LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The baptismal tank at Cornerstone Fellowship Church has remained drained and out of service for thirty-eight months following a slow leak discovered in October 2023, during which time a seven-member deacon repair committee has met nine times and narrowed the options to four.

The committee, formally convened in November 2023 under the chairmanship of Deacon Gerald Puckett, 67, has evaluated proposals from two plumbers, one tile contractor, one congregant who “knows a guy,” and a YouTube tutorial that Puckett admits he has not finished watching. A decision is expected once the committee resolves a subsidiary question about whether the tank should be relined, retiled, or replaced entirely, a question first raised at the February 2024 meeting and tabled pending further research.

Three church members who came forward for baptism during the 2024 Easter series have been told the situation is “actively moving forward.”

“We want to do this right the first time,” said Puckett. “Rushing a decision on standing water is how you get mold, and mold is not a revival.”

Pastor Tim Greer, 52, confirmed that two of the three candidates were baptized at a neighboring church in June 2024. The third, Darla Hutchins, 44, has expressed no urgency and told the committee she is “very patient by nature,” which Puckett cited as evidence the process is working.

“Darla is at peace,” he said. “That’s what we’re going for.”

The committee is scheduled to reconvene in May, pending quorum.

At press time, Puckett had forwarded the unfinished YouTube tutorial to all seven committee members with the subject line “Worth a Watch When You Get a Chance.”