“You have no idea how important this is,” Kurt, a Southeastern student, told three Indian believers. They had taken the initial step of faith but had never been baptized. Kurt walked through what baptism means and the symbolism behind it.

Jesus was baptized, Kurt explained. He also told the story about the Ethiopian eunuch and his desire to be baptized right away. These men didn’t seem to have the same sense of willingness and urgency

“Why won’t y’all be baptized?” he asked.

They answered, “If we get baptized, everyone will know we are Christians and our daughters won’t be able to be married one day.”

Finding spouses for children is a very real concern in India. Marriage must be within caste and religion. Finding a Christian man for your daughter to marry is no small feat.

“That hit me to the heart, but at the same time I knew God was putting something on my heart,” Kurt said. “The first time that I remember reading Matthew 10 was my senior year of high school and it stuck in my head.”

Kurt explained from Matthew 10 that God asks us to trust and not fear earthly consequences.

“Don’t fear man who can kill the body, but fear the one who can kill body and soul in hell,” Kurt told them. “Jesus said in that same passage that if you’re ashamed of me in front of men that I will be ashamed of you in front of the Father.”

“How can you be so worried of these men here whenever your Lord will say to you, ‘I am so ashamed that you would not be baptized and honor my name?’”

A tangible silence followed. The men looked at each other and said, “We have to be baptized.”

Kurt realized that God had given that passage to him to share with those men.

The Southeastern team was also able to share the importance of baptism with two other men who both answered, “I have to be baptized.”

At the end of January all of these men plan to be baptized in front of the community as a sign of their decision to follow Jesus.

“I believe the Bible says that how can two walk together unless they are in agreement,” Kurt said. “How can we walk in agreement with God when we want to say, ‘yeah I’ll go that far’ but we’re not even going past the second step.”

Taking that step of baptism is saying, ‘God I am willing to go all the way with you.’

George, a Southeastern team member added that it has been statistically proven that the sooner a person is baptized, the more likely they are to persevere and the more likely they are to be committed to a church fellowship.

Baptism is obedience. Have you been obedient?