2025.08.24 | Childlike Faith, Public Love: Ryder and Brady’s Baptism at Hope
This blog is based on the Baptism from August 24, 2025.
There are few moments in church life more powerful than witnessing baptism. It’s a step of faith, a public declaration, and a celebration of God’s transforming grace. This past Sunday, under the open sky, our church family gathered for an outdoor service and had the joy of celebrating two young lives, Ryder and Brady, as they took their next step of faith through baptism.
First came Ryder. Quiet and thoughtful, Ryder admitted he felt a little nervous about being baptized in front of so many people. But that’s what makes baptism so beautiful… It's one of the rare times Jesus asks us to make our faith public. Standing in front of his family, friends, and church community, Ryder boldly declared his love for Jesus and his desire to follow Him every day. His courage reminded us that obedience isn’t about comfort, it’s about trust.
Then came Brady. Full of joy and unafraid of the spotlight, Brady’s faith story was just as inspiring. After reading through the Gospel of John last summer, she began asking big questions about Jesus. One evening, after talking with her dad, Brady prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior. In her own baptism application, she wrote simply: “Jesus is my best friend.” On Sunday, with a radiant smile, she confirmed that truth before all of us: Yes, I believe in Him. Yes, I love Jesus. Yes, I’ll follow Him every day.
As Ryder and Brady came up from the water, the cheers of family and friends filled the air... a chorus of joy that echoed the worship song we sang together: “Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free. Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me.”
Baptism is more than a moment… it’s a declaration that Jesus has already done the saving work, and our lives belong to Him. Watching these two young hearts step into the water was a powerful reminder that God is at work in every generation.
Let’s continue to encourage Ryder and Brady as they grow in their faith. And may their boldness inspire us to remember our own “yes” to Jesus.
First came Ryder. Quiet and thoughtful, Ryder admitted he felt a little nervous about being baptized in front of so many people. But that’s what makes baptism so beautiful… It's one of the rare times Jesus asks us to make our faith public. Standing in front of his family, friends, and church community, Ryder boldly declared his love for Jesus and his desire to follow Him every day. His courage reminded us that obedience isn’t about comfort, it’s about trust.
Then came Brady. Full of joy and unafraid of the spotlight, Brady’s faith story was just as inspiring. After reading through the Gospel of John last summer, she began asking big questions about Jesus. One evening, after talking with her dad, Brady prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior. In her own baptism application, she wrote simply: “Jesus is my best friend.” On Sunday, with a radiant smile, she confirmed that truth before all of us: Yes, I believe in Him. Yes, I love Jesus. Yes, I’ll follow Him every day.
As Ryder and Brady came up from the water, the cheers of family and friends filled the air... a chorus of joy that echoed the worship song we sang together: “Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free. Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me.”
Baptism is more than a moment… it’s a declaration that Jesus has already done the saving work, and our lives belong to Him. Watching these two young hearts step into the water was a powerful reminder that God is at work in every generation.
Let’s continue to encourage Ryder and Brady as they grow in their faith. And may their boldness inspire us to remember our own “yes” to Jesus.
This Sunday at 9AM or 10:30AM, we’ll gather again to worship, celebrate, and grow in Christ together. We’d love for you to be part of it.
Watch the short highlight video of Ryder and Brady’s baptism here and celebrate this special moment with us!
Watch the short highlight video of Ryder and Brady’s baptism here and celebrate this special moment with us!
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2026
January
February
March
2026.03.01 | I’ve Been Around Jesus My Whole Life, But My Picture of Him Was Too Small 2026.03.08 | I Didn’t Realize How Distracted I’d Become at Church2026.03.15 | When the Leaves Look Good but the Fruit Is Missing2026.03.22 | Watching My Kids Helped Me Understand the Two Sons2026.03.29 | The Stewardship of the "Vineyard"
April
May
2026.05.03 | I Told Myself I’d Serve When Life Slowed Down2026.05.10 | I Finally Understood What Wholehearted Love Looks Like. I Was Holding It.2026.05.17 | I Keep Running Into This Question, and I'm Running Out of Reasons to Ignore It.2026.05.24 | I’ve Been Trying to Impress God for Years. I’m Tired.
June
2026.05.31 | I've Always Assumed Global Mission Was for a Certain Kind of Person.2026.06.07 | I Know the Gospel. I Just Don't Talk About It Much Anymore.2026.06.14 | I've Been Searching for Something. I Think Sunday Told Me What It Is.2026.06.21 | I've Been Running on Empty for a While. Sunday Gave Me Something to Hold Onto.2026.06.28 | I Keep Praying for Stability. Maybe I Should Be Praying for Something Else.
2025
August
2025.01.26 | The Sower, the Seed, and the Soil2025.02.02 | Growing in God’s Kingdom2025.02.09 | When Small Things Become Something Big2025.02.16 | A Call to Faith and Hope2025.02.23 | Finding the Ultimate Treasure2025.03.02 | Finding My Worth in Christ2025.03.09 | Are You Living with Eternity in Mind?2025.03.16 | Are We Missing What’s Right in Front of Us?2025.03.23 | What If Following Jesus Cost You Everything?2025.03.30 | When What You Have Feels Like Not Enough2025.04.06 | When the Storm Feels Bigger Than Your Savior
September
2025.05.04 | When Jesus Wants More Than Just Our Sundays2025.05.11 | When Jesus Shows You Your Heart2025.05.18 | Faith That Won’t Let Go: At Home and Around the World2025.04.27 | When Following Rules Isn't Enough2025.04.20 | Alive. Free. Loved. With Jesus.2025.04.13 | When the Wind Hit My Face2025.05.25 | Loaves, Fish, and a Full Calendar: Why I’m Still Saying Yes to Jesus2025.08.17 | What Must I Do to Be Saved?2025.08.03 | Faithfulness When It Hurts2025.06.08 | When Obedience Makes Things Awkward... Not Easier2025.07.27 | When God Redirects You, Trust Him2025.08.10 | Finding Freedom in the Midnight Hour: A Journey Through Fear and Faith2025.08.24 | Hope in Hard Seasons2025.08.31 | Grace That Gathers Us2025.09.07 | The Sign That’s Already Enough2025.08.24 | Childlike Faith, Public Love: Ryder and Brady’s Baptism at Hope2025.09.14 | When the Headlines Overwhelm, Remember God’s Track Record2025.09.21 | Who Do You Say Jesus Is?2025.07.20 | You Were Made for This2025.07.13 | I Thought I Wasn’t Ready… Until I Realized Jesus Already Called Me2025.07.06 | Not Flashy, But Faithful: A Tribute to the Barnabases at Hope2025.06.29 | Learning to Just Point to Jesus2025.06.22 | The Church Is Full of People Who Don’t Belong — And That’s the Point2025.06.15 | Living Faith That Puts Others First2025.06.01 | When Bold Faith Feels Costly
October
December
2025.11.16 | Kingdom Greatness: Learning Humility and Dependence from a Child2025.11.09 | The Sons Are Free — Yet Jesus Paid It All2025.11.02 | He Died for Me2025.12.07 | The Hard Gift of Correction: Why Humility Is the Key to Freedom2025.11.30 | Found & Forever Loved: Why God's Pursuit Changes Everything2025.11.23 | Freedom Found in Facing the Truth2025.12.14 | The Heirlooms of Hurt2025.12.28 | The Table of Enough: Learning to Trust the Daily Allowance2025.12.21 | I’m No Angel, But I Have a Message
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