Stories & Blog
Did I Hear That Right?
QUEBEC — Around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, the thought came to Crossworld worker Vince: Fill the baptismal tank at church.
But there aren’t any baptisms planned, he reminded himself.
Still, the words sat crystal clear in his mind: “Go fill up the baptismal tank.”
Despite the logic that told him to do otherwise, Vince didn’t want to miss an opportunity to follow the Holy Spirit. So he left to fill the tank at church.
When Vince returned home and told his wife where he had been, she returned his gaze with raised eyebrows.
“I didn’t know there was a baptism scheduled for today,” she said.
“There isn’t,” Vince shrugged in reply.
At church, Vince stood up to preach from God’s Word. Near the end of his sermon, he decided to invite the congregation to trust in Jesus for salvation — a practice he doesn’t do every week.
“If anyone understood the gospel this morning and wants to respond, please come forward,” Vince said before he closed his eyes in prayer.
When he opened his eyes, a woman stood in front of him!
Vince had met Camille the week before. She came to his office to ask about using the church building for an addiction-recovery program. During the meeting, Vince shared the gospel with her and she promised to come to church on Sunday.
Sure, I’ve heard that before, Vince had thought to himself at the time. But here she stood! And not only was she present, but she believed the good news about Jesus and wanted to be baptized to announce her faith in Him.
And just like that, Vince knew why God had told him to fill the baptismal tank that morning. For Camille … and for another new believer who heard Camille’s testimony and followed her example of trusting in Christ.
No, the ready baptismal tank didn’t bring about salvation. But it did bring about great rejoicing in the church — and in heaven — that day.
But there aren’t any baptisms planned, he reminded himself.
Still, the words sat crystal clear in his mind: “Go fill up the baptismal tank.”
Despite the logic that told him to do otherwise, Vince didn’t want to miss an opportunity to follow the Holy Spirit. So he left to fill the tank at church.
When Vince returned home and told his wife where he had been, she returned his gaze with raised eyebrows.
“I didn’t know there was a baptism scheduled for today,” she said.
“There isn’t,” Vince shrugged in reply.
At church, Vince stood up to preach from God’s Word. Near the end of his sermon, he decided to invite the congregation to trust in Jesus for salvation — a practice he doesn’t do every week.
“If anyone understood the gospel this morning and wants to respond, please come forward,” Vince said before he closed his eyes in prayer.
When he opened his eyes, a woman stood in front of him!
Vince had met Camille the week before. She came to his office to ask about using the church building for an addiction-recovery program. During the meeting, Vince shared the gospel with her and she promised to come to church on Sunday.
Sure, I’ve heard that before, Vince had thought to himself at the time. But here she stood! And not only was she present, but she believed the good news about Jesus and wanted to be baptized to announce her faith in Him.
And just like that, Vince knew why God had told him to fill the baptismal tank that morning. For Camille … and for another new believer who heard Camille’s testimony and followed her example of trusting in Christ.
No, the ready baptismal tank didn’t bring about salvation. But it did bring about great rejoicing in the church — and in heaven — that day.
Your part in this story...
Crossworld worker Vince asks you to pray for these requests.
- Pray that Camille and other new believers will be strengthened in their faith.
- Pray for our church’s light to shine brightly in our community.
- Pray that we as believers in Quebec will be marked by our love for God and one another.