Believer Baptism

Because the Bible makes it clear that baptism represents a personal commitment we have made to Christ, we do not baptize infants. Each person first needs to come to grips with their own need for God's forgiveness. We then strongly encourage them to follow Jesus' instructions regarding baptism.

You do not need to be a Christian for a certain amount of time before being baptized. If you have experienced His forgiveness, we encourage you to be baptized at our next baptism service. In the New Testament, baptism always followed immediately after conversion. (Acts 8:36-38)

Baptism by Immersion

The two baptisms described in the Bible were both by immersion. (Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 8:36-39)

The Biblical descriptions always imply immersion because when people are baptized in water they are pictured as going down into and coming up out of the water.

The word baptize comes from the Greek word baptizo which means to immerse, dip or plunge.

The symbolism of baptism is best pictured by immersion:

1. It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4)
2. It pictures our identification with His death, burial and resurrection. (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

Both archaeology and church history testify that immersion was the mode of baptism used by the early church.

Martin Luther... I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imparts and the mystery signifies.

John Calvin... The word baptize signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.

John Wesley... Buried with Him, alluding to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.

If you have been baptized as a believer in another church, you do not need to be re-baptized. In cases where immersion is not possible due to physical limitations, we encourage you to contact us regarding an alternate mode of baptism.