Bella, a Christian young adult in San Jose, California, had no idea what God was about to do when a couple sat down in her section at the Rustic House restaurant.
Not that John and Tiffany Markum, who planted Life Valley Church 12 years ago, had a clue either. They were just on a date that night in May, pleasantly surprised to encounter a sweet young adult who knew Jesus as savior.
Days later, Bella was worshiping in the Converge PacWest church. Then, just a few weeks later, Bella was one of 12 people planning to get baptized on Pentecost Sunday.
She had invited her mom and dad to come with her. Surprisingly, when she stood up to be baptized, her parents spontaneously stood up, too. They decided to be baptized, which is exactly why Life Valley had extra towels and spare clothes on hand.
“We need to preach the gospel and call people to radically say yes to Jesus through baptism,” John Markum said.
He’s been doing a lot of that at Life Valley Church and throughout California. Fifty have been saved this year, and 21 people have been baptized.
Across the state, thousands of people have been baptized in a variety of churches and communities. So Bella and her family are far from the only people deepening their commitment to Jesus.
San Jose, one of America’s largest cities with a population of over a million, is home to people from around the world. This diversity has shaped a vibrant culture, making it a city of choice for many tech workers.
“We have people from every tribe, nation and tongue here,” Markum explained.
But so many, like Bella, have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. Nor have they received an invitation to be baptized early in their faith. The eternal future of all those people deeply motivates Life Valley Church to train everyone to share the gospel.
That heart, those habits, motivated and enabled 10% of the church into baptism on Pentecost Sunday this year.
“What would it look like in your church if 10% of your average weekly attendance came forward and got baptized in one weekend?” Markum said. “No one can transform a life like Jesus.”
Converge PacWest is a movement of churches working to help people meet, know, and follow Jesus. We do this by starting and strengthening churches together worldwide.