Conversations on Baptism and Belonging
An Interview with Emily Krabill
Upon meeting Emily at our local coffee shop in Goshen, Indiana, I was delighted to realize I’d met her before! Emily plays Mary Magdalene in the annual passion play, produced locally by people with disabilities. I attend every year but hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know Emily personally. Our 90 minutes together was a treat. Emily is a thoughtful and articulate woman who shared her stories with a wide open heart during our interview. Her deep knowing that she and all of us are beloved by God was just the reminder my spirit needed that afternoon.
What does church and faith mean to you?
Church is a way to include God in my life. Going to church and praying helps me keep my relationship with God. I feel closer to God when I do these things. Growing up, my dad helped me memorize Bible verses, and we did devotions together. My family is really involved in my life with God.
What does it mean to feel like you belong in your church?
For me, I feel belonging in my church because the people are close. They ask me how I’m doing and questions about my life. People at church respect me and involve me in conversations and listen to my ideas. Recently, I had ideas to make our church more accessible for people with different disabilities, and now I have a meeting set up with the Mission Commission to talk about it!
I’m lucky to have a community who respects me for who I am.
How did you make the decision to get baptized?
I was 11 or 12 when I was baptized. I wanted to make that next step; I wanted to be as close to God as possible. Sometimes in life you just know what you want, and I knew I wanted to get baptized.
Nancy, a mentor from my church, was a part of my baptism. Nancy was very kind, and we spent time together doing things like going to plays at Goshen College, making school kits for Mennonite Central Committee, and spending time at her house. Nancy gave a speech for me during my baptism.
What happened during your baptism?
For my baptism, the whole church went to a lake close by. My pastors during that time, Dan Schrock and Marilyn Rudy-Froese, took me into the water. They held my arms and dunked me, carefully. It was good. I trusted them, and they held me safe. It felt like something special happened that day.
What does your baptism mean to you?
My baptism means I’m someone who wants to put God first. It means I’m a member of my church. Going in the water to be baptized makes me think of the hymn “Create in Me a Clean Heart”—and that God makes me whole and new. I can feel very negative about myself. It can be hard to believe sometimes that I really deserve God’s love. But God loves us for all of who we are. Thinking of my baptism also reminds me of the song “How Can We Be Silent.” God wants us to be instruments of his love and to share with other people.
Denise Reesor lives in Goshen, Indiana, where she works as a school psychologist and serves as a field associate for ADN. She is passionate about the inclusion and belonging of all people and families in the church. Denise attends East Goshen Mennonite Church along with her husband Tony.
Emily Krabill has a beautiful, complex, and powerful mind. She tends to hyper-focus on what she is passionate about, whether it’s pop culture, worrying about people connected to the events in the world, or her friends and family. She lives with her dad and stepmom in Goshen, Indiana, and she misses her mom in Oregon and her siblings who have moved out of town. She works at Soapy Gnome, a local soap boutique that she loves. She is quite excited to see what her podcast, “Expert Tips of Self Advocates of ADEC,” has in store for this year. When she is not working, she likes to write for her blog, act, sing, and dance. Emily serves on ADN’s Board of Directors.
