Baptism
Our baptism process has been designed to be both simple and meaningful. From the registration form through the day of your baptism, each step has been carefully planned with you in mind. We cannot wait to meet you, hear your story, and help you take a next step in your faith through baptism.
Frequently Asked Questions
People often have questions regarding baptism: Why should I be baptized? How long should I wait to be baptized? What if I was baptized, but didn’t really understand it—do I have to do it again? Take a few minutes to read the answers to these questions about baptism and decide if you are ready for this NextStep.
What is baptism?
Baptism is going public with your faith in Jesus and communicating to your world your heart-felt commitment to following Him. It's the next step after salvation.
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows others to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).
Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that saved you is the same power that brought Jesus back to life and is what Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows others to celebrate this decision with you (Acts 16:31-34).
Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that saved you is the same power that brought Jesus back to life and is what Jesus uses to change our lives – and that’s worth getting excited about!
Do you baptize children?
As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but the individual decides if they will commit their lives to Him (Romans 10:9).
Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48).
At GatheringPoint, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism. Yet, some people choose to have their young children baptized or dedicated as a symbol of their intention to raise their children in God's Church and their hope to see that their children choose God's ways when they are older.
Any instance of baptism follows a person’s decision to trust Jesus for his or her salvation and commitment to follow Him (Acts 10:47-48).
At GatheringPoint, we wait until children are old enough to express their own decision to follow Jesus and understand the meaning of baptism. Yet, some people choose to have their young children baptized or dedicated as a symbol of their intention to raise their children in God's Church and their hope to see that their children choose God's ways when they are older.
Who should be baptized?
Every person who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:9). Baptism is a vital NextStep for a believer. (Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12).
When’s the best time to be baptized?
After someone decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the NextStep. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is now ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).
Should a person be re-baptized?
Some people realize that the infant rite performed on them missed some of the essential significance God intended for baptism. Others sense that their mode of baptism lacked the powerful symbolism of immersion. And still others recognize that they were baptized, maybe under pressure, or as an initiation rite into a religious system without the personal life change a follower of Jesus experiences. Any of these reasons are legitimate cause for someone wanting to express their faith in Christ through baptism a second time.
Child Dedication
Child Dedication is an event that sets up a partnership between your church and your family — a partnership that will ease anxieties, encourage, resource, and ultimately lead to a child developing a faith of their very own. Click the link below to find out more or to schedule your dedication celebration.
Making your video
One of the most powerful aspects of baptism at GatheringPoint Church is the video testimony shown right before your baptism. The video gives you the opportunity to share how you came to know Christ as your Savior and how he has been working in your life.
Prerecording allows you to do as many takes as necessary while sharing the message you have thoughtfully and prayerfully prepared ahead of time. Many people ask, “Do I have to do the video?” The answer is yes if you want to be baptized at GatheringPoint Church.
Baptism is meant to be a public profession, and it is an opportunity to share God’s message of redemption with hundreds of people. We have witnessed the life-changing effects these videos can have, and we grow in our faith as a congregation by watching these stories together. A video testimony allows friends, family, and even those you don’t know to celebrate the amazing transformation Christ has worked in your life.
Some people are nervous about taping their stories, but we work hard to make the process both simple and fulfilling. After you’ve scheduled your baptism and filming date, you will receive an email with guidelines and information to help you prepare. One Sunday a month, we have a meeting with baptism candidates where we go over everything you need to know about the baptism process and the videotaping. We will tape your video on the day of your meeting, which usually takes place two or three weeks before your baptism.
We want baptism to be a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and we look forward to walking through it with you! If you have any questions or need help preparing your testimony, please contact Bob Anderson at the link below.
Baptism is meant to be a public profession, and it is an opportunity to share God’s message of redemption with hundreds of people. We have witnessed the life-changing effects these videos can have, and we grow in our faith as a congregation by watching these stories together. A video testimony allows friends, family, and even those you don’t know to celebrate the amazing transformation Christ has worked in your life.
Some people are nervous about taping their stories, but we work hard to make the process both simple and fulfilling. After you’ve scheduled your baptism and filming date, you will receive an email with guidelines and information to help you prepare. One Sunday a month, we have a meeting with baptism candidates where we go over everything you need to know about the baptism process and the videotaping. We will tape your video on the day of your meeting, which usually takes place two or three weeks before your baptism.
We want baptism to be a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and we look forward to walking through it with you! If you have any questions or need help preparing your testimony, please contact Bob Anderson at the link below.
Have more questions?
We would love to talk with you more and answer any questions you might have. Just click on the link below!