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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Worship (corporate) (10/04/07)
Sam trotted across the black asphalt. "Hurry. We'll miss it." he hissed, turning and glancing at his slow-poke parents.

"Relax," his mother assured him. "We're early."

Sam looked at the collection of kids, parents and others from church already on the beach. "But everyone's here."

"So then everyone's early. It will be fine," she finished with the mommy edge in her voice that says 'This topic is over.'

Sam pulled ahead again and dashed down the wooden beach ramp. His parents caught up with him and the three blended into a group, heads bowed, around a table. After Pastor asked the blessing, the clump formed two lines on either side. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, watermelon and some grown up food sat in multi-colored bowls. Sam piled his food high on a paper plate and wandered in search of a place to sit.

Soon the whole section of beach was full of church members strewn on bright towels, eating and talking. Sam wolfed down his food and made his way through the crowd chatting with the people he knew. After awhile he realized that two important faces were missing and ran to his mom. "Grandma and Grandpa aren't here. They'll miss it."

"Relax," his mother assured him. "I just talked to them. They're on the way."

"But they'll miss ..."

"They won't miss it. They're on the way."

Sam's buddies Andrew and Alex dragged him toward the surf. "Ms. Eva loaned us a raft! Come on!" Grandparents forgotten, he ran after them. The three boys clung to the raft as waves pushed the vessel into the sand. Saltwater rushed up his nose and made Sam cough, then laugh. The game repeated itself countless times.

Before he knew it, Pastor Nathan and Andrew's dad were calling people together. "It's time!' Sam thought. "Where's Grandma and Grandpa?" His eyes searched the crowd for parent or grandparent, finding neither. "They'll miss it. They'll all miss it!"

A hand landed on his shoulder and his dad's voice reassured him. "We're about to begin. Mom went to get Mom and Pop from the parking lot." Relief poured over Sam. He and his dad gathered around Pastor Nathan with the others. The associate Pastor had his guitar and led everybody in song. Sam didn't know the first one very well, but enjoyed listening to everyone singing over the sound of crashing waves. He knew the second song and sang it as loud as he could.

After the worship, Andrew's dad talked about Jesus's baptism and why it's important for believers. Sam tried to pay attention, but he was so excited that he couldn't concentrate. Besides he had talked to his parents about it several times and was happy with his decision.

Then came the prayer, Sam peeked in the middle of it and saw his mom and grandparents. As soon as Andrew's dad said "Amen," Sam ran to them. After fast hugs, he joined the others waiting on the sand. Andrew's dad and Pastor Dan walked out into the water and got ready. Stephanie and her parents were the first to go. Down under the water, whoosh up again. Everybody cheered and clapped. Sam screamed "Yeah!"

Next came the couple who'd gotten married after church. "So cool," he thought. "Married and baptized on the same day."

After the newlyweds trudged out of the water, Andrew's dad called Sam's name. He couldn't believe it. "It's time," he thought and walked out to where the two pastors stood. Suddenly, he felt shy. He put his hands in front of him, then at his side. Andrew's dad was talking, but Sam didn't hear what he said. "Wow," was all that he could think. "I getting baptized."

Before he knew it, he was under the water and up again. Everyone on the shore was cheering. He ran to his mom and almost tackled her with his hug. He didn't feel any different, but knew that he was. Several others went under and came up clean. As soon as the service was over, Sam was back on the raft with Andrew and Alex.

Later, as he walked to the car with Grandma and Grandpa, Sam thought for the first time about the people on the beach who weren't with the church. "Did they hear the singing? The preaching?" he wondered. "Did they know what we were doing? I hope so... I hope we were ministering."
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jenny Fitch
10/13/07
I enjoyed reading this very much. Good descriptions - I could picture the scene well.

One thing I wondered was how old the boy was. At different times during your story, he felt older or younger to me.

Great job!
Josiah Kane
10/18/07
Congratulations. The suspended excitement was great, I could not guess what would happen and had to keep reading. The picnic idea was also good. But there is danger in the idea: “Andrew's dad was talking, but Sam didn't hear what he said. "Wow," was all that he could think. "I getting baptized."”
Sheri Gordon
10/19/07
Congratulations on your 2nd place. You built the suspense very well. Nice job.