Pastor's Wife Reaffirms Faith Through Rebaptism

A revival series at the Claremore Seventh-day Adventist Church led to an unexpected decision when Felicity Cowin, a pastor's wife who attended primarily to support her husband, chose to be rebaptized.

The Encountering God revival series, presented by Evangelist Nemaia Folotoga from May 29 to June 6, focused on the character of Jesus and the transforming power of His grace. For Cowin, the messages became deeply personal.

"I had no idea how badly I needed these messages for myself," she says.

Although she serves alongside her husband in ministry, Cowin says she had been carrying feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and exhaustion. Folotoga's testimony and emphasis on Jesus' love helped her view her own spiritual journey in a new way.

One message, "Encounter Jesus and the Abundant Life," particularly resonated with her. In it, Folotoga reflected on the stories of the woman with the issue of blood and the woman caught in adultery.

"Though I wasn't dealing with their exact struggles, I related to them 1,000% as a woman," Cowin says. After the meeting, she told her husband that something had changed. "This was the first time as an adult that I felt seen and known by God," she says.

As the series continued, Cowin became convinced that God was calling her to publicly reaffirm her faith through rebaptism. On the final Friday evening of the meetings, she quietly stepped forward, surprising many in the congregation by becoming the fourth baptismal candidate.

On Sabbath, Cowin entered the baptismal waters and was baptized by her husband, an experience she describes as especially meaningful. "Never did I imagine being rebaptized as an adult—let alone by my husband," she says.

Reflecting on the experience, Cowin says the decision was not about starting over but about responding to God's continued work in her life.

"Thank You, Lord, that Your hand is not too short to save,” she says, “even someone like me." 

By Todd Gessele and Felicity Cowin