Today I had the great blessing of baptizing Chloe Tiena Kulbe, the first daughter of our dear friends Aaron and Brenda Kulbe.

Baptism of Chloe Tiena Kulbe

This is one of the most international children I know: The daughter of an American father and a Canadian mother, and she was born in Holland – and now here with us at RCC. I wonder if she has double or triple citizenship? What we do know is that, with all of us who have trusted Christ, with all those who have been baptized in the triune name, today this child is to be considered no stranger or foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph. 2:19).

These days there is much contention throughout the world about immigration, illegal aliens, national boarders and citizenship. In the body of Christ, the Church, we are mindful that Jesus was slain to redeem to God by His blood a great people out of “every tribe and tongue and people and nation and has made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 7:9-10). And you know what the border of that great kingdom is? It is baptism!

When Aaron and Brenda were married it was not only a blessing to them and to all of us, but it united us to people in a closer way than we otherwise would have – Brenda’s family, who are so wonderfully represented here today. They have chosen the occasion of Chloe’s baptism to meet her for the first time. It further illustrates the international character of Christ’s kingdom, for her parents are not only Canadian, but they were both born in Holland, just like Chloe. Not only so, Aaron and Brenda wanted to not only give her a biblical name, Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11), but also she is named after Brenda’s mother Tiena, her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. This baptism extends and connects her not only in space globally, but also in time through the generations to what our God is doing to redeem the world.

On the day of Pentecost, there were people gathered from around the world when the Holy Spirit was given to the Church; and Peter said: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38–39). And so, this child of promise is to be received as a member and citizen of Christ’s kingdom.