Profession of faith

Today we had to run sound at an open-air service. Always “nice” when it rains almost the entire time… 🙁
Anyway, on Wednesday we set up the mixing console, built the patch list, on Saturday gathered all the equipment, on Sunday the alarm went off at 7:45 AM, the service started at 11:00 AM, and by 4:00 PM everything was back home and cleaned up again (with the help of a group of amazing volunteers!!!!), to be picked up again on Wednesday for the next assignment.

Well… this is one of those church services that is special. This time it was a baptism service, in other churches you come across something just as beautiful at the public profession of faith. Because, listen… why would you even make your public profession of faith? The Bible doesn’t say much about it. It does say you should do it, but the “why” is another question… And then also “public,” where everyone is present? On a stage… pretty nerve-wracking… why?

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Ah look, now we’re getting somewhere! And let’s combine that with the next verse:

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

And then the last Bible verse:

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:15)

In other words, you don’t do that public profession of faith because it’s tradition, or fun, or because it’s on the agenda, or because your friends do it, or because your dad likes it or your church thinks it’s nice. That can’t and must not be the reason.

Because one of the functions of that public profession of faith is: it’s your first evangelism action! Tell THE Good News of Jesus Christ to EVERYONE who wants to hear it. Invite everyone, your friends, your family, your colleagues, and openly tell why you do this. #important #evangelism #testimony And this time, there was one of those testimonies – from a lady – that was truly a testimony to God’s glory and all about His glory. What an encouragement, what a testimony!

And that’s why we do this work. Because without a microphone (and the other equipment you need), you won’t hear that testimony from 20 meters away. That’s why we, together with a number of amazing volunteers, put so much time, money and energy into making this possible.