By Paige Gurgainers
Webster Parish Men of Courage will return to the waters of Bayou Dorcheat for another public baptism service at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Dixie Inn boat ramp and park.
The “Old School Dorcheat Baptisms” are free and open to anyone who has professed faith in Jesus Christ and wishes to be baptized. Participants are not required to belong to a church, join the organization, complete paperwork or pay a fee.
Organizer and Men of Courage founder Chris Plants said the ministry has recently received pushback from some local church leaders regarding its approach to public baptism. Plants maintains that the event is intended to reach people who may not have a church home or who feel uncomfortable pursuing baptism through a traditional church setting.
The ministry’s position, he said, is that baptism does not provide salvation and is not a substitute for an individual’s relationship with Christ.
“We want people to know that salvation comes through Jesus Christ,” Plants said. “Baptism is a public profession of that faith.”
Plants founded Webster Parish Men of Courage in 2021 after what he described as a calling to create a public ministry that would carry the message of faith beyond the walls of a church building. The organization has since held prayer gatherings, public baptisms and other outreach events throughout Webster Parish.
According to Plants, conversations are held with prospective participants about their faith, the meaning of salvation and the purpose of baptism before they enter the water. The ministry’s approach was inspired in part by the biblical account of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch in the Book of Acts.
Plants said Men of Courage does not vote on those requesting baptism, collect an offering during the service or require participants to become members. He views the event as an opportunity to serve people from different racial, financial and religious backgrounds… including those who have never attended church.
The upcoming service follows a previous Dorcheat baptism held in June. During that event, organizers invited the public not only to be baptized but also to attend, pray and celebrate alongside those making a public profession of faith. 21 people of all ages, races and denominations were baptised.
Plants has said the public setting is intentional. By holding the baptisms in Dorcheat Bayou rather than inside a sanctuary, the ministry hopes to meet people in a familiar community space and create a lasting reminder of their decision.
Those interested in participating or supporting the ministry are invited to attend the baptism service at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Dixie Inn boat ramp and park.
More information about the ministry’s purpose and the previous baptism event is available in the original Webster Parish Journal story.