Celebrating a new life is always special and hearing Matthew Bolton share his story of new life as a child of God was extra special – exciting even.

Matthew joined our Milson Combined Church whānau in Palmerston North last year and is a much-loved member. Matthew’s early years were traumatic. He was molested and on drugs from the age of seven, on the streets as a pre-teen and taking drugs intravenously from as young as 15 years old. After having rheumatic fever, Matthew needed heart surgery while only 27 years old. He knew that God was “on his case” and had many questions. While under-going surgery he had a vision and felt God was telling him that it was “not your time to go yet.” Matthew told us that he has truly known God is holding him in the hard times – even in the times he has failed and taken drugs again. His desire is to be a better man, to wholly follow God. That desire led him to ask Rev. Andy Hickman to baptise him.

On a Sunday in February, we witnessed Matthew’s baptism in Turitea Stream, near Massey University. Pastor Andy shared how baptism represents a deeply personal covenant with God, a commitment to the universal church and a time for celebration of new life in Christ with one’s church family. We were learning much from Andy and Matthew.

Matthew has many tattoos. It is his way to celebrate milestones in his life. One bothered him – that of a devil done when he was fourteen. He shared a “miracle of timing” story of getting that tattoo replaced with a Jesus tattoo, which he wanted done before he was baptised. As he shared, I kept thinking about the skull rings on his hand. Would God lead him to remove those after his coming baptism, I wondered. Pastor Andy invited Matthew to share about those rings. I am so glad he did. Many wear crosses – which were an instrument of death – but which to the believer represent Christ’s death and resurrection, hope and much more. Matthew shared how the skull rings spoke to him of Golgotha – of the place where Christ died for him.

Our Chrism services in Holy Week offer a chance to remember our own story of new life and baptism. Join with the Bishops at a Chrism service near you - Wellington, Carterton or Feilding. For more information, go to movementonline.org.nz/chrism.

Many of us opened our minds and hearts to difference in a new way. Matthew’s baptism was a wonderful expression of letting go of the past, of acknowledging that life would still have its hard moments but with the deep assurance that God would lead him and make his paths straight as he kept to the truth of his life verses in Proverbs 3:5-6.    

By Lynda Whitwell, Vicar’s Warden