Baptism Statement: Evan Digman

Tell us your faith story. 

When I think about where my faith story begins, I think of my ancestors. I inherited my faith tradition from them, though I often forget that. Even though I don’t always feel like I know my ancestors well, knowing that the Christian tradition shaped my family’s values and worldview for generations makes me feel closer to them. This way of being – worshiping God in community and trusting in Jesus’ transforming grace – is a gift my family gave to me. That’s meaningful to me, and I feel deeply grateful for it.

My faith formation started young. I grew up in the church and had countless encounters that introduced me to the wonder of God, creation, and sacred community early on. It’s hard to capture the impact that youth group retreats, years at church camp, and service trips had on my spiritual formation. These experiences gave me memories and relationships that are so dear to me. They helped me mature and deepen my relationship with God in ways I couldn’t have imagined and challenged me to get real with myself about what truly matters in this life.

Pres House has continued this story for me. It has deepened my joy in sacred community and given me space to form deep, vulnerable, and lasting relationships. We dive into the big questions here, and Pres House has nurtured my ability to be present with ambiguity, mystery, and even disillusionment in my spirituality. From here, my intent is to keep diving deeper: deeper into the hard questions, into living out the values of service, justice, and love, and into relationship with others and with God.

Why have you chosen to reaffirm your baptismal vows? 

My choice to reaffirm my baptism at Pres House is rooted in a few key values. I deeply value communal rituals. Moments like baptism allow me to slow down and reflect on those deeper aspects of my identity: who I am beyond my job, roles, and past. This choice to reaffirm my baptism is also a recommitment to God and myself. It is a recommitment to following the path of love that Jesus laid out for us.

To me, baptism is a testament to my trust in God’s role in my life and the world. I trust that God sees me and loves me, that this body is good, and that I am enough. Reaffirming my baptismal vows is also a recommitment to never giving up, to holding onto goodness and joy in a world that can take it away, and to bravely stand up for the most vulnerable. Baptism welcomes us into the church, and for me, this means reaffirming what I believe my role is within the church and the role the church plays in doing good and making the conditions of the planet better for all people.

Christians use a variety of images and metaphors to describe the sacrament of baptism. Which is most meaningful to you, and why?

Of the metaphors Christians use for the sacrament of baptism, it’s the freedom it symbolizes that means the most to me. Baptism is a personal recognition that devotion to God – through following Jesus – brings the potential for freedom into this world and into my life. The freedom offered through this sacrament is a kind of surrender; a letting go of trying to control my life according to how I think things should be. This freedom brings peace and clarity to my path as I navigate my role in the world amidst uncertainty and despair.

For me, this freedom comes from recognizing that baptism is one way God’s grace is experienced. It comes from trusting in the power of an open heart, one that opens to the beauty and joy that are present here and made alive in my body. Baptism is a doorway into this freedom: the beginning of the journey. I pray that this freedom continues to shape my path of discipleship and that my life can be a heartfelt response to Jesus’ call.

Evan Digman (he/him) is a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate in the class of 2027.