Ainslee's Baptism Story
In this article series, we’re focusing on some of the life-changing baptism stories here at StoneBridge Christian Church. As you’ll see, each story is different, and each person experiences his or her own unique path to Christ. We hope you’ll feel inspired and uplifted through these transformational stories from people in our StoneBridge community.
Ainslee didn’t grow up in a religious home. As a teen, she infrequently attended church if invited by a friend, and she did go to Hong Kong on three mission trips in high school. Her parents felt that going abroad would be a good experience for her, regardless.
As a college student, Ainslee grew even more disconnected from religion. That changed after she graduated, moved home to Omaha, and began her teaching career. She was hired to teach at the same elementary school as Alyssa, a StoneBridge member, and the two became friends.
Over time, the two women began teaching in the same classroom, and Alyssa invited Ainslee to StoneBridge.
That was the beginning of Ainslee’s journey to Jesus.
A Fully Immersive Experience?
Initially, Ainslee attended StoneBridge’s First Steps Class, which introduces attendees to our values, beliefs, and culture.
“And they talked about full immersion—what we believe is a true baptism,” she says.
As she learned more about Christ and deepened her relationship with Him, she didn’t feel an urgency to be baptized through immersion right away. A self-described planner, she wanted to make sure everything was just so before she took the next step.
“I think part of me was trying to make it super-perfect,” she says, “Like, trying to figure out who I wanted there, how I wanted it done--when, where, and all of those things.”
“I was very busy, so my answer was always something like, ‘Yeah, I'll do it eventually.’”
At that point, she had been attending StoneBridge for about a year and a half and was a part of the Rooted experience.
An Easter Surprise
Ainslee recalls Easter Sunday 2023, when StoneBridge had scheduled several baptisms. Pastor Mark encouraged people to make the decision to follow Christ and take that step, even if they weren’t on the schedule. However, she decided that being baptized on the spot wasn’t for her.
“You can’t just jump up and do it!” she thought.
The thought of going forward made her feel panicked, but she gave herself a pep talk.
“Ainslee, you need to do this,” she told herself. “Just do it. Just get it done!”
Another part of her wanted to stay in her chair. Her mind whirred as she wrestled internally.
This isn't how I planned it to be. This isn’t the schedule.
“‘On a whim’ is not something that I really ever do,” she says. “I kind of was like, ‘No, no, no!’”
For a moment, no one walked to the front. She decided that it would be her sign if one more person responded. As if on cue, someone walked to the front of the auditorium, which sent Ainslee’s mind reeling.
“I was hyperventilating!” she says.
She turned to Alyssa, who gave her a look. Ainslee burst into tears, so Alyssa took her hand.
“She was like, ‘We’re going. You need to do this,’” Ainslee says.
She and Alyssa went forward. Ainslee says she vividly remembers “how that water felt coming up over my head.”
Even more surprising? Ainslee says she didn’t know the people who immersed her. She wasn’t thinking about her baptism checklist, or whether things were “perfect.” And that made the event even more special.
“It just all happened so quickly, but so perfectly,” she says. “And equally, imperfectly.”
Ainslee’s Rooted Experience
Like many people who are new to church, Ainslee didn’t feel that she could be a Christian without a proper knowledge of the faith. That’s where StoneBridge’s Rooted Experience came in.
Ainslee says, “I’ve got to know the why before I can buy into something. They just made it a super-safe place [where] I could ask literally any question. They never judged me on the questions I asked, especially early on.”
Her Rooted group created a safe space where she could question and explore her faith as she grew in Christ. It’s an experience that we strive to create within all our Rooted groups, so that each participant can feel held, heard, and seen.
Because of the freedom she was given to ask questions, Ainslee realized that Christianity is not as complex as she once imagined.
“It's simply being good, doing good, spreading good,” she says. “And through all of that good, you spread the philosophy and goodness of Jesus and all the good things that He did.
“I feel like once I made that realization, it was a lot easier for me to really invest myself in a church, church community, and getting involved in that life.”
Renewed Strength for Every Day
Ainslee’s fellow believers at StoneBridge and her faith in God have helped her on her journey, especially as a single foster mom with a young foster son.
“The week after I got baptized was probably our hardest week ever, the two of us together,” she says. “All week, I was like, ‘I'm so glad I did this! I’m so glad I did that this weekend!’
“That commitment that I made on that Sunday made my week so much more bearable. I'm really still excited to see what other connections there are in store for us in the future.”