Baptized to Walk in a New Life

When James Kellems took on the lead pastor role at Vanguard Bible Church in Bakersfield, Calif., he said he wanted to make, baptize and teach disciples of Jesus Christ. He’s been doing a lot of teaching and disciple-making since arriving in September 2021, and in July—with the assistance of elder Roger Saunders—he baptized 10 followers of Jesus.

Each of the 10 publicly stated a relationship with Christ as Savior and Lord and a commitment to follow Him. Through baptism, they obeyed His command to identify with His life, death and resurrection . . . buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.