The head of Youth for Christ in Australia says the Good Friday mass baptisms in Melbourne and Perth revealed “beautiful kingdom relationships in the body of Christ.”
CEO PJ Bedwell told Vision Radio his ministry supported the efforts of The Global Harvest ministry and the One Heart Frankston coalition of local churches, in organising the mass baptism next to the Frankston Pier in Port Phillip Bay.
“Youth for Christ was effectively a big cheerleader. We’re partners with the Global Harvest and we support one another and also some of the local churches in Frankston.”
“What you’re really seeing is just beautiful kingdom relationships between people who are recognising their place in the Kingdom of God together.”
He explained to Vision Radio what was involved in a mass baptism.
“HOURS AND HOURS OF PRAYER HAVE GONE INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS”
“You turn up to an event like this and in the water, you’ve got an Anglican minister baptising people, you’ve got a Baptist minister baptising people.”
“You’ve got people from youth parish church ministries just all coordinating.”
“Hours and hours of prayer have gone into something like this, which can’t help but bring us together.”
“I think it’s really exciting. I think its great for the community to see that. “
750 people were baptised.
Photo: Facebook – The Global Harvest
ARE MASS BAPTISMS INTENSELY DISCIPLED OR SPONTANEOUS?
PJ was asked whether the baptisms were a spur of the moment thing, or part of a regular discipleship program that these churches were involved with.”
He responded: “It’s a great question. One Heart Frankston has various elements, obviously local churches and individuals who have been invited by a peer to be discipled, but many of these people are being reached online.”
“They’re being reached through The Global Harvest and through networks online and there’s actually a huge amount of thought and machinery that goes on behind these events.”
“What you’re seeing on the day is sort of the tip of the iceberg, but below the surface, there’s a lot of machinery and a lot of disciple makers, people who are engaged with preparing these individuals.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FOLLOW-UP
“Then following up after the event to make sure that every individual is integrated as much as is possible into discipleship, whether plugged into a local church where there’s connection or undertaking a discovery Bible study.”
“That involves getting a Bible and reading with a Christian and discovering what the Scriptures say and endeavouring to obey those Scriptures.”
“But there would have been many spontaneous baptisms too.”
“One of them was just a profoundly self-professed atheist.”
AN ATHEIST SPONTANEOUSLY DECIDES TO GET BAPTISED
“He saw on the water that day something happening. He saw people’s lives being changed and felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and made the decision there and then to become a Christian.”
“The natural next step for someone becoming a believer is being baptised in water. “
“There’s obviously many roads lead to Rome and every story is individual, but certainly we saw people being reached right there and then.”
“It’s all glory to God. I know the brains behind The Global Harvest and everything is done with an effort to adhere to obedience to Scripture.”
THE BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY WITH CHRIST
“The Book of Acts has just countless examples of where people were baptised virtually immediately.”
“Obviously people have different approaches and that’s fine, but certainly when you see someone who’s made a sincere decision for Christ, they’ve heard the Gospel in a comprehensive way.”
“They’re being told that this is the beginning of a journey with Christ. It’s not the end point.”
“They’re starting a journey that will continue throughout discipleship and further progressive sanctification and will end up in a healthy Christian community in some form or another.”
Photo: Facebook – The Global Harvest
“THE JOURNEY OF DISCIPLESHIP IS A BATTLE”
“We’re seeing things a little bit like the Book of Acts. I think that’s where our focus should be.”
“God’s moving powerfully. The church is uniting. People are getting baptised.”
PJ concedes that some who get baptised don’t last the distance of the journey, but points out many more do.
“Whatever expression of church you’re looking at, whatever expression of Christianity, the journey of discipleship is a battle.”
“There’s people who get lost along the way and there’s people who make it and we want more people to make it. That’s the goal.”
ONE BAPTISM LED TO MIRACULOUS RESTORATION
“The good news is many people are making it through and it should never deter us from preaching the Gospel and attempting to make disciples in new ways and in ways that we think God’s breathing on.”
“I can think of a wonderful couple, friends of mine, Chantelle and Alessio, who were baptised a couple of years back at one of these very events.”
“Chantelle had a miracle healing. Her sense of smell was restored in the waters of baptism. Absolutely extraordinary.”
“She was on camera getting interviewed and her sense of smell suddenly comes back. It was incredible.”
FROM BAPTISM TO TAKING THE GOSPEL AROUND AUSTRALIA
“She obviously went on with the Lord after an encounter like that. Her husband, Alessio, was the same.”
“They’ve not only continued in the Lord. They’ve sold up everything and have been travelling around Australia in a caravan on an evangelistic mission.”
“So not only are they being raised up, but they’re also bearing fruit and multiplying.”
“And that’s exactly what we want to see.”
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