from the President PAUL MSIZA

PAUL MSIZA

THE DOOR OF SALVATION

On February 21 this year we had a baptism service at Peniel

Salem Baptist Church. It is like listening to the first cry of the baby after birth, when you hear a new believer tell how God led them to walk through the door of salvation. All the candidates who were baptized on the day were between 25 and 39 years old except for one senior lady who was in her late seventies. We adhere to this good practice by Baptist churches that those who are going to be baptized are given a time to present a brief testimony about their conversion. The congregation listened with much interest to every testimony and there is that shout of Amen and Hallelujahs. This is one of the most special moments in the church. The whole service is charged with emotions, as the new converts stand before the congregations. Some tremble with fear as they stand for the first time before the congregation. But when the teacher of the class calls the names of the candidates and presents them so that they may give their testimony, there is that moment of cheering and praises to God. The cheering and praises put the candidates at ease, making them know they have taken a noble step. The Lord Jesus said these words: I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

On that Sunday all candidates gave their brief word of testimony but when Ms. Qothiwe Maria Mahlangu (the oldest candidate) took the microphone to give her testimony, time stopped as the church listened to her story of conversion. With tears pouring down her face, she began her testimony by thanking God for salvation. She was a very committed member in her church, which is one of the African Initiated denominations. For the past 18 years she lived with her sister who relentlessly witnessed to her about the Lord Jesus Christ but for those 18 years she resisted and did not want to hear anything about being born again. Now she thanked God who kept the door of salvation wide open for her, even when she was stubborn and resisting the grace of salvation.

She thanked God that for 18 years her sister did not give up but kept on talking to her about the gospel. Her sister was driven by the conviction that there is no other door that leads to life except Jesus Christ. Ms. Martha thanked God that her life did not

end before she entered through that door of salvation. The church listened as she expressed how she had to fight her own doubts and fears. She had lived many years following a certain belief and now she was convicted and convinced to take a step and put her faith In Christ. It was a battle for her to forsake her old faith and walk through the door of salvation. The day she came forward in response to the invitation to accept Christ as her Lord and Savior, her sister cried tears of joy. On this day she was going to be baptized, to be united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Oh! What a blessed day of celebration. After listening to these testimonies and especially Ms. Martha’s, I felt reluctant to preach. I just wanted to go on with praise choruses and go to the pool to baptize these lovely new believers. Every time we have these special moments it is a reminder to the church to evangelize. The challenge is that evangelism is gradually dying in some churches. This happens when we go on with our church programs for months and sometimes for the whole year without baptizing new converts. The door of salvation is wide open and the church must lead people to the door. This is the core of our belief, that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior. That those who come to Christ through faith should be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that they are completely united with Christ and are added to the body, which is his church.

Since Peniel Salem does not have a church building, we use swimming pools for baptism. We conduct our baptisms in the afternoon, on a nice hot summer day. The congregation gathers by the pool and chants choruses as the new converts enter the water of baptism. This is a special moment for new converts but also for the members. We are reminded of that day when we walked through that door for the first time. This is the moment to renew our commitment and our faith is revived. Above all, heaven rejoices, Christ is lifted high and glorified. Those who hear these testimonies of conversion and witness the baptism are convicted. My prayer is that we will continue with the work of evangelism

BWA President Paul Msiza

baptizes Qothiwe Maria Mahlangu at Peniel Salem Baptist church in Pretoria, South Africa

and be patient with people because God is at work. We shall see the results in due time. May these words from the Lord Jesus sound fresh at all times: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mat 28:19) Amen.

OCTOBER/DECEMBER 2016

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