Are you ready to go public with your faith and show the world that Jesus has changed your life?
Baptism is a step of obedience to Jesus’ command and a declaration of your commitment to Him.

You can sign up to be baptized at either our 9:15 or 11:00 AM services on November 9th.

What is baptism?

Baptism is a step you take after you begin a relationship with God. As an outward sign of an inward reality, it is a public declaration of how Jesus is changing your life. It is your public response to God’s love for you.  Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus, and allows them to celebrate this decision with you.

Baptism is like a wedding ring—it’s an outward symbol of the covenant or commitment you have made in Jesus. A ring is not required to be or stay married. However, the ring is a rich symbol to the bride and groom of their covenant with God and each other. It also tells the world of their commitment and reminds family and friends of the responsibility they share to uphold the couple. This is similar to Baptism. Baptism does not save us. The New Testament teaches that salvation is based on personal faith in Jesus Christ apart from any other action. Baptism is a symbol of the salvation that has already taken place in your life! Salvation precedes baptism and never depends upon it.

Why should I be baptized?

Jesus instructs us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized. He was baptized to identify Himself with God’s purpose and mission, and He commanded us to take this step as one of the first things we should do after we trust in Him. As we follow the example of Christ in baptism, we identify ourselves with God and commit ourselves to His purpose and mission both in and through our lives. Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we have turned away from a life of sin, and have turned toward Jesus, the only one who can change us.

When’s the best time to be baptized?

As soon as possible! Once you have decided to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step in your spiritual journey. 

Who should be baptized?

Every person who has received Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior should be baptized. Baptism was given expressly and exclusively to those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is an expression of one’s faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Can children be baptized?

Anyone who has decided to follow Jesus can be baptized and that includes children. Baptism is for children who can express their own decision to trust and follow Jesus and understands the meaning of baptism. 

At The Gathering, we rely on parents (and guardians) to make the decision as to their child’s readiness. If a parent decides their child is ready, we are excited to celebrate with them. While we don’t baptize infants at The Gathering, we do dedicate them. This is a special time for parents, relatives, and guardians to pray with a pastor and ask for God’s help in raising their children to come to know Jesus.

What’s the difference between immersing, sprinkling, and other ways of baptizing?

Different churches use different methods of baptism. Some use sprinkling or pouring where water is simply sprinkled or poured onto the head of the person being baptized. Other churches use total immersion where the person being baptized is submerged in the water.

Everyone who was baptized in the Bible was immersed. In the Bible’s original languages, the word most often used for baptism referred to being immersed or submerged in water. Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it. Submersion in the water symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Going under the water represents our death to sin and the old way of life. Being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus raised us and gave us a fresh start in life.

While other churches and traditions may practice baptism differently, we encourage baptism by immersion because it most clearly shows the meaning of baptism as identification with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. However, we recognize that immersion may not always be possible or healthy, and so when appropriate we baptize using other methods.