Baptisms in a JCB in Canada 

How do you respond when someone wants to be baptised, but there's no baptistery in sight? Army chaplain and Baptist minister Gary Birch takes up the story

'I’m chaplain to The King’s Royal Hussars and while on exercise in Canada, three lads came to our communion services and expressed an interest in baptism,' writes Gary. 'I talked it all through with them, and as already committed but not yet baptised Christians, what better place!'

Gary and fellow chaplain Padre Luiz Marques were able to create a makeshift baptistery using tarpaulin and a JCB. 

'We had a decent size group of their mates watching, and they all took videos to show families back home,' continues Gary. 'Within a week of posting the video online, there had been more than one million views!

'Both Padre Luiz Marques, who is also here with 4 Battallion REME (pictured right, with Gary), and I are Baptist ministers and fairly new to army chaplaincy, but marvel at the opportunities it brings to share our faith and the love of God to so many young men and women.' 

Padre’s on Ex Prairie Storm in Canada officiate three baptisms in the field. Thanks @26EngineerRegt @BearSqn for the @JCBmachines baptistery. @12ArmdInfBde @royal_hussars @afcu_tweet pic.twitter.com/JbF7vEFUW2

— Gary J Birch (@garyjbirch) May 22, 2018