On a sunny Sunday afternoon in June, members of the Seacoast McClellanville Campus gathered at the town dock in a little fleet of boats before heading to the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. The “South End,” known by locals as “a secret island paradise” was the calm, shallow bay side. It was a perfect spot for a beach baptism. One by one, boats pulled onto the shore and the occupants piled out, carrying colorful beach towels, chairs, and coolers.
They awaited the arrival of a pontoon boat filled with those about to be baptized, along with their families, and friends.
Among the people who planned to get baptized that day were Adela, and sisters Ginny and Cecilia. For each of them, it was an important day, a day to declare their faith publicly through baptism after living through some extreme challenges. When they arrived on the pontoon, everyone waiting for them cheered, clapped, and shed a few tears in support of the life-changing decision they were about to make.
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE: ADELA
Adela was accompanied by her mom, brothers, cousins, and aunt and uncle on the pontoon. On the beach waited her friends who had introduced her to Seacoast a year earlier. They had invited her to Custom Student events, where she had been amazed at how welcomed she felt.
Adela’s parents had given her the freedom to make her own choice about her faith, and Adela loved the feeling of having a big family she could trust. This was especially important now, as her baptism came just two days after her father passed away after battling an illness for only a few, short months.
“I thought I already knew a lot about life,” Adela said. “But the experience of watching my dad’s illness taught me that I didn’t know much at all. All I do know confidently is that God is there for me, and I will always have him to fall back on.”
Adela’s father was a huge nature lover, so her decision to be baptized at the beach was a way she could honor him. “Pastor Ned made it so easy, and there were lots of people, so I didn’t have to do it alone,” Adela said.
NEWFOUND FAMILY: GINNY AND CECILIA
For a long time, Ginny drove by the Seacoast McClellanville Campus, but never stopped. New to the village, when she began making friends, they invited her to attend the church. Life had not worked out well for Ginny in many ways, and she realized she needed something different. Accepting an invitation to a small group, she attended with her sister, Cecilia, who was visiting from Myrtle Beach. The sisters were delighted with the group of genuine people who did not judge them or look down on them. “I’ve always felt there was something missing in my life,” said Ginny. “I felt alone.”
But, since joining Seacoast, Ginny’s life has turned around, and she is embracing her new family. When she heard the announcement about beach baptism, she wanted to be reborn. She grew up near the ocean in New Jersey and has such great memories, so the beach sounded like the perfect place to declare her new faith. Her sister, Cecilia, who is blind, wanted to be baptized too, but didn’t want to do it alone. They decided to take this incredibly important, life-changing step, together.
“We came out of the water laughing,” Ginny said.
REFLECT
Baptisms are held regularly at all Seacoast Campuses. If you are interested in being baptized, please visit seacoast.org/baptism for more information.
