The work of propagating God’s words in the Ecclesiastical District of New South Wales, Australia continues to bear fruit. On November 24, 2024, baptisms were held at the houses of worship of the local congregations of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu and Minchinbury, the latter being the host venue.
Brother Seth Gutierrez, district supervising minister, officiated the baptismal gathering. He emphasized from the Bible the immeasurable blessings that come with receiving baptism in the true Church. He then encouraged the candidates for baptism to treasure their membership in the Church by being true to the Christian faith.
Right after taking their oath of membership, would-be members in Minchinbury were baptized by Brother Carlos De Jesus, district overseer for Church officers; those in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, by Brother Lucky Puzon, district Light of Salvation overseer.
In an interview after the gathering, Brother Gutierrez remarked, “Our district has been able to bear fruit because our Lord God continues helping our propagation work. The brethren here don’t ebb in their zeal to remain obedient to God for it is their priority to be pleasing before Him.”
A former Catholic, newly baptized Alejandro Gatchalian of the Espiritu Santo Congregation, “got used to many rituals and practices in my former religion in my early age. Later on, I don’t feel I’m still able to serve the true God. I tried joining a protestant sect but the way of salvation there wasn’t clear.”
Thankful that he has found the true Church, Gatchalian added, “What caught my attention from the very first Bible study I attended in the Church Of Christ is how committed the teachings are in the Holy Scriptures. I’m sure now that I’ve found the true religion. I know that I’ve found salvation.”
In both venues after the baptismal gatherings, ‘Welcome, My Brethren’ events were held to orient the new members on how they can stay active in the faith. — With assistance from Kriziel Manday of INC News Section