Baptismals

At the end of this past November, the NYT ran a piece called Horse Troughs, Hot Tubs and Hashtags: Baptism Is Getting Wild: In some evangelical churches, a once-staid ritual is returning to its informal roots — and things sometimes get “a little rowdy” along the way.

I know next to nothing about baptismals (I’m Jewish, sooo…) but love finding ones churches use that are outdoors. This one is at the Fields of Wood Bible Park in Murphy NC:

Fields of the Wood Bible Park, Murphy NC

Fields of Wood is probably best known for Fields of the Wood Bible Park, Murphy NCthe biggest one of these most of us will ever see.

Union Springs Missionary Baptist in Talladega AL:

Outdoor Baptismal, Union Springs Missionary Baptist, Talladega AL

Outdoor Baptismal, Union Springs Missionary Baptist, Talladega AL

Oak Grove Baptist Church in Gallion AL:

Outdoor Baptismal at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Gallion AL

Outdoor Baptismal at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Gallion AL

First Mt Pleasant Baptist in Jefferson AL:

Outdoor Baptismal, First Mt Pleasant Baptist Church, Jefferson AL

Mt Zion Missionary Baptist in Apalachicola FL:

Outdoor Baptismal, Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Apalachicola FL

Clementine Hunter’s depiction of a very traditional ceremony, Panorama of Baptism at Cane River, 1945

Clementine Hunter, Panorama of Baptism at Cane River

Clementine Hunter, Panorama of Baptism at Cane River

from the NYT piece:

In South Florida, members of Family Church gather on the beach for afternoon baptisms in the ocean, bracing themselves against the waves and keeping an eye out for sharks. At Walk Church in Las Vegas, leaders set up a folding tub in the courtyard of the middle school that they use for Sunday services. In Mansfield, Texas, Creekwood Church rents out the Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, where twisting slides tower over the ceremony.

“I would have probably thought a decade ago that not having a traditional baptistery would feel disconnected from my tradition,” Mr. Moore reflected a few days after his son’s ceremony, which took place at Immanuel Nashville, where he serves as minister in residence. “But I’ve found it to be the opposite.”