Two United States Military Academy (USMA) cadets at New York’s West Point chose a dip in the bone-chilling waters of the famous Hudson River when they decided to be baptized.
Brooke Parker and Zhaoxin (Jenny) Ma, wanted to share their experience and celebrate their baptism with others and so declined an offer to get baptized in a campus chapel’s basement.
Faithwire reports:
Two female cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, were recently baptized in a memorable way, choosing to be dunked in the frigid waters of the Hudson River.
According to the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Brooke Parker and Zhaoxin (Jenny) Ma was baptized by Baptist Campus Ministry (BCM) Director Joshua Austin on Feb. 12.
The pair were asked if they would like to use the baptistry located in the basement of a chapel on campus or wait until the weather warmed up for an outside ceremony.
“The basement almost felt like hiding my faith as few people would be able to attend and celebrate with me the good things God has done,” explained Parker, “and nobody would be able to just happen upon this event as they would if I were to be baptized outside. This would eliminate a big opportunity to share this experience and Christ with others who may not have previously considered attending.”
Ma said that she was unable to wait any longer for the baptism to take place and thus chose the icy waters of the river.
“I didn’t want to wait any longer to show others what God has done for me and what God can do, which is why I chose to get baptized in the icy waters,” Ma said. “I couldn’t wait any longer to show others all His greatness but also to proclaim to God that I am His, and I welcome Him into my heart, and I want to follow Him.”
Both Parker and Ma expressed their joy following the successful completion of the baptism. Their personal introduction had been in a discipleship group. Faithwire continues:
“Because I followed His lead, God has further used my baptism to make His name greater,” Parker pointed out. “In the week following the event, I received many congratulations from complete strangers. My hope is that God sparked something in their hearts.”
“I am placing myself and building my relationship with God above all, and I have never been more happy and joyful,” Ma said. “I have fallen in love with life again, and it is because of God.”
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