February 24, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Baptismal waters link
long line of Texas Baptists
___"Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead"(Colossians 2:12).
___Dear Brooks,
___Your baptism last Sunday was a very special time for your whole family, along with your church family. You are a terrific young man, and I am very thankful you are my grandson.
___Thank you for wanting me to assist your pastor in your baptism. And thank you for coming to visit with me about trusting Jesus as your Savior and making your public profession of faith in him. As we visited about this, your excellent knowledge of the Bible and of the plan of salvation showed the wonderful influence of your home and church, including Sunday school and Royal Ambassadors. You knew that when the Bible says "all have sinned" that this included you, and you wereaware that the Bible teaches that "the wages of sin is death." How wonderful that you also realized that Jesus' words recorded in John 3:16 included you, too: "whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
WILLIAM M. PINSON
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___What a thrill it was when you prayed asking Jesus to forgive your sins and to come live in your heart. How I thank God for your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and your willingness to let the world know about your faith.
___Brooks, your explanation of baptism was very clear. You understand baptism does not save a person from sin but is a way of showing you have been saved from sin by Jesus. You talked about baptism being a picture of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection and an indication of our death to an old way and finding new life in Christ. What an inspiration to me you were as we visited!
___As you entered the baptismal waters, you followed in the steps of a host of other Texas Baptists, including six generations in our own family. Not all Texas Baptists have been baptized inside a church building in a baptistery as you were. Some Texas Baptists, such as Gen. Sam Houston, were baptized in creeks. Others, such as Gail Borden Jr. of Borden milk fame, were baptized in the Gulf of Mexico. Still others were baptized in horse troughs and ponds. But all had in common with you faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and a testimony of identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus through immersion in water. That is exciting, isn't it?
___Now that you are growing as a Christian, your family and your church will help you just as they helped you to come to saving faith in him. But much of your growth as a Christian is up to you. Reading the Bible, such as the one I gave you which belonged to your great, great uncle, will be essential. So are prayer, worship and ministry to others in Christ's name (such as when your dad and brother and you help to feed the hungry homeless people). And sharing your faith in Christ with others, encouraging them to become a Christian too, also will help you to grow in Christ.
___Brooks, your grandmother and I pray for you every day as you grow not only physically but also spiritually. I believe God has great things in store for you and you can do great things with and for God. We love you and are proud of you.
___Love,
___Granddad (sometimes
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