Burlington Baptist Church
Burlington Baptist, which runs around 500 in two services, has enjoyed a surge in baptisms that coincided with new pastor Josh Schmidt. Since he started in late October, the church has celebrated 14 baptisms with about a dozen more already scheduled.
“I think there is an energy that’s palpable,” he said. “People are excited. We’re having standing ovations after baptisms. It’s very exciting for me, brother. We have a bunch scheduled right now.”
Schmidt takes no credit for the baptisms, simply letting the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the believer. But he did say “it was the affirmation that we definitely craved. We felt crazy for leaving (his former church in Grayson, Ky.) at times. It’s so obvious to us that God is calling us (here). This (the baptisms) is a real affirmation that this is where God wants us.”
With so many being baptized, including a former Muslim and Catholic, at Burlington, Schmidt set up a session with the children to teach them about the reason for baptism – what it meant, why people get baptized and why the church celebrates it. His 6-year-old son has even started asking him questions.
