Last Sunday afternoon is an example of why Riverside Covenant Church exists. God’s people celebrated God’s work in God’s creation together. An absolutely beautiful day of sunshine and a perfect temperature. A gorgeous setting of trees and a river at Fort Ouiatenon. A big crowd of people (the church). And 7 men, women and boys choosing to demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ by sharing their testimony of God’s work in their lives and being baptized in the Wabash River.
In the days leading up to the baptisms there were quite a few jokes about the brave folk that were going to be baptized in the Wabash River because of its not-so-clean condition. Ironically, while we were at Fort Ouiatenon I learned that the name “Wabash” is an English spelling of the French name for the river, “Ouabache.” French traders named the river after the Miami Indian word for the river, waapaahšiiki, meaning “it shines white”. The Miami name reflected the clarity of the river since the river bottom is limestone.
The Wabash River is a perfect symbol of an important aspect of baptism. God created us to enjoy a perfect, crystal clear relationship with Himself. Yet, our sinful nature has polluted and marred us. Our sin has dirtied our connection to God. It is only through Jesus Christ’s loving sacrifice that we again become pure. Our believing in Jesus cleanses and purifies us. Even if the Wabash River of today is dirty (polluted and marred), Christians have access to God’s living water that “shines white.” God restores what we have damaged. That is Good News! (now we just have to work on cleaning the Wabash!)
Check out the pictures from our wonderful afternoon below.