Olivia Cates

Olivia first started going to church as a teenager but drifted away in college after being hurt by a very legalistic environment that left her fearful and uncertain. For years she wrestled with doubt, until about a year ago when she felt convicted to learn more about the Bible. As she studied its reliability, her faith in God was renewed, and she began looking for a church. She found Fountain City Church online and began watching the livestream every week.

Still nervous about walking in, she often drove by Fountain City Church, unsure if she’d ever come in person. One Sunday in July she told herself that if there was a parking spot out front, she’d go inside and let God do the rest. 

There just so happened to be a spot open right by the front door. Little did she know, that was the very first Sunday our shuttle team had launched to open up parking for people just like her. From that first Sunday, God used the people she met at NextSteps, her new small group with Rose Harper, and the Belong class to draw her closer to Christ. Today she is being baptized to declare her faith in Jesus and the new life she has found in Him.

Amber Atkins

Amber began questioning faith a few months ago and started searching for truth. As she listened to the stories of others who had been changed by Jesus, she felt her heart being drawn to God in a way she had never experienced before. In the weeks leading up to the RENEW Conference, she prayed and asked God to guide her life, sensing that He was calling her to Himself. On Friday night at RENEW, Amber said she could no longer stand still, her whole body was shaking as she heard the Gospel… she knew it was time to surrender her life fully to Christ. Today she is being baptized to declare her faith in Jesus and the new life she has found in Him.

Lydia Harper

Lydia first sensed God calling her when she was about seven years old. The next day, while working on her Awana verses, she confessed her sins and prayed with her mom, trusting Jesus as her Savior. As she grew, she experienced seasons of strong faith and seasons of doubt. At thirteen, during a week at Camp Tapawingo, she recommitted herself to the Lord. Still, it wasn’t until her family came to Fountain City Church that Lydia says her faith truly became firm and personal. She now knows with confidence that her hope is in Jesus. Today she is being baptized to declare her trust in Christ, who died for her sins and gives her the gift of eternal life.

Will Payne

Will grew up with some connection to faith, but often drifted in and out of it. Earlier this year, he reached a very low point and even attempted to take his own life. While in the hospital, he experienced moments of clarity and peace, as if God was meeting him right where he was. When he woke up, he sensed a new hope and knew something had changed. Not long after, he began attending Fountain City Church and soon made a confession of faith in Jesus. Will says he has found real hope and life in Christ, who forgives, restores, and gives eternal life to all who trust in Him. Today he is being baptized to declare his new life in Jesus.

Ryder Norris

Ryder grew up in a Christian home but for many years didn’t personally believe in Jesus. He knew about Him but hadn’t trusted Him as Savior and Lord. That changed on Thursday night of the RENEW Conference. Surrounded by friends from Young Adults, men he now calls his brothers, Ryder sensed God drawing him to Himself. That night he surrendered his life to Jesus, believing with his whole heart that Christ truly is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Ryder says that moment changed everything, giving him new faith and hope in Christ. Today he is being baptized to declare publicly that his life belongs to Jesus and that he desires to follow Him completely.

Shannon Eirich

Shannon has an experience at a church camp early in life, but realized later that she had just following the crowd and not truly surrendering to Jesus. Earlier this year, she and her husband Hobie joined Marc and Karen Arnold’s small group. When it was her turn to share her story, Shannon realized she had never truly surrendered her life to Christ. She told the group she longed to know Him personally and hear His voice. That evening, she placed her trust in Jesus and gave her life fully to Him. Today she’s being baptized as an act of obedience and faith, and she’s asked Karen to stand with her in this special moment.

Hobie Eirich

Hobie grew up hearing about God from his mom and, even as a child, began to believe that what he heard about Jesus was true. Still, for many years he tried to live life in his own strength and never fully surrendered his life to Christ. Over time, he realized that the gospel is not just good advice about how to live but the good news of what Jesus has already done… that He died for our sins, rose again, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who trust in Him. Recently, Hobie prayed to fully surrender his life to Jesus. Today he is being baptized alongside his wife, Shannon, to declare his faith in Christ and his desire to follow Him completely.

Ryan Cardwell

Ryan first knew the gospel as a middle schooler at a school release crusade and felt God speaking to him. But as he grew older, he drifted and began living as if he could handle life on his own. Though he believed in Jesus, he realized he was not truly following Him. For years he felt the need to surrender but kept putting it off. This past Sunday, September 21st, Ryan finally yielded his life fully to Christ, declaring Jesus as Lord and committing to follow Him completely. Today he is being baptized as a testimony of that surrender, proclaiming that his life belongs to Jesus and he desires to live under His leadership.

Kara Cardwell

Kara grew up in a Christian home and came to faith in Christ during a youth conference in middle school. She was blessed with friends who encouraged her walk with Jesus and with a family who laid a foundation of faith in her life. In college, her priorities shifted and her faith drifted for a season. God used her husband’s desire to lead their home in a Christ-centered way to draw her back. The birth of their daughter deepened Kara’s desire to raise her in a home that honors the Lord. This past year has stretched Kara’s faith and reminded her to lean on Jesus through every season. Today she is being baptized to declare her trust in Christ and her commitment to follow Him.

Andrew Barkley

Andrew grew up in a wonderful home and heard the good news of Jesus from an early age. While in college, he prayed with a leader to receive Christ as his Savior, but in the years that followed he never became part of a church community and says he wasn’t truly living as a follower of Jesus. Through it all, his family continued to pray for him and encourage him in his faith. His sister begged him to come to the RENEW Conference and he came! On Thursday evening, Andrew sensed God calling him to surrender fully and to lay everything in his life down at the feet of Jesus. Today he is being baptized to declare that he belongs to Christ and desires to follow Him completely.

Brandon Scarlett

Brandon has faced incredible trials… surviving a serious car accident as a teenager, a rattlesnake bite, and a devastating motorcycle accident that left him in a wheelchair. Through each near-death experience, God was drawing Brandon closer to Himself. In the hospital after his accident, Brandon says he came face-to-face with the reality of spiritual darkness, which made his faith in Jesus grow even stronger. Over the past few months at Fountain City Church, Brandon has fully surrendered his life to Christ and now lives with the confidence that Jesus has saved him. Today he is being baptized to declare publicly that his life belongs to Jesus and that the gospel is the hope of the world.