There’s a lot that’s been tough in the past year, to be sure — but Tim Wolfe says there’s a lot to celebrate, too.
And for South Florida, where he serves as the Send City missionary, recent baptisms are definitely at the top of that list.
“It’s been so amazing seeing God work — the great things He’s doing,” Wolfe said.
The Rock Fellowship in Miami recently baptized nine people at the beach. At the Brook in Miami, they filled up a cattle trough with water, hauled it up there in a trailer and baptized three people right there in the trailer.
And at Cornerstone Miami, they recently had their first baptisms since the COVID-19 pandemic started, including one young woman who had gotten connected with the church online and professed new faith in Christ during the pandemic.
Dave Lopez, pastor of Cornerstone, said he knows their experience is similar to other churches — that COVID-19 has brought a lot of frustrations, including realizing part of the congregation would rather watch online than regather in person as restrictions lift.
“There’s a percentage of people I would say are mature believers, but COVID has messed up their engagement routine with the people of God,” he said. “I would call that a challenge or frustration.”
But God has been teaching him that He does want to grow the church, and Lopez is focusing on engaging the people who are coming — like the young woman who was baptized recently.
“We’re having to redesign and reimagine, but God is God, and we are celebrating what’s happening,” Lopez said.
Published June 30, 2021