One of the distinctive marks of the Restoration Movement is baptism. It is the point in time when we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:11-13). Our sins are washed away and we receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). We emerge a new creation clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28). This is the beauty of baptism.

The removal of the ICOC superstructure in 2003 proved to be difficult for the member churches in the movement. Smaller churches no longer had the administrative or spiritual resources available to assist them. Missions and para-church organizations (HOPEww, .NET Sector, NEEM, etc…) could not count on funding from congregations. The lack of contractual certainty hampered missions work, charity and nascent church development. Although this seems a unique scenario to us, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Our brothers in the Restoration Movement (RM) have experienced this before us and continue to deal with the very same questions. Let us imitate, cooperate and in some instances integrate with what already exists within the churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches / churches of Christ (ICC/COC).