Sacred moment, sacred place
Missionary Kristen Brown baptizes Birevan in the Jordan River, at the purported site of Jesus’ baptism. She also anointed the new Christian with oil.
From Oklahoma, Rev. Brown has been serving in the Holy Land since 2010, through the UM General Board of Global Ministries. Birevan asked Brown to baptize her and promised to find a church home when she returned to France, where the young Palestinian woman lives. She and Brown met together several times in preparation for the ceremony in June.
“God is amazing,” Brown said. “Who knew that a French major from Oklahoma City University would become an elder in the Oklahoma Conference, serving in Palestine and Israel, and have the opportunity to baptize someone using French! This was my first baptism here.”