Elder

You sit down with the other boys. "Elders, for your first mission, you must join together with Christ as a team. This week you will be learning to trust each other as you each trust in Jesus. As you go on your mission you will face temptation and exhaustion and you must be able to lean on the holy brothers in Christ who are by your side for the next year." the Bishop tells the group.

"You are no longer boys, but men. You are now Elders in the church, and you must become qualified to carry the holy word to the world" he continues.

"Today, you will cleanse yourself of the sins of your youth and begin your journey together," the priest declares. "Please follow me to the baptismal."

He leads you to a small room where a pool of water awaits. "As you are going to be bringing new converts to the church," he continues, "you will first need to renew each other's baptism. You may place your clothes on the bench by the wall."

You nod and begin to undress, feeling a bit self-conscious. Once you and the other young men are naked, the priest leads you to the edge of the pool. He says a prayer and then instructs you to step into the water.

As the cool water envelops you, you feel a sense of purity wash over you. You and your partner take turns baptizing each other, pouring water over each other's heads as the priest recites verses from the Bible.