By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Recently, I learned of an interesting custom among the Navajo tribe about a very special event that happens in the life of a baby.
It is called the first laugh ceremony. Around three months of age, babies are watched closely to see when they will laugh for the very first time. The person who causes the baby to laugh first is responsible for throwing a party. The baby is the ceremonial host of the party, but the person who coaxed that first laugh out of the baby is the one handing out gifts on the baby’s behalf.
Most of us have been around babies when they learn to laugh. There is nothing quite as special or cute as a baby with a good belly laugh. You would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to smile and laugh a bit yourself when you are in the presence of a giggling or laughing baby. It is such a happy thing.
Now 2026 is here. We don’t know what it will bring in our individual lives, or in our church or country. There are many unknowns in the coming year. There will, however, be many things to be joyful about. What if, for example, each time there was a baptism in one of our churches and a new baby in Jesus, we did more than just have a baptism? What if the entire church threw a party afterward? What if, as the discipleship process continues with this new baby in Jesus, we had a party the first time we see that new believer share their faith and bring someone else to be introduced to Jesus?
Actually, the gospel commission is about more than just new believers sharing their faith. It is about all of us sharing our faith and watching our neighbors, coworkers, and even strangers for the first opportunity to share Jesus with them—and then having a party when Jesus is accepted into their life.