Hannah Felsbourg
31 August
A teenage Christian from China recently flew over 7500 km to Melbourne to be baptised.
Aaron joined several others at St Thomas’ Burwood who chose to affirm their faith through baptism in recent months.
He was not able to make this significant step in his faith journey in China due to religious restrictions in his home region.
St Thomas’ Chinese congregation minister the Reverend Tzeh Yi Chan said when Aaron’s mother heard congregants at St Thomas’ were being confirmed, she wanted her child to have the same opportunity.
He said Aaron belonged to an unofficial church in China, so it was difficult for him to be baptised there. Even the official church did not allow baptism for minors in his region.
Aaron’s mother was able to connect with Mr Chan through a friend of hers who attends St Thomas’ Chinese congregation and asked if Aaron could be baptised there.
Read more: Migrant family of new believers choose baptism
Mr Chan said he interviewed Aaron to make sure he knew what baptism meant and around three months later he and his mother flew to Melbourne to visit the church.
He also went through an intensive course with Mr Chan to fully prepare. He picked up the material eagerly and once ready was baptised in front of the congregation.
Mr Chan said Aaron and his mother felt free to enjoy the services at St Thomas’ without the fear they would normally have in China of the police coming.
Before leaving, Aaron asked his mother to embroider a cloth showing their journey from China to Burwood. It was presented as a gift of thanks to Mr Chan.
St Thomas’ lead minister the Reverend John Carrick said Aaron was one of several people baptised at the church this year.
He said it could be daunting for those being baptised to share their testimony in front of the congregation, but it helped to strengthen their faith.
Being baptised was a way for them to affirm that they previously lived their own life, but now identified with Christ and his death and resurrection.
Mr Carrick said witnessing young people be baptised was especially uplifting for the church community.
“When Christians see people are becoming new believers there is that real sense of hope that the church is going to continue,” he said.
“We’re reminded that it’s not all up to us, that Christ said that he will build his church, and we worked with him toward that.”
For more faith news, follow The Melbourne Anglican on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our weekly emails.
