"Conversion Stories From The Beach"
September 01, 2024 | By Chuck
I love reading the conversion stories in the book of Acts. The 3,000 who responded to Peter’s preaching on Pentecost by being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:41). Philip teaching the Ethiopian Eunuch from Isaiah 53 and then baptizing him into Christ (Acts 8:26-40). I must mention the incredible conversion story of Saul of Tarsus. In Acts 9, while on the road to Damascus to bring more destruction to the Lord’s Church, Saul has a life-changing encounter with Jesus, the giver of life. Saul met up with Ananias who baptized him into Christ. There are many more conversion stories, and they are extremely impactful to our lives.
I love the beach; it is the place I go to get away, relax, and allow my soul some peace and quiet for a minute. Just a few weeks ago Kristy and I spent a week at Orange Beach with three close friends. I go back to junior high with these two guys and have been through so much with them. We laughed so much over the years. We cried together, celebrated together, and when we were MUCH younger got in a little trouble together. We are more like brothers than friends. We have done so much together over the years, but never vacationed together until this year.
We enjoyed time at the beach, many laughs, and good dinners together on our vacation. But, the real highlight of the trip was my two friends asking me to baptize them. I baptized one Wednesday evening in the swimming pool of the place where we stayed. I baptized my other friend early the next morning in the ocean as the sun began to peer through the clouds. These will always be special memories for me. I have always viewed these two guys like brothers and now, through the blood of Jesus, they are my brothers. A trip to the beach and two new conversion stories, that is a memorable vacation.
“And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).