Koinonia Christian Campus Fellowship – UC Berkeley Club

Last Sunday, we witnessed yet another joyous baptism en masse as 20 members publicly declared their lifelong dedication to the Lord. Lindsey Hong from our very own homegroup was one of this lucky score of brothers and sisters. I remember when I first encountered Lindsey in my freshmen year, I could hear her loud intimidating witch-like cackle before even knowing what she looked like. All I’m gonna say is, praise the Lord God Almighty for her miraculous transformation. But in all seriousness, I was truly blessed by the vastly different testimonies that were shared, and of course, the ceremonial dunkings . As each baptism candidate awkwardly half-floated toward the mic without any sense of refinement or grace and publicly declared the rest of their life to the Lord, I thought back to each person’s life before God and experienced an inexpressible joy wash over me as I was powerfully reminded once again of the impossible life-changing power of our heavenly Father.

One of my favorite songs aptly captures the essence of this joy of baptism.

I said you gotta leave, you gotta promise me
It’s the beginning of my end, you gotta promise me
How can a holy God renew a wicked Pharisee
I’m saying I’m like Peter in the boat, so just depart from me
It seems I’m destined for doom like ancient prophesy
And in the dark I’m consumed, it’s just too much for me
With sin in full bloom, my gloom booms by the full moon
And I’m thinking to myself, ‘how can You rescue me?’

My before and after
I can’t but sing
My before and after
I’ll sing praises to my King
My before and after
Here’s the anthem, let it ring
One love, two arms, three scars
Draw us to where You are
No one is too far for You to save a heart

Then in the darkness of this room, You snuck up next to me
You put your hand upon my wound and whispered ‘rest in me’
And there I stepped out of the tomb and into destiny
The rest they say is history
Your grace is such a mystery

I got a name change
And that’s the strange thing
‘Cause I was once stained
But now I’m called saint

-Before and After by Jimmy Needham