BRI’S STORY
One of the most emotional and renewing things I’ve witnessed and participated in is Baptism. It’s a public celebration of change, of faith, and of obedience. I remember first; the astonishment and then the tears of joy as I got to witness Bri take that step. Read how Bri came to that decision.

“2016 was not my dream year. The start to my new year was a rough one. Little did I know, it would only get rougher in the weeks to follow.
So, I hadn’t been to church in quite a while. I had stumbled off the path and God was trying to get my attention. Well, He did. I was literally brought to my knees. He had opened my eyes and showed me that there needed to be a change in me. It was either that, or things were going change and I wasn’t going to like it.
I was told people don’t change. I’ve witnessed change first hand. My dad was an alcoholic for as long as I could remember. He’d quit, then after a few months, go right back to it. I didn’t trust him. I was close to being done. Then my sister was diagnosed with Leukemia in July of ’08. Dad stopped drinking. Just a little over a year later, she passed away. I thought for sure dad was gonna go back to drinking. But he didn’t. It’s been 9 years and he’s still going strong. I trust him now. We have a relationship that I never thought we could have. So…do people change? Yes they do. They can. It may take a life altering situation, but they can change. Which is what made me want to change. I knew I had to let go of all the anger and bitterness built up inside me. It was hard. Harder than I thought it would be. But with some counseling, prayers, going back to church and reading some books, I made that change. I could feel it from the inside. I felt calmer. Happier. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. A weight that I had carried for far too long. Things were better and looking up.
Then one Sunday it was baptism Sunday. I felt this tugging at my heart. I just kept hearing “If you do this, I will bless you”. So at the last minute, I went up and got baptized. I went public with my faith. And the best part, was that my 10 year old son was there to witness it.
So…did 2016 end on a good note? Yes, I’d say it did. I got to ring in 2017 with my husband and kids (who were in bed). I went into the new year knowing I was a New Creation, and that no matter what comes my way, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new.” Socrates