(West Point, New York) - North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary and volunteer West Point Chaplain Joshua Austin says he feels happy and joyful--a direct result of putting his relationship with God above all else. Recently, Austin made headlines involving an icy body of water and a faith-filled decision.
"There was literally, you know, small icebergs floating down the Hudson as we were doing this baptism," Austin jokingly recalled.
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Austin has a personal connection to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York--his father became a believer while serving as a cadet there in the early 1970s.
Austin says there's a tremendous amount of pressure one experiences as a West Point cadet.
"It's not like a normal college student. They are all required to do sports...boxing and survival swim and just the rigors academically are incredibly intense. And now we have another conflict brewing. These students know that when they graduate, they are jumping right into the United States Army and to take that vow to protect our country and to serve and so there is a lot of weight to it."
Chaplain Austin has had the opportunity to minister to many of the West Point cadets through Bible studies and small groups. Two of the cadets, Zhaoxin (Jenny) Ma and Brooke Parker, met in a discipleship group and were excited as their faith grew. They both realized the importance of an outward profession of their faith and both decided to get baptized.
Prior to being a part of the discipleship group, the pressure at West Point led Ma to have a mental health crisis. During a 12-day hospital stay, she found a Bible and shared that something made her ask for help in all areas of her life--mental, emotional, academic and spiritual. That cry for help led her to a chat with a chaplain, who led her to Jesus.
Parker had a different story. She grew up in a religious home but later doubted a loving God who would allow difficult circumstances. In high school, she started to meet believers who encouraged her in her faith and by the time she reached West Point, Parker was ready to deepen her walk with Jesus.
When Ma and Parker wanted to make a public declaration of their salvation in Jesus with water baptism, Chaplain Austin gave the ladies several options--wait until spring, get baptized in the campus basement or endure the icy Hudson River in the middle of winter.
They chose the Hudson River.
Although the West Point deadlines and parameters were such that we weren't able to speak to Zhaoxin (Jenny) Ma or Brooke Parker directly, they were both bold in their decision to be baptized as soon as possible.
Ma (below) told the Baptist Press: "I didn't want to wait any longer to show others what God has done for me and what God can do, which is why I chose to get baptized in the icy waters," Ma said. "I couldn't wait any longer to show others all His greatness but also to proclaim to God that I am His, and I welcome Him into my heart, and I want to follow Him."
Brooke Parker (below) told the Baptist Press, "The basement almost felt like hiding my faith as few people would be able to attend and celebrate with me the good things God has done, and nobody would be able to just happen upon this event as they would if I were to be baptized outside. This would eliminate a big opportunity to share this experience and Christ with others who may not have previously considered attending."
Austin said he's never before had the opportunity to baptize anyone in frigid waters, but was encouraged by the young women's willingness to endure discomfort in order to demonstrate their faith.
"I didn't learn in seminary as you were baptizing someone the move to dodge a chunk of ice, drifting," Austin joked.
60 people, many of whom are non-believers, witnessed the baptism from the shore. The newly-baptized cadets were encouraged by the support and said later that countless people throughout campus congratulated them.
Austin said watching these young cadets' faith was meaningful.
"It was a very clear opportunity of what it communicates in action the supreme value of following Christ and what that meant to them."