{xtypo_dropcap}N{/xtypo_dropcap}ew Year’s day often a day associated with New Year resolutions, new beginnings and hope for a brighter and better tomorrow, but for seven very fortunate individuals this is truly a new year because these folk participated in a formal Christian Baptism held at the Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church headquarters in Pembroke, NC. Amy Freeman and Kylie Locklear (New Bethel), Loretta Locklear (Union Chapel) and Joshua Oxendine, Sarah Oxendine, Shena Dial and Nicholas Harper (Maxton Full Gospel) all participated in a wonderful service led by the Reverends Robin Hammonds pastor at Macedonia and Scott Hammonds, conference Evangelist. After the invocation and a hymn led by Brother Jimmy Sanderson, the group of about forty went straight into the service of baptism. The candidates were presented and questioned before a very attentive audience they then made their way to the baptistery were they were immersed in a flow of water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Front-l-r Kylie Locklear, Amy Freeman 2nd row Elder Malcolm Jones, Loretta Locklear, Nicholas Harper, Shena Dial, Sarah Oxendine, Joshua Oxendine Back row-Elder Robin Hammonds, Bishop Wille Scott, Jr., Elder Alonzo Oxendine and Deacon Scott Hammonds
