Baptism, Adoption and Dim Sum

Today was a glorious Lord's Day!

 David was baptized this morning 

The water of baptism doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's

Baptism is not just an outward sign of what must happen to us inwardly if we are to know and love God truly—the washing of the water of the Word, applied by the Holy Spirit in regeneration. It is also a seal to us of God's promise to be our God and to make us his, both now and forever. 

With this picture before us of David 

brought from afar and grafted into our family

and received into the visible church with all its covenant promises,

Pator Babcock preached on adoption

from Ephesians chapter 1 3-14.

It was amazing.

And so meaningful.  

We will miss this church family so very much.

This is John.  Loving referred to as "Mr. John"

He loves our children and worked tirelessly to gain David's trust when we got home from China.

Every Sunday after worship, if the kids say hello to Mr. John and shake his hand

there in his palm would be a little piece of candy.

David runs to Mr. John every Sunday to greet him {and get his piece of "tong"}

But today, was special.  He let Mr. John pick him up and hold him.

Mr. John and his wife Alice took us to their favorite place for dim sum

in celebration of David's baptism.

It was a wonderful time!

Mr. John made it so fun for the kids...

And joining us also were friends Ian made while he was in San Palo Brazil a few weeks back.

He attended their church and was thrilled to learn they were coming here for vacation.

So they attended church with us and joined us for our celebration lunch

David loved the dim sum....

shrimp dumplings, Rice flour rolls, BBQpork buns,

sesame balls, fried calamari, egg custard tarts, sticky rice, spicy zucchini

It was a memorable meal

with special friends

A group of people who otherwise would be strangers

united by the bonds of Christian love

made one by faith in Jesus Christ

adopted into one family - God's family

from across the globe!