Members of the United House of Prayer For All People are baptized by fire hose, a church tradition since 1926, at the end of the church's annual convocation in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 22 August 2010. Unlike others Christians who look at baptism as a one-time event, members of the United House of Prayer believe in being re-baptized every year. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
A file picture dated 22 July 2011 shows a Christian youth attending an annual beach gathering called 'A Closer Walk,' getting smacked by a wave while being baptized in the Atlantic Ocean in Wildwood, New Jersey, USA. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
Dr. Will Arrington (L) and Pastor Gregory Hughes (R), both of True Life Ministries, a Baptist church near Atlanta, prepare to baptize LaDonna Jones (C) in the Atlantic Ocean during an event they called 'Baptism 2011: The Year of Rededication' at St. Simon's Island, Georgia, USA, 18 June 2011. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
Reverend Larry Dentler of the Bermudian Church of the Brethren baptizes Joel Miller in a creek behind their church in East Berlin, Pennsylvania, USA, 26 June, 2011. Like the Amish and Mennonites, the Brethren immigrated to central Pennsylvania in the 18th century after fleeing religious persecution in Germany. In the US they became known as 'Dunkers,' a term derived from the German tunken, 'to dip or immerse,' that characterized the church's baptismal method. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
A teenage visitor to The Ramp, a non-denominational ministry popular with Christian youths, goes into a trance-like state, weeping and speaking in tongues after being baptized in a pond during one of The Ramp's bi-monthly summer 'gatherings' in Hamilton, Alabama, USA, 30 July 2011. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
Members of the United House of Prayer For All People are baptized by fire hose, a church tradition since 1926, at the end of the church's annual convocation in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC, USA, 29 August 2010. Unlike others Christians who look at baptism as a one-time event, members of the United House of Prayer believe in being re-baptized every year. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
The pastors and deacons of five baptists churches in Louisiana and Mississippi wade into Lake Providence to baptize new congregants during an annual summer revival in Lake Providence, Louisiana, USA, 31 July 2011. Baptist churches flourish in the region, which is one of the poorest in the country. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
The First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, holds its '2nd Annual River Baptism' in the James River in Henrico, Virginia, USA, 09 August 2010. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
Hundreds of visitors to The Ramp, a non-denominational ministry popular with Christian youths, are baptized in a pond during one of The Ramp's bi-monthly summer 'gatherings' in Hamilton, Alabama, USA, 30 July 2011. During their baptism, many of the teenage candidates appear to enter a trance-like state, weeping and speaking in tongues. One of the American South's most symbolic religious traditions is making a comeback. Outdoor baptisms, popularized in the 18th century by African slaves, had all but disappeared by the 1950s with the rise of indoor baptismal pools. Yet an increasing number of Baptist churches are forsaking the safety and convenience of these pools for nearby rivers, lakes, oceans, and even fire hoses. 'It's a re-discovery,' says Gregory Hughes, Pastor of True Life Ministries, which holds an annual ocean baptism in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. 'It's a way to embrace tradition while renewing our spirit.' EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
