This was published 9 years ago
Taking the plunge at Etihad Stadium into a life of faith serving Jehovah
By Beau Donelly
Cameron Dobber's nerves had mostly settled by the time he took his place in the middle of Etihad Stadium in front of more than 65,000 people.
The 27-year-old forklift driver from Sunshine had been preparing for this moment for more than four years.
Jehovah's Witness mass baptism at Etihad Stadium.Credit: Angela Wylie
After months of Bible studies and a three-hour interview with church elders, it was finally his turn to step into the baptismal pool and become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
"It's a joyous occasion," he said before the ceremony. "A once-in-a-lifetime thing to do at Etihad and in my home town, so it does make it special."
On Saturday, 570 men, women and children repented their sins and dedicated their lives to Jehovah before being guided backwards for the full immersion baptism.
The crowd at Etihad applauded as their friends and relatives each took the plunge in one of the 10 custom-made baths.
Christian Liddell, 29, travelled from Sydney to be baptised. After the ceremony his family, who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, embraced him and struggled to hold back tears of joy.
Mr Liddell said studying the Bible had changed his life. "As you can see I have tattoos. I've been to jail. I lived an immoral life," he said. "I can go anywhere now."
Seventeen-year-old Zeena Pop, from Keysborough, said she felt "whole-souled" after her baptism. Like the other pilgrims she made a commitment to preach the Christian sect's message of salvation before being baptised, and it's something she plans to start right away.
"I feel so joyous about it," she said as she dried off. "I just can't wait to start serving Jehovah."
Jehovah's Witnesses believe they must remain loyal to Jehovah to survive Armageddon, "when Satan's system on Earth will be destroyed". According to the church's website, baptised Witnesses who break the Bible's moral code and do not repent should be "shunned" by the congregation.
Mr Dobber, who lives with his Pentecostal mother in Melbourne's west, said he was the only member of his family that had found "the truth". His mother was absent on Saturday, but he said he drew strength through prayer and the support of other followers.
"Everyone has their own views," he said. "It's not harder [without family] because your brothers and sisters in the organisation are there to support you in every way, as well as the elders in the congregation."
Emerging from the water on Saturday, Mr Dobber said he felt "amazing". "Once in a lifetime opportunity. Soaking it up."