Depending on your church tradition, you may view child baptism as a step of salvation or as a symbol of dedication to the Lord. However, we believe baptism is an outward expression of the inward confession of being a follower of Jesus Christ. That is called Believer’s Baptism. We believe baptism occurs after an individual makes a personal decision to confess their sins to God and accept by faith His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Baptism is a symbol of that already made decision to the public, much like a wedding ring publicly symbolizes a marriage. Baptism does not save or guarantee salvation.
Therefore, we do not perform infant baptism nor do we use it for child dedication. If children (ages 8 and older) show interest in being baptized, you should:
- Watch this video below and have a conversation with your child about baptism.
- Contact Steve Blumer, Pastor of Family and Adults. He will meet with your child to talk about their decision in becoming a believer, discuss what baptism is all about, and what it means to be a believer. This process helps determine if your child is ready for baptism.
- After that time and confirmation of decision, your child may be baptized and we will work with you on scheduling a time for baptism and celebration.