An immersion with meaning

Members of Crooked Run Baptist Church descended the sloped gravel road last Sunday to witness and celebrate the first baptisms in their newly refurbished baptistery.

As folks crossed a makeshift bridge over the creek, they took their places on chairs arranged just on the other side.

Nestled at the bottom of the hill on the side of the church, Pastor Karl Hrebik joined several children at the edge of the baptismal pool prior to the ceremony.

Kneeling on the brick edge, 7-year-old Elizabeth Settle stuck her hand in the water and exclaimed, “The water is so warm. I wish I had my bathing suit!”

As the other children inquisitively wandered around the baptistery, Hrebik plainly explained the significance of baptism.

Rhonda Early, 44, was the first to be baptized. Confidently approaching the steps, Early joined Hrebik in the pool.

Standing in lukewarm water — the heater had just been removed moments prior — Hrebik leaned Early back, immersing her head and reciting baptismal liturgy.

Calvin Feaganes, 45, and his wife, Ashby Feaganes, 27, were baptized next. Calvin had been baptized before, at Crooked Run, at eight years of age.

“I now understand the true meaning of baptism,” he said, “Back then I did not.”

Ashby had been baptized when she was a bit younger, three days old. Then a Lutheran, receiving a small sprinkling on the head was required by their denomination.

“This (immersion) has a lot more meaning,” says Ashby. “I believe you have to be submerged in water for rebirth. This is something I want to do.”

Her husband, standing nearby, agreed, though admittedly he was not as nervous as his wife.

Gladys Woodson was present Sunday for the ceremony. Baptized in the same spot by the Rev. Floyd T. Binns when she was 10, Woodson described the day as bittersweet.

“It feels kind of strange to be here today,” said the 80-year-old.

The original baptistery, having an oval shape, was built in 1857 and cost $55.07. Today, the rectangular shape is fashioned with some bricks salvaged from the original structure and cost about $2,000 with a lot of volunteer labor.

Looking over the baptistery just before the service, Hrebik noted that this is a very special time.

“There is such a sense of history and presence of the Holy Spirit in this church,” he said. “I feel like the whole history of the church is here today.”

Hrebik told the crowd that Crooked Run chose to put the baptistery at the creek because it was easy to fill and fed from a spring. He feels it’s symbolic that the pool was placed in its current location (between the cemetery and the church) because “those who believe in Jesus Christ gather here (at the baptistery), and one day we believers are going to cross to the other side”.

As the service began and the congregation sang “Shall We Gather at the River,” Hrebik described the day as “a new beginning for Crooked Run.”

Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at