told that baptisms were happening. And I just want to give my full faith to God and brute people.
I'm Tyler and all I really want to say today is that I publicly declare that I surrender my life to you, Jesus Christ.
Fantastic. I just want to say to you guys, you know, some woman and some men of God here and don't you let anyone in your life push you down because God's lifting you up and he's called you and he's called you to declare who he is and make a difference. And you are and you're going to. And we're proud of you. And I want to say this as well.
I'm proud of our youth. Michael and all of our youth leaders stepping up, doing an amazing job. And we're seeing lives change now, our young people and we got more lives to change. So well done. Give these guys a hand.
Michael. Coming up. We're gonna now baptize you. Let's go for it.
Pour all together love me all together worthy all together wonderful to me here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to save your might God you're all together lovely all together worthy all together wonderful to me.
I'll never know how much it cost to see my face upon Here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that you're my God. You're all together love me all better wor together wonderful to me I am a child of God I'm no longer I am a child of God I'm no longer I am a child of God.
You sent the sea so I could walk right through it. My fearless crown is perfect love you rescued me so I could stand me I Am a child of God no longer I am a child of God I'm no longer what place to be I am a child of God I am a child I am a child I am a child I know I am I'm no longer I am a child Child of God I'm no longer I am a child Sa mistake We will sing your praise oh Lord oh Lord, our God O praise thy name all the Lord our God Will praise his name Forever Lord, forever We will sing again O Lord O Lord of God Church why don't you stand up? We are going to finish this service with some praise. What an opportunity to tell God how good he is.
Begin to praise him.
Come on. Praise the name of the Lord our God oh, praise his name Forever Forever we will sing our praise for Lord for I Amen. Hey, you know, I was just there and I was.
Every story, every person, you know, in Connect Christian Church over this weekend, there's over 40 people getting water baptized. Every person is a miracle of God that has encountered the love of Jesus Christ. And we cannot, brothers and sisters, we cannot take that for granted. That is a move of God. That is a miracle of God.
That is proof that he is real and he wants to change lives. And he does change lives. And I want us to just give him all the honour and all the praise because it's Jesus that did that. It's God who's done this. It's God, Lord.
Come on. Why don't we praise him and say, thank you, Lord? God, we thank you, Jesus. We give you the honor, we give you the praise. We give you our gratitude.
Thank you, God, that you're moving in our city, you're moving in our communities, you're moving in our young people and our family.
Lord, we honor you and we praise you.
You know, he wants to keep on changing lives. Don't take it for granted, brothers and sisters, but if you're in this place right now, we're gonna. We're gonna pray before we finish. We're gonna pray because some of us aren't right with God, are we? And he loves you.
He loves you, you more than you know. He wants to save you. He wants to transform you. He wants to heal your heart. He wants to give you a life that even in the midst of pain and suffering, you have joy and hope and life forever.
This is the life. It's not a religion. It's not some kind of, you know, organizational meeting. This is transformation. This is what you were born for.
And we're going to say a prayer Right now, and you've seen you say, lord Jesus, I want to give my life to you. Maybe you've been far from God or maybe you're like some of these young people, first generation. It's the first time. No one else in your family, you've never done it before, but you want to do it. Today.
We're going to say a prayer. We're all going to repeat it together. We're going to bow our heads and close our eyes. If that's you, I want you to say this with all of us together. We're going to say a prayer to the Lord Jesus to give your heart and life to him.
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to give my life to you. I believe you're the Son of God and you died on the cross for my sin and you rose again from the dead. So forgive me Jesus, be my Lord and my Savior. I give my life to you. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen. Amen.
If you said that prayer or if you said it again, to give your life to Christ, we want to pray for you. We want to help you in that journey. One of the things we'd love to do is we'd love to give you a Bible. And at the near the bookshop, just on the right hand side there, there's a little table and we've got a free Bible. It's a really good one, but it's only available to those who are giving their lives to Christ and need a Bible.
It helps you with your walk with God. And so we've saved those up, bought those for you. If you go over there, there's something, someone there would love to give that to you, might want some prayer and they can pray with you. They'll give you a Bible and we want to help you on your journey with Christ. And so make sure you do that at the end of the service.
As I said before, if you want to get water baptised next time, go put your name down at the Get Connected desk. It's one of the best things spiritually you'll ever do in your life. Well, who had a good day in church? Hey, who's glad they came?
Next week I'm going to be bringing the word. God's put the something on my heart. I think it's going to be a blessing. Can I pray for you before you go? As you're walking into fire.
Hang on a sec, let me pray for you. God's blessing. Lord, I pray for God's people in this place today, that they would know that you're with them as they're walking out, as they're going in, in their workplace, in their homes, that sense the presence and the love of God. And know, God, that you are greater in them than anything else and anyone else that's in this world. Lord, we pray it in the name of Jesus and all God's people said, amen.
God bless you guys.