H7 Story: A Beautiful Picture of Discipleship
At First Christian Church, baptism is more than just a moment—it’s a celebration of the story of how God has been at work in a person’s life.
One of the ways we try to highlight that story is by allowing the person being baptized to choose who will baptize them. Rather than limiting baptisms to pastors, we encourage people to invite someone who has been instrumental in helping them find and follow Jesus.
Sometimes that person is a parent who has faithfully pointed them to Christ.
Sometimes it’s a friend who shared the gospel with them.
Sometimes it’s a mentor or small group leader who has walked with them as they’ve grown in their faith.
Recently, we’ve seen something especially encouraging. Several children have asked their Kids Ministry teachers to baptize them. And honestly, that tells a beautiful story about what Kids Ministry looks like at FCC.
At FCC, Kids Ministry isn’t childcare. It’s discipleship. The men and women who serve in Kids Ministry love these kids deeply. Week after week, they faithfully open God’s Word, teach the gospel, answer questions, pray with children, and walk alongside them as they begin to understand who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.
Leland Doss (SG) was baptized by Isaac Nasekos. Leland’s mom, Jessica Doss, shared about Isaac being chosen to baptize him. She explained that she and her husband had discussed baptism with Leland on numerous occasions before beginning to talk about who should baptize him.
“I mentioned my father, and then as soon as we said the name Isaac, he jumped at that and said, ‘I want Isaac.’”
Jessica went on to describe the connection Isaac has with her son and how much Leland enjoys sitting with Isaac and his wife, McKayla, during church.
“It just brings peace to my heart knowing that he’s got someone like Isaac and McKayla in his life.”
One of the ways we try to highlight that story is by allowing the person being baptized to choose who will baptize them. Rather than limiting baptisms to pastors, we encourage people to invite someone who has been instrumental in helping them find and follow Jesus.
Sometimes that person is a parent who has faithfully pointed them to Christ.
Sometimes it’s a friend who shared the gospel with them.
Sometimes it’s a mentor or small group leader who has walked with them as they’ve grown in their faith.
Recently, we’ve seen something especially encouraging. Several children have asked their Kids Ministry teachers to baptize them. And honestly, that tells a beautiful story about what Kids Ministry looks like at FCC.
At FCC, Kids Ministry isn’t childcare. It’s discipleship. The men and women who serve in Kids Ministry love these kids deeply. Week after week, they faithfully open God’s Word, teach the gospel, answer questions, pray with children, and walk alongside them as they begin to understand who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.
Leland Doss (SG) was baptized by Isaac Nasekos. Leland’s mom, Jessica Doss, shared about Isaac being chosen to baptize him. She explained that she and her husband had discussed baptism with Leland on numerous occasions before beginning to talk about who should baptize him.
“I mentioned my father, and then as soon as we said the name Isaac, he jumped at that and said, ‘I want Isaac.’”
Jessica went on to describe the connection Isaac has with her son and how much Leland enjoys sitting with Isaac and his wife, McKayla, during church.
“It just brings peace to my heart knowing that he’s got someone like Isaac and McKayla in his life.”
Raegan Radank (SG) was baptized by MiKayla Nasekos. MiKayla and Raegan are often seen around the South Greene Campus, not just in Kids Ministry, but serving together—cleaning windows, sweeping, and mopping the floors. When it came time for Raegan to choose someone to baptize her, she emphatically chose McKayla.
Raegan said, “I chose McKayla because she is a really nice person, and she teaches me about Jesus.”
McKayla commented, “It was such a joy and an honor. It has been an amazing opportunity to see her grow over the years.”
Leland and Raegan are just two of many children at FCC who have asked their teacher to baptize them.
Raegan said, “I chose McKayla because she is a really nice person, and she teaches me about Jesus.”
McKayla commented, “It was such a joy and an honor. It has been an amazing opportunity to see her grow over the years.”
Leland and Raegan are just two of many children at FCC who have asked their teacher to baptize them.
Kids Director, Michael Schubert, has also baptized several children, including Adelyn, Scarlett, and Blair, all from the Greenville campus.
Quinn, from the Greenville campus, was baptized by Bethany Hodge, who had a significant impact on her life.
Caitlin, also from Greenville, was baptized by her Kids Ministry teacher, Maddie Patrick.
When a child asks their teacher to baptize them, it’s a powerful reminder that discipleship is happening. It means a volunteer took the time to listen. It means they patiently explained the gospel. It means they faithfully showed up week after week. And in God’s kindness, He used that faithfulness to help a child come to faith in Christ.
Moments like these are a beautiful picture of what we pray for as a church: a community of believers helping the next generation find and follow Jesus.
Quinn, from the Greenville campus, was baptized by Bethany Hodge, who had a significant impact on her life.
Caitlin, also from Greenville, was baptized by her Kids Ministry teacher, Maddie Patrick.
When a child asks their teacher to baptize them, it’s a powerful reminder that discipleship is happening. It means a volunteer took the time to listen. It means they patiently explained the gospel. It means they faithfully showed up week after week. And in God’s kindness, He used that faithfulness to help a child come to faith in Christ.
Moments like these are a beautiful picture of what we pray for as a church: a community of believers helping the next generation find and follow Jesus.