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What Do I Need To Do To Be Baptized?
Community Church has a short process for those wanting to be baptized. The process is as follows:
1. Attend the baptism class. This class is offered four times each year. In 2010, the baptism class will be offered on October 5. A person can sign up for this class by doing one of the following:
call the church and ask to be signed up,
email the Adult Ministry Pastor, David Mundt, requesting to be signed up, or
sign up right here on the web, using the contact form on the Contact Us page.
2. Having taken the class, schedule a time to meet with a pastor to review your faith story. This appointment needs to take place after the class and before the baptism service.
3. Attend the baptism service to be baptized. The baptism services are held at the end of our quarterly business meetings. As you step into the water to be baptized, you will be introduced and a brief portion of your faith story will be read out loud (by someone else).
Please feel free to invite family and friends to attend not only the baptism service, but even the lunch and business meeting that precedes it.
FAQ's re: Baptism
Does Community Church baptize infants?
No, Community Church does not baptize infants. Instead, we practice Parent-Child Dedication. To learn more about about dedication and how it differs from baptism, please click here.
At what age can children be baptized?
Children can be baptized as soon as they can understand the Gospel message and respond to it.
What steps must children take to be baptized?
A children's version of the baptism class is offered each time we offer the adult class. If a child is wanting to get baptized, they need to register for and attend that class, meet with Kathy Heinzelman to talk through their faith story, and then attend the baptism service.
Can families be baptized together?
Absolutely. But the size of the baptismal restricts the number of baptisms that can be done simultaneously.
How does Community Church baptize people? I have never seen a baptismal in the building?
Community Church has a baptismal built into the stage floor in the auditorium. Floor panels are removed from the stage floor in preparation for a baptism service.
Can pictures be taken during a baptism service?
Yes, but we ask the photgraphers to be discreet, causing as little distraction as possible.
What Does Community Church Believe About Baptism?
Baptism is important for the Christian! It is important because of...
...our obedience to Christ
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). When we love Jesus Christ we want to do what He says. Love and obedience include baptism. Jesus was obedient to the Father and, to fulfill all righteousness, was baptized. The disciples were baptized. The early Christians were baptized. In Peter’s first sermon after Pentecost, he preached saying, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).
Obedience to Jesus Christ is a privilege, a joy, and also a responsibility. More important than our personal ideas about baptism is our Christian commitment to please Jesus Christ. And Jesus commanded us to be baptized!
...our testimony to others
Baptism is a testimony of our conversion to Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, baptism always demonstrates belief in Jesus Christ. First comes faith, then comes baptism as an outward symbol of faith. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9); therefore, baptism is not necessary for salvation. However, salvation is necessary before baptism. In baptism we are telling others that we are now Christians.
...what baptism communicates
Biblical baptism is a commitment.
Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33). Baptism is a public declaration of our intent to follow Christ.
Biblical baptism involves us with God’s people—the church.
When we are baptized we are declaring our participation in the body of Christ. There is a mutual responsibility; the individual is responsible to submit to and love the church; and the church is responsible to love and nurture the one baptized.
Biblical baptism is a submissive act.
When we are baptized we are humbly admitting that we are sinners who can’t forgive our own sins. We admit we need Jesus Christ as Savior. It is an act of submission to God to be baptized in front of witnesses.
Baptism is a testimony of the gospel story.
“...having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). Baptism is a witness (an acting out) of the gospel story—Christ died and we are dead to sin through salvation; Christ was buried and we are burying our old sinful life; Christ was raised and we are raised to a new life in Christ.
When Jesus died, was buried, and rose again he was buried in the ground. Baptism is a drama re-enacting what Jesus did for us—only it is in water and only for a few seconds. That’s why we practice baptism by immersion at Community Church. The Christian is completely immersed in water in order to follow the Bible’s practice as closely and meaningfully as possible.
Baptism is a testimony of our identification.
The original Bible word (in Greek), "baptidzo" literally means “to dip, to plunge.” Just as a cloth placed into a vat of dye is “identified” with the dye, so in baptism a Christian is identified with Jesus Christ. You have “clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
We also identify with the Church (the body of Jesus Christ), “for we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Our baptism is a powerful testimony to others.
What should you know?
“Therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20 (NIV)
What should you do?
Not a believer?
First and foremost, be sure to investigate who Jesus Christ is and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord of life.
A believer but never biblically baptized?
Decide to be baptized. Your decision will obey and please Jesus Christ. To be baptized at Community Church, check “Baptism Class” on your Sunday information card, speak to one of the pastors, or call the church office at 922-1477. Attendance at this class and meeting with a pastor are prerequisites in preparation for baptism. Baptisms are held quarterly.
A believer and biblically baptized?
Remember your baptism with delight! Recall the vows and testimony of your baptism. Pass on to others what the Bible says about baptism (your children, other family members, and friends). Personally “adopt” those who are baptized into the fellowship of Community Church and encourage them to faithful living.
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, Sep. 7, 2010• Quest - 6:00 PM
Wednesday, Sep. 8, 2010• CrossRoads Kickoff - 7:00 PM
Thursday, Sep. 9, 2010• Men's Bible Study - 6:15 AM
Friday, Sep. 10, 2010• FOCUS - 6:45 PM
Sunday, Sep. 12, 2010• GROUP Kickoff-Cookout - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2010• CrossRoads - 7:00 PM
Thursday, Sep. 16, 2010• Men's Bible Study - 6:15 AM
Friday, Sep. 17, 2010• MOPS-Mother's of Preschoolers - 9:00 AM
Friday, Sep. 17, 2010• FOCUS - 6:45 PM
Sunday, Sep. 19, 2010• GROUP - 6:00 PM
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