Michigan

This past spring, I (Samantha Rae Parkey) was baptized. It was such an awesome experience. Here is how I came to this spectacular event in my life.

I attend the Owosso Seventh-day Adventist Church and church school. I have wanted to get baptized for a long time. This past year Curt DeWitt came to be our new church pastor. He comes over to our school most every week to have worship with us. One day, he came to school for worship, and he asked who would like to be baptized. He asked us to write our name on a piece of paper if we were interested in studying with him. Six people—Sydney Shelton, Stephen DeWitt, Nathan Arend, Izabella Ashcraft, Isiah Ashcraft, and I— went up and wrote our names.

We each received a baptismal book for teens. The book had nine lessons in it. We did one lesson each week, and learned about symbolism, the parts of the temple that contained the Holy and Most Holy place, and a whole lot more interesting Bible information.

Then came the day I had been longing for: March 4, 2006. It was the day before my dad's birthday. My dad and several of my other relatives came for my special day. Their support meant so much to me. Five of us who were going to be baptized went to the basement of the church and put on our blue robes. (Nathan Arend decided to wait to be baptized on his twelfth birthday, which was May 27.)

We came back upstairs and sat in the front pew. The pastor called each one of us up, and we got to pick out a rose. We signed a certificate saying we knew the fundamental beliefs of the Church. Then, each of our parents got to come up, tell a little story about us, and say how proud they were. I know my parents were very proud of my decision.

In our church, we have a tradition where everyone waves to the baptismal candidates, which means they are accepting us into our church. Our pastor likes to do this to show that everyone will support us as new members. We all went into the little room off the baptistry. The pastor called us up one at a time and baptized us. It was so awesome! Our pastor also had the privilege of baptizing his own son, Stephen. I know that was so special for both of them.

Later, the church presented us with a new Bible with our names imprinted on it. I have made a commitment to read from the Bible each day. I want to get to know Jesus more. I am looking forward to Heaven so much, and I am so happy I was able to be baptized.

Samantha Rae Parkey, Owosso Church member