Mar 24, 2020
Shiloh SDB Church
By Donna S. Bond
“After the baptism we will have the rest of our weekly worship service, and then if anyone else wants to be baptized and isn’t prepared, run home now and get a change of clothes. That has never happened here, but we want to give you that chance.” Thus Assistant Pastor Tyler Chroniger opened the February 15, 2020, worship and baptism service in Shiloh, NJ. I thought, “You’re half right, Tyler; it hasn’t happened in your life time.”
My thoughts went back to a baptism service 40-some years ago in Shiloh. Pastor Charles Bond opened the floor to anyone who wanted to be baptized but hadn’t come prepared. A member of the YF came forward. Pastor Bond asked if anyone in the congregation knew the boy’s parents as he did not wish to perform the ceremony without parental permission. Carol Loper assured him that “They would be pleased” and the young man was duly “dunked.”
Back to 2020. Children in the congregation were invited to come forward and get a bird’s eye view of the proceedings. Twelve-year-old Reyna Mazza and young mother Melissa Scull, resembling “angels” in their white robes, came forward and gave their testimonies. Pastor Don Chroniger did the honors and left the rest of the service in the hands of our Assistant Pastors, Tyler Chroniger and Philip Lawton, while he changed into dry clothes.
Alas! Pastor Don had to change back into his wet clothes as Joshua Garrison had changed into “dunking clothes” and requested re-baptism. A member of a well-known Shiloh family, Josh had grown up in the Shiloh church but had strayed for a few years. He now realized he needed to rededicate his life to Christ. Josh had given a moving testimony the previous week and summarized it on this occasion.
Starting with a beer at 14, Josh eventually spiraled into dangerous behaviors culminating in getting on the wrong side of the law. As he was herded into a squad car, he testified, “God put a policeman in place who
assured me ‘God will forgive you.’” Now, at age 29, he was ready to recommit his life. Before going into the pool, however, he asked the church members to hold him accountable for future behaviors. (Needless to say, we all agreed to do so.)
So, Josh, for those of us who witnessed the impulsive baptism of a previous generation, this event was déjà vu. We pray that the rest of your life will not be a case of déjà vu. Josh, Melissa, and Reyna, may God continue to bless and keep you in His will.