So This is Me...

[treyw]

I was saved on November 24, 1991 during a time of extreme personal distress (my wife was dying). I have never forgot that moment that I fell on my knees and accepted Christ as my Savior.  Since that time I have worked very hard to live the life I should despite some ups and downs but always prayed every day and stayed "in the word" in my studies.

Now...30 years later I have still not been Baptized.  I think about it every single day and believe God is speaking to me that it is time.  My issue is the fear and social anxiety that comes with getting up in front of a crowd to make this happen.  I move around a lot for work and have moved about 8 times in the last 20 years, but have settled down and been attending a Baptist Church in the Mid-South for the past 8 or 9 months and love the teaching and preaching.... Any advice, prayers or guidance to get me over this hump is appreciated. I know I need to submit myself for Baptism.  Any help or prayers are appreciated.

[BrotherTony]

10 hours ago, treyw said:

I was saved on November 24, 1991 during a time of extreme personal distress (my wife was dying). I have never forgot that moment that I fell on my knees and accepted Christ as my Savior.  Since that time I have worked very hard to live the life I should despite some ups and downs but always prayed every day and stayed "in the word" in my studies.

Now...30 years later I have still not been Baptized.  I think about it every single day and believe God is speaking to me that it is time.  My issue is the fear and social anxiety that comes with getting up in front of a crowd to make this happen.  I move around a lot for work and have moved about 8 times in the last 20 years, but have settled down and been attending a Baptist Church in the Mid-South for the past 8 or 9 months and love the teaching and preaching.... Any advice, prayers or guidance to get me over this hump is appreciated. I know I need to submit myself for Baptism.  Any help or prayers are appreciated.

Welcome to OnlineBaptist.com. Thank you for introducing yourself and giving us your testimony. The first step of obedience to Christ is to be baptized and to move beyond your comfort zone in doing so. Many don't feel the need to be baptized right away...but to be honest, I can't understand why you've waited 30+ years to follow Christ in this, not that your salvation depends upon baptism. It doesn't. I would encourage you to follow Christ in this ASAP in spite of your fear. God doesn't give the spirit of fear. The devil does. 

With all of that said, once again, WELCOME! I look forward to seeing your posts. Have a blessed day.

BT

[swathdiver]

Welcome Trey! 

   Getting baptized is not optional, it's a command that we're to follow and not disobey.  I reckon that the Lord has been burdening you to do it since day 1.  You cannot be a member of and effectively serve Christ without being a member of a New Testament Church.  So get it done.

I've just prayed for you and asked the Lord for two things on your behalf.  First, to make sure you know that you are saved and 2nd that you are wishing to become a member of a scriptural new testament church and not one that has lost its way or one that never was.  There's a lot of fakes out there these days.

After I got saved I kept trying to get baptized but the Holy Ghost prevented me from doing so at several false churches until I stepped foot into a real one.  Had I succeeded as many do, it's not really a baptism at all since they don't have the authority to do so.  I would have just been dunked and gotten wet and not been baptized.

Keep in touch.

[Salyan]

Trey, if you know this is something God wants you to do (and you do, since there is a scriptural command for it - and if that wasn't enough, He's also convicting you about it), you need to pray and trust God for the strength and just obey.  He will give you grace for the nervousness - but you're not going to get the grace in advance! It'll happen right when you need and not before. 

I'd encourage you to talk to your pastor and get a date set. Write out your testimony so you can read it - having things written down will probably help any pre-jitters. And you don't need to actually look at anyone except whoever's baptizing you.   Maybe you can ask them to turn the lights up really bright so you can't see anyone.