Heather W.
1/5
I just wanted to share what I experienced attending this church again. I grew up in this church. I attended every Sunday morning with my family when I was young. I went to youth Bible study every Wednesday with my friends here. Back then it was large but pretty much everyone knew everyone and it was like one big family.
Although, I no longer agree with any church that has a 501c3, my children attend this church with their father during his time. Which is fine with me because they don't know anything about church and government relations and that's how it should be at their age. And, in my opinion, any Biblically correct learning is appreciated when they are young.
My 7yo decided she wanted to get baptized and although that decision was made without my knowledge, without consulting me, and without even an invite from her father. I wanted to support her decision although I am not sure at 7 you can even comprehend this commitment. However, this obviously isn't the church's fault... this is my fault but I just wanted to let you know the situation I was walking into. I didn't feel comfortable with any of it but it's not like I was going to tell her no and not support her decision.
The church was crazy busy and overwhelming as soon as we walked in the door. We were guided to a very pretty, friendly woman (bless her heart for putting up with me), whom immediately went to work helping us find the changing room and walking us through everything. She honestly was amazing and helpful. We received everything we needed including the number of her placement in the baptism line.
After watching movie clips, about 5 minutes worth of the actual sermon from the Bible, and the what seemed like constant pressure of "don't think about it... just get baptized" pretty much used as periods to sentences, I realized why my 7yo felt she NEEDED to do this. Not because God was speaking to her, not because she understood her commitment to God but because that's what the church told her she needed to do.
It was time... we were ushered to a back hallway were my daughters name quickly turned from her God given name to "Number 4". So, we made our way through the congested line asking what numbers everyone was to figure out where we belong in this spectacle. From then on she was just "number 4". Number 1 took their turn, then 2, then 3... My daughter got in the the pool looking lost and confused and before I could blink she whispered words no body could understand including herself, she was dipped, and quickly moved out of the way for number 5.
In a towel and wet clothes we were then lead all over because everyone had an opinion of where we needed to go (not the fault of our friendly helper, she took charge and worked as quickly as possible given the confusion from everyone else) but no one knew for sure. We made our way to an open bathroom farther away after we were able to get her clothes from the bathroom where she had initially changed. The line was out the door because, you know, "don't think about it... just get baptized". By the time I got her to a stall to get her changed for lips and cheeks were turning blue. She got dressed, we took her picture and we got out of there!
I have never experienced a "one of us" situation in a church like that before. Although, I do commend this church on the sheer amount of people they convince to get baptized; My hope is that those individuals understand for themselves why they are doing it and they are doing it based on their personal relationship with God. My daughter was "Number 4" for that service out of probably 16-18 others, not including the folks 20+ women lined up at the bathroom afterward. It makes me wonder what number she was given for the month, year, or in the general total. I suppose I will never know (not that I really want to) but I BET THEY DO!! This was a wonderful example of why I do not attend large, over the top churches... it's no longer about God, it's all about the numbers!
