Pastor Cisco Cotto, right, pats the head of Piper Ramback, after her baptism. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Barbara Andre, left, and Gloria Ahlenius support one another as they walk through Austin Gardens, the site of Village Church of Oak Park’s first baptism service. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Donny Williams, right, greets Gloria Brooks-Swindell and Keith Johnson before the start of the service. They came out to support Williams, who was being baptized. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
David Haas, right, raised his hand as he sang. He attended to support his best friend, Donny Williams, left, who was being baptized. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Cotto started Village Church less than two years ago in his living room. The baptism service, the church’s first, was attended by nearly 170 people. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Cotto led the congregation in prayer while standing in the rented portable bapistry. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Before being baptized, each person read a testimonal. Here, Rachel Keating, right, readies herself along side her mother, Mary, who also was baptized. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Bob St. Clair was emotional as he described the loss of his spouse and son before finding healing comfort in God. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Rachel Keating rose up from the water baptized with the support of Cotto and her mother, Mary. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Rachel Keating came up from the water smiling and to hugs from Cotto and her mother, Mary. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Angelina Amador was the youngest to be baptized. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Donny Williams and his niece, Piper Ramback, went into the bapistry together and embraced after leaving baptized. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Michelle Soto raised her hand as she rose up to cheers from the crowd. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
One person suffered the loss of his wife and son. Another survived addiction and bad relationships. Some said they lost their way during their college years.
But their individual paths led to the same water, which filled a rented portable baptistry sitting in the middle of Austin Gardens in Oak Park Sunday morning.
Village Church of Oak Park baptized 12 people in the outdoor service. Approximately 170 people, some carrying picnic blankets and lawn chairs, attended. This was a departure from their usual Sunday service, held across the street at the 19th Century Charitable Association.
Each baptizee shared a testimonial before taking the plunge. While eight were scheduled, four others were moved to join them, compelled by the deep, buttery vocal tones of their pastor, Cisco Cotto.
Cotto described his own journey, which led to this day, his church’s first baptismal ceremony. Less than two years ago, Village Church started in his living room with 18 members. Today, more than 100 people attend Sunday service.
“This baptism service is definitely a milestone,” Cotto said. “Right now, it’s a way for us to give thanks to God for what He has done in such a short time. In the years ahead, we’ll be able to look back on this as just the start of something wonderful.”
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