6 Apr 2023, 13:31
Glasgow Church in Praise as Two Return Home
By Blandine Damtse
Brother Ciprian Moldovan and Sister Pawkeelar Shirmus dedicated their lives to God through baptism on Sabbath, 1 April 2023, after having strayed for a while.
Before affirming their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism, district church pastor, Claudiu Pospecu, exhorted the candidates to keep following Jesus, the compassionate and omnipotent shepherd.
Family, friends and church members gathered to support the two sheep that heard the voice of the shepherd and decided to return home. Elder Beavon Sanderson, welcoming the new sheep, blessed and invited them to join the church “as we worship, study and live together in God’s holy name,” she said.
Each candidate gave a brief history of their journey to Christ. Remarkably, like the prodigal son, the newly baptised “had been home before, kind of lost their ways to home and found it again,” the pastor revealed.
Sister Pawkeelar, from Myanmar, is the daughter of a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. After leaving her parents’ house, she explored alternative faith groups including Islam and Buddhism, the latter being her grand-mother’s religion. Thanking God for always been there for her, she emotionally revealed to have encountered numerous trials which she attempted to resolve her way but with negligible success. The mother of two then felt it was time to return home and is grateful to be back. Inspired by her own experience, sister Pawkeelar urged the church to always surrender their burdens to God as He takes care of all our needs and gives us peace.
Brother Ciprian, regardless of the language barrier as he only speaks Romanian, feels “the presence of God in Glasgow church,” he said. There, he always feels so blessed and at home; he was keen for it to be his spiritual home. The father of three knew about the Seventh-day Adventist church in Romania, his home country, but had not committed to follow Christ until recently. His declaration as translated asserted, “I thank God for His love, grace and patience. I thank God for giving me the strength to leave all my bad habits… I want to follow Jesus and I hope my family will follow me.”
Pastor Claudiu Popescu conducted the baptism and officially welcomed the new members into fellowship, presenting each with gifts and encouraging them to always take heed to God’s voice. Elder Kelly Mvwanga, in concluding the baptismal procession, led the prayer of consecration for the two new members.
There was joy in Glasgow church and there was even more rejoicing in heaven over the two who returned home.
To close, the pastor announced the start of baptismal classes in Glasgow church from the 8th April for the attendees to get a better understanding of the Bible. Also, a new teens Bible club is to start on the 15th April to engage the teens of Glasgow church with the Bible stories.
By Blandine Damtse
Brother Ciprian Moldovan and Sister Pawkeelar Shirmus dedicated their lives to God through baptism on Sabbath, 1 April 2023, after having strayed for a while.
Before affirming their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism, district church pastor, Claudiu Pospecu, exhorted the candidates to keep following Jesus, the compassionate and omnipotent shepherd.
Family, friends and church members gathered to support the two sheep that heard the voice of the shepherd and decided to return home. Elder Beavon Sanderson, welcoming the new sheep, blessed and invited them to join the church “as we worship, study and live together in God’s holy name,” she said.
Each candidate gave a brief history of their journey to Christ. Remarkably, like the prodigal son, the newly baptised “had been home before, kind of lost their ways to home and found it again,” the pastor revealed.
Sister Pawkeelar, from Myanmar, is the daughter of a Seventh-day Adventist pastor. After leaving her parents’ house, she explored alternative faith groups including Islam and Buddhism, the latter being her grand-mother’s religion. Thanking God for always been there for her, she emotionally revealed to have encountered numerous trials which she attempted to resolve her way but with negligible success. The mother of two then felt it was time to return home and is grateful to be back. Inspired by her own experience, sister Pawkeelar urged the church to always surrender their burdens to God as He takes care of all our needs and gives us peace.
Brother Ciprian, regardless of the language barrier as he only speaks Romanian, feels “the presence of God in Glasgow church,” he said. There, he always feels so blessed and at home; he was keen for it to be his spiritual home. The father of three knew about the Seventh-day Adventist church in Romania, his home country, but had not committed to follow Christ until recently. His declaration as translated asserted, “I thank God for His love, grace and patience. I thank God for giving me the strength to leave all my bad habits… I want to follow Jesus and I hope my family will follow me.”
Pastor Claudiu Popescu conducted the baptism and officially welcomed the new members into fellowship, presenting each with gifts and encouraging them to always take heed to God’s voice. Elder Kelly Mvwanga, in concluding the baptismal procession, led the prayer of consecration for the two new members.
There was joy in Glasgow church and there was even more rejoicing in heaven over the two who returned home.
To close, the pastor announced the start of baptismal classes in Glasgow church from the 8th April for the attendees to get a better understanding of the Bible. Also, a new teens Bible club is to start on the 15th April to engage the teens of Glasgow church with the Bible stories.
