I am writing tonight from the beautiful Tampa Bay area. Home of Tampa Adventist Academy.

Every year I hold a baptism class at Tampa Adventist Academy where we go over the Bible beliefs of the Adventist church, and learn what baptism and being a disciple of Jesus is all about.

Florida weather provides several opportunities to have class outside.

Ric, is our latest class member to be baptized, April 12th at the Brandon Seventh-day Adventist Church.  Ric has not only attended my baptism class, but he is also in my Bible chain-referencing class I hold at TAA as well, where he has learned with the other students, how to present Bible studies about the plan of salvation, baptism, the Sabbath and several other topics, as well as ask for decisions at the end of the studies.

Ric shares with us what his baptism meant to him.

“I enjoyed the baptism class with Pastor Earnhardt. I liked the stories of the Bible character’s lives. I also liked how we got to go outside and have class in nature. Baptism to me means to start new. In God’s eyes I am a new man now.”  -Ric, newly baptized student

Ric is fun loving with a sense of humor much like mine (I hope that’s a good thing!) but on the morning of his baptism he was, while being happy, also very serious, showing his sincerity and appreciation for the event, as Pastor Rex Frost, his pastor baptized him. Afterwards Ric appreciated a special prayer of dedication that I, along with his family and church family had for him.

Please continue praying fro Ric as he continues his walk with Christ, and for all of the students at Tampa Adventist Academy!