God Is Moving in Rotherham: 20 Churches Unite as 80 People Publicly Declare Their Faith
What an incredible day of celebration, unity and God's transforming power!
On Sunday, churches from across Rotherham and the surrounding area gathered at Manvers Lake for our second annual public baptism celebration. Hosted by Liberty Church Rotherham and led by Pastor Adrian Dexter, the event was a beautiful demonstration of what can happen when the Church comes together with one heart and one purpose: to make Jesus known.
This year, 20 churches united for the celebration—the largest gathering yet—and hundreds of people came together to witness what God is doing across our region. Building on the momentum of our first public baptism in 2025, this year's event reflected a growing desire among churches to stand together in unity and serve our communities.
80 Lives Publicly Declaring Jesus
The highlight of the day was seeing 80 people step into the waters of baptism, publicly declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour in front of friends, family and the wider community.
Each baptism told a unique story of God's grace. Many of those being baptised shared heartfelt testimonies of how Jesus had transformed their lives, reminding everyone present that He is still changing lives today.
Even more exciting, as the Gospel was shared throughout the afternoon, eight people made the decision to give their hearts to Jesus Christ. There is no greater joy than seeing people encounter the love of Christ and begin a new life with Him.
From Pretending to Following Jesus
One testimony deeply impacted everyone gathered around the lake.
A woman shared that although she had believed herself to be a Christian for many years, she had come to realise she had simply been "pretending."
Just two days earlier, during Liberty Church Rotherham Youth, two youth leaders had prayed with her and spoken words of faith and encouragement over her life.
She later explained that she couldn't sleep after that evening. The words spoken over her stayed with her throughout the weekend as God continued to work in her heart. She felt deeply challenged and increasingly convinced that she needed to make a genuine decision to follow Jesus.
Standing before hundreds of people at Manvers Lake, she publicly declared that she had truly surrendered her life to Christ.
After speaking and praying again with the youth leaders who had encouraged her, she ran into the lake and was baptised alongside the others.
It was one of the most spontaneous and joy-filled moments of the afternoon, with cheers and celebration breaking out all around the lakeside.
A Father's Joy
Another unforgettable story came from Pastor Adrian Dexter's own family.
Over the past several months, Adrian had asked his son on a number of occasions whether he felt ready to be baptised. Each time, his son honestly replied that he wasn't ready, and Adrian respected his decision, believing that baptism is a personal step of faith that should never be rushed or pressured.
Then, on the morning of the baptism celebration, his son approached him and simply said he was ready.
Later that afternoon, Pastor Adrian had the privilege of baptising his own son in front of hundreds of people gathered at the lake.
As he came out of the water, the crowd erupted with applause, cheers and celebration. It was a beautiful reminder that God's timing is always perfect and that each person's journey of faith is unique.
More Than a Baptism Service
The celebration extended far beyond the lake.
Families enjoyed a free community BBQ, children's games, an ice cream van and live worship music throughout the afternoon, creating a welcoming space where churches and the wider community could celebrate together.
We were also delighted to welcome Christians Against Poverty (CAP), who hosted a community stand and shared more about the incredible support they provide for people experiencing debt and financial hardship. Their presence highlighted the practical ways churches and Christian organisations are bringing hope and help across our communities.
Meanwhile, the youth and young adults from Liberty Church Rotherham served throughout the day by raising funds for future mission opportunities through the sale of bottled water and fresh watermelon. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported them, they moved significantly closer to reaching their fundraising goals.
Sharing the Story Beyond the Church
The significance of the day also attracted local media attention, with journalists from the local BBC attending to cover the event and showcase the growing unity of churches across Rotherham and the positive impact being made through Liberty Church and the wider Christian community.
We pray that these stories of faith, hope and transformed lives will continue to encourage people far beyond those who gathered at the lake.
United for the Gospel
One of the most encouraging aspects of the day was seeing churches from different denominations worshipping, serving and celebrating together.
In a world that often focuses on division, this event was a powerful reminder that the Church is at its strongest when it is united around Jesus. Twenty churches stood together with one shared mission: to proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the life-changing work of Christ.
As the afternoon drew to a close, there was a real sense that God had done something significant.
Eighty people publicly declared their faith.
Eight people began a new relationship with Jesus.
Hundreds gathered in worship and celebration.
Lives were transformed.
The Church stood together.
We are incredibly grateful to every church, volunteer, worship team, prayer team, youth leader, CAP representative and every person who served so faithfully to make the day possible.
Above all, we give glory to God for everything He has done.
We believe this is only the beginning, and we're excited to see what God will do through the churches of Rotherham in the years to come.
