âGood morning,â Pastor Amanda Hahn told the congregation from inside Oxford Assembly of Godâs baptistry, which is full of water. âToday is a special day, because we are going to be baptizing several people.â Over the next few minutes, seven people were briefly immersed in water as a reminder they have been united in Jesus. After each immersion, the crowd cheered wildly. The Feb. 7
ceremony came nearly a year after COVID-19 forced the church and countless other area houses of worship to shut their doors. Those baptized exemplified local residents finding or renewing their faith amid the pandemic.
âWe have been seeing new families, new Villagers check our church out, whether in-person or online through Facebook and Zoom,â Lead Pastor Derrel Strickland said. âThere has been a greater hunger for faith during this pandemic, and the church has seen greater interest from local residents.â