Four Baptized in the Casco Bay Church of Christ!

This last Sunday (August 8th) we witnessed 4 miracles, as 3 new brothers and 1 new sister were baptized into Christ in the Atlantic Ocean after church! It was a glorious day! It was the first time for many to see 4 baptized in one day. I am reminded that on Pentecost they did it 2996 more times than we did, but every baptism is a miracle from God! God has been preparing the hearts for the word of God even before we arrived, and it was obvious that God should get all the glory - Psalm 115:1. It was our last service in the chapel, as our church attendance has already exceeded its capacity. We are moving to a beautiful auditorium on the University of Southern Maine campus which seats 230 people. Please pray that soon that auditorium will be too small for us as well.

Chris Matts and his family were having a bite to eat at the Maine Mall in South Portland when the Spirit put it on Titus' heart to share with Chris and his family. Little did Titus know that Chris had been praying to change his life and get right with God. Chris has been through many challenges in his life even though he is only 19. He had an irregular heartbeat that was threatening his life, and he had to have surgery about two years ago or else his life could be at risk. Chris's brother Joshua said at the baptism that Chris went into heart surgery and came out a changed man. It is amazing how God works in people's lives to help them realize that life is not just a given but is something precious. Having already gone through physical heart surgery, Chris went through spiritual heart surgery while studying the Bible. In many ways he was repenting before we met him, but studying the Bible helped him to complete the process. Now his mother and brother are wanting to study the Bible and come to church as well. 

Kelly Gonzales studied the Bible and in Boston while attending Pine Manor College. Unfortunately, she did truly make Jesus Lord of her life and stopped attending. Because of some life circumstances she had to move back to Portland a few years ago, where at the time there was no church. Over the course of those years God has worked on her heart, and when she heard about the church being planted in Portland Kelly saw this as a sign from God that he wanted her back. Since the team has arrived she has been diligently studying the Bible and coming to church, to make sure that this time she really makes Jesus Lord of her entire life. She is a changed woman and has surrendered all to Jesus. It is so amazing to think about how God sending a team to Maine to start a church has given Kelly a second chance to get right with him. She has truly surrendered all this time at her baptism.

Gauthier Kayamba is a 19 year-old freshman at the University of Maine. His father, Lawum Kayamba was baptized in Hartford a few years ago, and the only way to bring his family over from Congo was for them all to move to Maine. Gauthier heard from his father about him truly becoming a disciple, and decided that he wanted to learn about it. Through the encouragement of his father and after studying the Bible for himself, Gauthier realized that he was never converted, so he decided to make Jesus Lord and was baptized. He also had the opportunity to go to the ICMC in Chicago with the summer missions group. He was totally inspired to come back to change his campus for Christ. Please pray for Gauthier as his school is 2 1/2 hours away from Portland. He has committed to coming to church every week, and to staying around for fellowship each weekend. He also wants to transfer to USM Portland to be part of the church as soon as he can.

Nathan Kayamba is a 24 year old sophomore at the University of Maine in Augusta. He is also the son of Lawum Kayamba, and also was moved by his father's testimony-although his father had been a denominational preacher, he realized was not a disciple and needed to become a disciple and be baptized. Nathan is the oldest of 7 children and has endured the most hardship of all the Kayamba children, as Congo was a violent and challenging place to grow up, and not safe for his family. Nathan also went to the ICMC and has decided to transfer to school down in Portland.

God has used the summer missions crew in a powerful way and we are sad to see them leave. These 8 brothers and sisters have changed this church in less than 2 months, and provided such a spark for us as we begin this great work for God! They came from all over New England, and they have left behind 5 new brothers and sisters with many more wanting to be baptized. Titus Walelo, Chantel Filiere, Kyle Woodley, Karlee Harding, Kayla Schnell, Mike Spangler, Alex Filiere, Julia Rogers, Jessica & Howard Kellogg are going to be missed as they are returning back to their home churches. They have been a part of planting a church, and their work has had eternal impact. We would like to thank the churches all over New England that helped us by sending some of their best to Portland for the summer.

Please pray for our new brothers and sisters in Christ. Please continue to pray for the Casco Bay church as we still have 10-15 ongoing studies with many numbers of those interested in coming out to church. Pray that we can take care of our young Christians, and please pray for mature disciples to move up to help us take care of these baby Christians as I believe God wants to bring in a great harvest of souls in Maine.

Your Brother and Sister
Glenn & Danielle Petruzzi