Author: Elizabeth Mullins

Join us in praising and thanking God for the people who have been baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Here are just a few of the congregations that celebrated baptisms in the recent months:

• • River Road, Oregon, U.S.
  • Polokwane, Limpopo, Republic of South Africa
  • Melborne, Florida, U.S.
  • Logan, Queensland, Australia
  • Euless, Texas, U.S.
  • Toronto East, Ontario, Canada
  • Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
  • Carina, Queensland, Australia
  • Manchester, New Jersey, U.S.

Read on for an inspiring story of one congregation’s service.

Baptism and Rededication Service

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Grace Communion Ladson in Ladson, SC, held a Baptism and Rededication service immediately following the morning worship. Six individuals were baptized (two adults and four teens/pre-teens). In addition, twelve more individuals participated in the Rededication service. In the weeks leading up to this special day, there was a growing sense of joy, excitement, and anticipation as our pastor prepared the entire congregation for the occasion. When we entered the sanctuary that morning, the atmosphere was filled with elation, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was unmistakable.

Pastor Tommie Grant led the service, assisted by elders, Dr. Alvin Simmons and GCI CFO Rose Hamrick. Each rededicated participant received specific prayers and the laying on of hands, with prayers focused on their continued growth in God’s grace, faith, love, and their involvement in ministry. Following the prayers, each participant was presented with a certificate to commemorate the day.

After the service, many participants shared how meaningful the experience was for them. Some commented how excited they were in building their personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each expressed that, despite trying to put it into words, it was hard to fully describe how they felt.

The entire congregation rejoiced and praised God together, recognizing that we were being renewed, strengthened, and equipped to continue serving our great God even more.

Janie Wright, Faith Avenue Champion
Ladson, SC, US

Many years ago, a little village in Austria was about to be taken by Napoleon’s conquering army. It was Easter morning. At dawn the bells of the village pealed out across the countryside, celebrating that Christ was risen. A startled Napoleon thought the bells were celebrating the arrival of the Austrian army and so he retreated in haste. A victory was won without even fighting a battle. Peace reigned in the countryside.

During Easter, the bells are ringing again, celebrating the fact that Christ has risen. We do not have Napoleon’s army threatening us, but we struggle from without and from within. Battles that often make us feel defeated.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

The cause or the sting of death is sin. Through Christ we have the final victory over death. No one can take this victory away from us or from Jesus. Christ defeated the power of darkness, the power of Satan by which we were subjected to it. Christ paid the price! We do not need to fear the future. The proof that Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to overcome death, is seen in his resurrection.

Christ is risen! Are we joyfully celebrating the victory that we have won in Christ not just during this Easter season, but each day of our life? Or are we still living a life of discouragement and defeat?

Prayer
Thank you, God, that we can already be resurrected to a new life here on earth NOW! We celebrate that because Christ rose, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. You give all who believe in you a new heart. You gave us power to overcome. May our vision of Christ continue to expand our thoughts and hearts. Amen.

Santiago Lange, Pastor
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

This devotion was adapted from an article. Read the full article here.

Citizens of God’s kingdom look to Jesus’ teaching to understand kingdom living. What did Jesus say about entering the kingdom?

We invite you to read the following excerpt from a 3-part series, “What Did Jesus Teach.” Read the full article here.

“The tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you,” Jesus told the priests and elders (Matthew 21:31). How were they going in? By believing Jesus’ words about righteousness and repentance (verse 32) and by doing what God wants (verses 28-31). People enter the kingdom by repenting and believing the gospel.

We must “receive the kingdom,” Jesus said (Luke 18:17). He talked about how hard it was for rich people to “enter the kingdom” (verse 24). The disciples then asked, “Then who can be saved?” (verse 26). Here, we see several phrases used to indicate the same thing: receive the kingdom, enter the kingdom, be saved. These are different ways of talking about the same thing.

Jesus did not preach much about the details of the future kingdom. Rather, he preached about the way citizens of his kingdom can live and think in this age. He told us how our sins are forgiven. He told us to repent and believe the gospel. His disciples preached the same (Luke 9:6; Mark 6:12).

The kingdom of God is here, Jesus said. It begins right now. In the future the kingdom will have great glory — God will see to that. There will be fabulous future rewards, but the question that Jesus brings is, are we willing to be in the kingdom right now?

Right now, the kingdom is small (Matthew 13:31-33). Currently, the kingdom has both good and bad in it (verses 24-30). The kingdom is waiting for growth (Mark 4:26-29). Eventually, the kingdom will come in power, but now, it is small. The good news is that we can enter it.

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom would come (Luke 17:20). He replied that the kingdom already existed in their midst (verse 21). But they could not yet see it. The kingdom will eventually be seen by everyone, but the King had to suffer and die first (verses 22-25).

Jesus also told the Pharisees, “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Matthew 12:28, Luke 11:20). The kingdom is here, he said, and the proof is in the power. The kingdom of God is demonstrating its authority over Satan’s rule — and this proof continues in the church today. Just as the kingdom could be seen in the ministry of Jesus, it is seen in the ministry of his church, too. Jesus predicted that his followers would do even greater works than he did (John 14:12). The kingdom is growing.

The kingdom of God is here, Jesus said. People did not need to wait for a conquering Messiah. God is already ruling, and we turn our hearts toward him now. The kingdom announcement demands a decision. It is a call to action. We do not need to wait — there are things to be done right now.

The good news about the kingdom is not just that it is near — it is that we can be part of it. Nearness is not good news if we miss out! Our sins would disqualify us, but in Jesus our sins are forgiven. We can believe in Jesus and turn toward God. We can be in the kingdom of God forever, and that is wonderfully good news!

Michael Morrison, GCS President
Glendora, CA, US