Baptism at Hawaiian Falls

I’ve baptized in the River Jordan and a few other rivers here and there. But yesterday was my first time at a waterpark. Teaching Pastor Jarrett Stephens and I baptized 24 in “Lazy River” at Hawaiian Falls. It was an incredible experience, not just for me and Jarrett and the men, women and children who were baptized, but also for the more than 1,000 who came out to celebrate this special time.

We have a great relationship with Hawaiian Falls and its president, David Busch, since it opened a handful of years ago. During the summer, the park closes to the public on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. so that our members can invite guests at discount prices.

It’s been a wonderful outreach opportunity for us. The cool thing about yesterday ... not just the fact that the water was refreshing in the heat of this Texas summer ... was that we were privileged to baptize David and his 19-year-old son, Brian. How awesome is that? (Here's a photo of them being baptized.)

I was asked by a TV reporter if this was an unusual place to baptize. I said Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan not in a church. And while it’s great to baptize people in a church, the outdoors is great, too, because the message of the Good News is what baptism symbolizes, and it should be wide open. So I don’t think it could be more ideal, having it in a wide open space where more than 1,000 could witness ... and then go ride The Torpedo!