My 2819 Baptism Testimony | August 17, 2025

Can the Lord supernaturally heal a person through a hug? (Read on for the answer). On August 16th & 17th, 2025, 2,576 people made the decision to publicly declare they would die to themselves and rise to life in the freedom of Christ. Months prior, when Baptism weekend was first announced, I felt such a stirring and desire to be re-baptized. That same day, the Lord confirmed it through a license plate (of course, lol) that read ACT 238: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38 NIV). Despite my efforts to register, the slots filled up fast before I could. The only option left was spontaneous baptism. However, the Lord moved mountains to make sure I could, despite physical, mental, and spiritual obstacles that arose. Pastor Philip stood in the blazing hot sun alongside his elders and servant leaders for many hours, carefully tending to each soul who stepped into the watery graves that had been fervently prayed over and anointed with oil, ready to leave behind their old lives and rise anew. As I sat in the water as Pastor Philip, Lonnell, and other prayer warriors prayed fervently over me in tongues. Pastor Philip anointed my forehead and interceded for me so powerfully. My friend Dia who recorded my baptism pointed out to me that as my head was bowed down, she saw a literal cross etched on the top of my head where my braids were parted. I've gotten this style many times before, but I'd never seen it before from the top. As I rewatched the footage, I was shocked. She was right! It looked like the seal of the Lord right on top of my head. The Bible verse that immediately hit me was Ephesians 1:13 (NIV) which says, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," Pastor Philip bent down and declared that I would be rising out of the water a changed woman; a more fervent woman; a tenacious woman; a more disciplined woman, a more anointed woman — not for my glory, but for the glory of the Lord. I went down into that water, and when I came up, I knew that the orphan spirit was buried in that watery grave. Striving was buried in that watery grave. The need to be accepted was buried in that watery grave. The need to be understood was buried in that watery grave. The religious spirit was buried in that watery grave. Trauma from spiritual abuse was all buried in that watery grave. All I could do was hug Pastor Philip as I cried hysterically. Through that hug, I truly felt the supernatural love of the Lord. It was a fierce love that reminded me that I belonged, that I was protected, valued, and accepted. It left me completely undone. The next morning, I collapsed in my prayer closet, weeping in tears of gratitude for what the Lord had done. There’s a settledness in my spirit I can’t fully articulate. Maybe I never will. Maybe I’m not meant to. All I know is, I am eternally grateful for what the Lord has done. So, can the Lord supernaturally heal a person through a hug? Absolutely He can. All Glory to God!