Fourteen baptisms took place this past Easter Sunday

For many years, Pastor Jose Hernandez has intentionally spent an entire year educating and instructing parents and godparents who desire to baptize their young children, along with the young teenagers taking confirmation classes. Weekly and monthly meetings with those desiring baptisms and confirmations help encourage church attendance and dedication to the study of Scripture.

Four teenagers completed their confirmation instruction and celebrated after the baptisms

“For many people, baptisms and confirmations are something they do because it’s tradition,” Pastor Hernandez shared a few years ago, “By doing it this way, I am able to instill the importance of the sacrament of baptism and the purpose of confirmation.”

This past Easter Sunday, after a year of dedicating time to study Scripture and seek answers from the pastor about faith, doctrine, and life as a believer of Christ, fourteen children and adults were baptized, with four teens confirmed.

San Pablo Lutheran Church celebrated Easter with members of Mariachi San Pablo

Some of these new brothers and sisters in Christ are from the Kilometer 30 area, where Santisima Trinidad, mission-church partnering with Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLMHC), has been dedicating time, talent, and treasure to plant a new mission-church these past ten years.

“It’s been a fruitful service to bring God’s love and mercy through His Word and His servants,” Pastor Hernandez further explained, pointing out how Servant Event teams who come into KM30 to help through housebuilding, Vacation Bible School, eyeglass, and water/hygiene clinics, have created opportunities and opened hearts to receive God’s grace.

Members of Mariachi San Pablo joined San Pablo Lutheran Church for their Easter Sunday celebration

The members of Santisima Trinidad celebrated as they watched the miracle of baptism, welcoming each new family member with smiles and applause. The four confirmands proclaimed their faith to their families and friends, receiving the Last Supper for the first time.

The celebration of Easter, along with baptisms and confirmations, was a joyful victory for all present, but not just at Santisima Trinidad. Along with churches across the world, San Pablo Lutheran Church celebrated Easter Sunday with joyful voices raised in praise. Members of Mariachi San Pablo joined their celebration, voices loud and joyful as everyone proclaimed our risen Christ.

While baptisms continue to take place at the mission-churches throughout the year, Pastor Hernandez continues to prepare to start the year-long process of intentionally discipling people seeking to bring their babies and children to the waters of baptism on the next Easter Sunday.