Martin Journal Entry: The Baptism

By E. Scott Martin

When a person is baptized here in Central Eurasia it is a big deal; a really big deal. They have the perspective that when they do this they are making a “no turning back” public declaration and in a Muslim world, this can have severe implications.

We have baptized six students this semester. We are going to baptize more prior to our departure. It is a powerful thing to see these students from Muslim countries stand publicly and declare their commitment to Jesus and then step into the cold Central Asian water to follow through in obedience to Christ. Our first student to lead the way in baptism was our precious girl from a closed Muslim country who was the very first to also make her commitment to Jesus and to One More Friend. I cannot tell you the privilege I felt to baptize her. I was so proud and so full of joy and happiness.

One of our students from a Muslim background who we baptized was pretty nervous and kept looking over her shoulder. She asked if we could move further down where there were no people. She understood the implications to her life if she was found out by family or betrayed by family contacts. She boldly declared her faith and went under. Every day we have served here has been a privilege.