Raised to Life: My Ocean City Baptism Testimony and Journey of Faith

For as long as I can remember, church has been part of my life. I was baptized as a child/youth, though the memory is fuzzy – just water in a small wooden bowl and a couple of drops on my head. At that time, while I had gone through classes and knew Jesus was my LORD and Savior, I was still really too young to understand the true meaning.

Fast forward many decades, and my walk with Jesus took me to an unforgettable moment: my Ocean City baptism testimony. It was more than just an act of faith – it was a step of courage, healing and learning to put God first.

Ocean City – A Place of Memories and Meaning

Ocean City, Maryland, has always been like a second home. From childhood to adulthook, it’s where my family has vacationed, laughed, and made tons of memories – both joyful and painful.

And while everyone else enjoyed the saves, the ocean was something I feared. At most, I’d wade in knee-deep water and more often than not, place my chair ‘surfside’ just enough to get my legs wet. Heaven forbit I get wiped out by a wave I didn’t see coming 😀 But I never went further. The water felt too unpredictable. Too powerful. Too overwhelming.

Witnessing Baptism on the Beach

Last year, when I began attending SonRise Church in nearby Berlin, I heard about their annual baptisms on the beach. My husband and I decided to attend and boy am I glad we did.

That evening, 50 or 60 people walked into the cold Atlantic waves, proclaiming their faith in Jesus, being raised to life in Christ. The water was rough but their joy was undeniable. Watching them, I felt something stir in me. Baptism wasn’t just a ritual – it was a bold proclamation of new life in Christ.

My Ocean City Baptism Testimony

When the date was set for the annual beach baptism, I knew without hesitation, it was time. Even with my fear of the ocean, I felt God calling me to take this step of obedience.

The day arrived, and everything fell perfectly into place. We were on vacation there, the weather was beautiful, the waves were gentle 🙌🏻, and the water was actually warm. My daughter and her friend came to watch. My husband and son walked beside me into the surf. My son’s girlfriend witnessed this with us as well.

In that moment, I laid my fear of the ocean down at God’f feet. As I went under the water, I thought of all the hurt, sin and brokenness of my past. And as I rose back up, I felt renewed – raised to life in Christ! It certainly didn’t erase everything I had done or endured but it gave me a fresh perspective and hope.

What Baptism Taught Me About Faith

Baptism isn’t about perfection – it’s about transformation. For me, it was also about courage. Facing the ocean and my fear mirrored what it means to trust God with the unknown.

I also learned something that took me 63 years to truly understand: God must come first. As a wife, mother, and GiGi, I always thought my role was to put family above everything else. But when God is the foundation of my life, everything else falls into place. I now feel that. I now believe that.

Living with a New Perspective

Since my baptism, songs about leaving sin ‘in the water’ or rising to new life mean so much more. Scripture about renewal and trust feels alive in a fresh way. Below are some of my favorite scriptures about baptism –

Romans 6:24 – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Life isn’t suddenly perfect – family struggles remain, and I’m still far from flawless. But baptism gave me a new lens: to see God’s plan in the middle of the hurt, and to know His love is steady, no matter what.

My Ocean City baptism testimony is one of the most significant moments of my life. It wasn’t just about conquering my fear of the ocean. It was about boldly proclaiming Jesus as my Savior, and stepping into a deeper walk of faith.

The world is very broken right now which may mean you are a little skeptical about publicly proclaiming your faith. I get it. But we need more people. We need to crowd heaven. More people that will share the word and help mend this broken world.

If you’re considering baptism – whether in the ocean, a church, or a simple pool – know this: it’s not about where you start but Who you rise with. Jesus invites you to leaave the old behind and embrace the new life only he can give.