By Nevaeh Enyeart
Oct. 8, 2023, changed her life for the better. She was ready to take the next step in her journey with an outward expression of her faith.
“A lot of people think that just because you get baptized, that means everything is perfect,” freshman Riley Stinson said, “but I still have my rocky days, and I continue to lean on God and His love. It’s just been a really great thing for me.”
A few months before, in June 2023 during SERVE week for Union Chapel, she began to really feel the love of God. This led her to baptism interest meetings at the church as she decided her next step.
Stinson was the first one in her family to get baptized, but soon that led to her family taking that next step in their faith. Being able to lead others to God makes Stinson feel like that’s what she was called to do.
She said she reads her Bible every day. She says setting aside time to reflect on the word of God is really important to her.
“Reading the truth every day and renewing your mind with that is something that helps you in the long run,” Stinson said. “It just helps your life to really just meditate on that word and meditate on things that are truthful in a world that is full of lies.”
Making the decision to get baptized is a big step in faith. Stinson says that you shouldn’t force it but instead should make that decision when you’re ready, not because you feel pressured.
Stinson spread her faith by not being afraid to talk about God when others need to hear it but also through her actions and the way she treats others.
Much like Stinson, junior Alivia Jackson says she tries to spread the love of God everywhere. She tries to do this through her actions of loving others as God calls us to do or talking about God in uncomfortable situations.
Jackson was baptized Aug. 29, 2021, at The Jar church. Leading up to her baptism Jackson had been praying and now believes God sent her a nudge telling her she’s ready.
“I know that God is the one thing that is always certain which also helped my decision,” Jackson said.
The joy she felt afterward is one she’ll never forget. Being able to show how her relationship with God has grown in front of the people that mean the most to her has been a blessing.
After getting baptized Jackson’s faith has only grown stronger. She now reads her Bible and prays much more, growing closer to God every day. Jackson says it’s opened her eyes to what others are going through and she’s become more patient and understanding with others.
Jackson says God knows us better than we do, so it’s important to pray about it before making a decision.
Sophomore Maelle Hewitt took the step to get baptized Easter Sunday of 2025 at Rising Hope church.
Not planning on getting baptized that day. Hewitt truly believes it was a call from God. She recalls walking up to the front of the church in her nicest Easter dress to take her faith to the next step.
Hewitt aims to be the type of person that people see and think something is different. It makes her shine.
Holding herself more accountable Hewitt said she often catches herself doing things that wouldn’t glorify God. She has to take a step back, changing her for the better.
“Baptism, I believe, is all about accountability, and you have to be ready to sacrifice some worldly things,” Hewitt said.
She said she bases her life around Corinthians 6:19 wanting to glorify God.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” – Corinthians 6:19
After getting baptized Hewitt says other people will keep you accountable and it’s important to listen and not brush them off.
Not only students at Delta have taken this step. Algebra teacher Mrs. Lorie Crouch was baptized at a young age and then again in college.
Mrs. Crouch grew up going to church and knew getting baptized was considered the right thing to do so she decided to take that step young.
While in college Mrs. Crouch started to really understand that Jesus had died for her and knew she wanted to get baptized again. She said she wanted to do this not just because it was the right thing but because she felt that’s what she was being called to do.
In Mrs. Crouch’s classroom you’ll find Bible verses and things to represent God. Mrs. Crouch says that she spreads her faith in her classroom just by being kind to everyone and treating everyone with respect as God calls her to do.
Mrs. Crouch loves Isaiah 11:2 for school. “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of might, the spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” – Isaiah 11:2
“In education, we can learn all of the book knowledge that everybody has, but really knowledge of who God is and what he’s done for us.” Mrs. Crouch said.
