At Hoboken Grace, we celebrate this public display of inward faith in a BIG way. After their baptisms last week, Chris and Melissa sat down with Hoboken Grace’s Stories Team to talk about why they decided to take the step of baptism, who they shared this moment with and the advice they’d give others who are considering baptism as well. Read our conversation with them below.

CHRIS

HOBOKEN GRACE STORIES TEAM: How are you feeling right now?

CHRIS: I am feeling incredible! I am feeling wet, but I am feeling loved and embraced! It

was so incredible to be there up on stage and to just feel the love of my community around me. To answer the questions from Pastor Chris, as to where my faith is, the answers just came out so naturally. I am new to Hoboken Grace, and over the past few months I just felt God’s love growing greater and greater in my life and this [baptism] was the logical step to take, to profess my faith, and to do it in front of this great group of people.

STORIES TEAM: Who was up there with you?

CHRIS: I was with my parents, who are not members of the church, so for them to be here with me was incredible. I was with my wife and also my dinner group. Without the community of my dinner group, I do not think I would’ve been abl

e to make this step. I also felt everyone in the audience with me, too. People who I have seen before and people whose names I do not know…they felt like family in that moment.

STORIES TEAM: For another Hoboken Grace community member who may be thinking about taking this step, what would you say to them?

CHRIS: Don’t delay! I delayed. I talked with Anthony about doing this awhile ago and for whatever reason, I didn’t. I’d say, ‘don’t delay!’ Read scriptures. There is no reason for you to put this off and to wait. Just do it, it is worth it!

MELISSA

HOBOKEN GRACE STORIES TEAM: How are you feeling right now?

MELISSA: Relieved! I was incredibly nervous to the point that I was crying…I don’t like being the center of attention, so I am relieved!

STORIES TEAM: What made you take the step of baptism?

MELISSA: I turned 30 two days ago and I have been part of the church for almost three years (Easter 2017). I said, ‘You know what, it is time.’ I am trying to get more involved in the church, but I work Sundays. So even if it’s the morning setup, at least I am doing something. I feel like I have grown closer to God.

STORIES TEAM: You mention ‘growing closer to God,’ so what did it feel like coming out of the water today?

MELISSA: It felt like an incredible amount of peace, and very few times have I felt that.

STORIES TEAM: Who was up there with you?

MELISSA: My mom, my friends from my dinner group, and just people that I have met volunteering and along the way in church.

STORIES TEAM: For another Hoboken Grace community member who may be thinking about taking this step, what would you say to them?

MELISSA: Do it. Even if you are nervous about how many people are around, remember it is something you are doing for yourself and you are doing for God.

Click here to learn more if you are wondering about the step of baptism, and going public with the decision to follow Jesus!