Students baptized on Easter Sunday in Dillon Pool

“I became a Christian in January,” Farkas said. “Princeton was the first place where I was exposed seriously to Christianity.” Farkas explained that he was inspired to learn about Christianity when he observed his Christian friends living out values that he aspired to follow.

Along with Farkas, Natalie Kim ’12, Jinju Pottenger ’10, Victoria Tan ’11 and Carola Hernandez-Cappas ’11 also submerged themselves in the waters of Dillon Pool for the annual baptismal celebration on Easter Sunday, sponsored by Manna Christian Fellowship, Princeton Evangelical Fellowship and Princeton Faith and Action.

After a ceremony consisting of hymns, prayers and testimonials by the five baptismal candidates, Rev. Bill Boyce ’79 of PEF, Rev. Blake Altman of Manna and Dan Knapke of PFA assisted as the five students entered the pool one by one. Fully submerged in the pool, the students participated in the Christian rite and officially entered the church community.

Unlike Farkas, Pottenger has believed in Christianity since she was young, but she wanted to postpone the ceremony until she understood the meaning of baptism.

“One of the rites of Christianity, one of the symbols that you use to proclaim your faith, is baptism,” she said. “I believed in Christianity at a young age, but I personally wanted to wait until I knew that it meant something in my life. It wasn’t until last year that I understood that, in my life and in my experiences.”

Pottenger explained that a swimming pool is as legitimate a baptismal site as any.

“Baptism can take place anywhere, because it’s a symbol that you believe,” Pottenger said. “It’s not about where you get baptized, or in what you get baptized. So I’m fine with it anywhere — in a lake, the Woody Woo fountain, anywhere.”

Boyce explained that the baptisms in Dillon Pool have taken place for more than 25 years, and that the most common baptismal candidates are members of Christian groups at the University. Each year usually sees about 10 baptismal candidates, though the number has ranged from zero to 15 in past years, he added.

Farkas said that though he was enthusiastic about his baptism, his parents did not share his excitement.

“My parents aren’t Christians, but they love me and support me no matter what,” Farkas said. “Their love for me ... has been very important in my life because God loves us and there are tangible and direct ways of feeling that love. One of the ways that He taught me love was through my parents.”

Hernandez-Cappas compared her baptism experience to matrimony.

“I feel like I got married,” she said. “Baptism is meant as an outward sign of an inward reality. So my baptism was a public concession of an attitude in my heart toward God, and toward the truth of Jesus Christ as His son. In that way, it’s like choosing to get married when making a commitment publicly.”

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Farkas and Pottenger both noted that it was important to them to be baptized before graduating from the University this year.

“I wanted to be baptized at Princeton,” Farkas said. “I don’t really know where I’ll be in a stable Christian community in the future, and baptism is something that usually happens in a church.”

Farkas added that getting baptized before graduating was a way of publicly saying thank you to Christians on campus.

Describing baptisms as “wonderful experiences,” Boyce said, “It’s a significant moment for those getting baptized in their Christian experience, and I’m glad I can share it with them.”