As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him” (Acts 8:36–38).
This passage about baptism recently came to life in a very real way for Rob Jackson, an Alabama National Guard chaplain for the 1–167th Infantry Battalion.
The unit chaplain since late 2010 endorsed by the North American Mission Board and an associate pastor for First Baptist Church, Frisco City, Jackson has conducted many baptisms throughout his various ministry roles but none quite like the baptism that took place at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Miss., on July 13.
According to Jackson, three of the soldiers preparing for deployment who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ had not yet been baptized and expressed a desire to do so before they left.
Without a proper baptistry on-site, Jackson and chaplain assistant Cpl. Michael Lowe assessed where to conduct the baptisms. Soon after, a pickup truck’s bed was offered as an option.
The truck was set up and a large tarp from a LMTV (light medium tactical vehicle) was used to line the bed of the truck. Lowe had the bed prepared and filled with water for the 7:30 a.m. service.
The three soldiers gathered with Jackson around the truck, and one by one each were baptized with about 50 other soldiers looking on.
Jackson said he had never done something like that before. “What better way to share the gospel than to stand out there and let people see it?” he said.
In the days following the baptism a couple of other soldiers inquired about learning more about the gospel, and Jackson is currently following up with those individuals.
According to Jackson, his role as a chaplain is a unique ministry and a wonderful opportunity for ministry.
And for those churches that have a pastor serving in National Guard chaplaincy, Jackson encourages churches to pray for them as many are working both as chaplains and in church service.
Jackson was reminded of the biblical story in Acts of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch through this experience and noted it does not matter where you have a baptism.
“The fields are ripe for harvest” and we need workers willing to bring that [harvest] in, he said.
(TAB)
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