“Jesús te amamos
Cuanto te amamos
Y te adoramos nuestra corazón”

Today was a big day for us at Casa Guatemala, a day to celebrate new life in Christ. Seven people from Casa were baptized!!! 

Normally we meet in the city of Mixco on Friday nights for a service with all our friends from the surrounding communities. But Casa has begun to partner with Access Church just outside the city and was invited to join Access for their baptisms. So 7 of the families, met us at church this morning for the service and then the baptisms.

My prayer earlier today was that we would worship both in spirit and in truth... If I’m being honest, my friends would probably be more comfortable in the familiar parking garage we meet in on Friday’s, with the hard metal chairs spaced 6 feet apart, the music and the message all in Spanish. But my hope and prayer was that our worship in this place would transcend all of that, that they would be welcomed in simply because somos la iglesia, the body of Christ. 

I was in the middle of making sure everyone had a seat at a table and a way to hear the message translated, when Leandro ended up in my arms. Music was starting so I just held him for a while. We had already gone to the first service, so I was familiar with some of the songs in Spanish, which meant that entering into a spirit of worship was easier the second time around. I would sway and move a little bit as I was singing. Eventually Leandro settled down and when he laid his head on my chest I could hear him singing too, “Jesús te amamos, Cuánto te amamos...” I looked down to see his little hand reaching toward the sky, just like mine. He was sharing in my worship. 

Today, one of the people baptized was a 17 year old, who had decided earlier today he wanted to be saved and be baptized. It was one of those, "So what is keeping me from being baptized?" moments, ya know? He recognized that his life needed to change, he needed Jesus. He was following in the example of his mom, who was also being baptized today. 

One of the men walking in new life in Christ, who also was baptized today, took responsibility for his 4 children earlier this year. He now has the opportunity to be a godly example of a life lived in obedience to Christ to those precious souls. 

This is it, this is us ushering the next generation into worship of the one true God and King. They’re watching. They’re hungry for spirit and truth, they only need an invitation. 

“Lord send revival
Lord send it now
A move of Your Spirit
Heaven break out

Come now in power
Cover this land
Like You've done it before
Would You do it again”

(Photo Credit: Paula Johnson - Thanks for capturing these moments!!)