Baptisms & Child Dedications
Two of the most joyful moments in the life of our church. In baptism, an apprentice of Jesus goes public with their faith. In dedication, parents and a whole church family promise to help a child learn the Way of Jesus. Both are moments we celebrate together.
Marking the life of an apprentice
Following Jesus is a lifelong apprenticeship: being with him, becoming like him, and doing as he did. Along the way there are moments the church has always set apart to mark what God is doing. Baptism and child dedication are two of them.
As part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, we hold that Jesus himself gave his church two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is a believer's response to the good news of Jesus our Savior. Child dedication is a family's response to the gift of a child, and a promise to raise that child in the hope that one day they will choose to follow Jesus for themselves.
Neither one is a private event. Each time, the whole church stands with the person or family in front of us, and makes promises of our own.
- Practicing the Way of Jesus,Baptism is the first public step of apprenticeship
- in community,A whole church family witnesses, promises, and celebrates
- for the sake of others.Every story told at the water points others to Jesus
Two moments, one Way
They are often celebrated on the same day, but they mean different things.
Baptism
Buried with Christ, raised to new lifeFor anyone who has put their trust in Jesus. Going under the water pictures the end of the old way of life. Coming up pictures the new life that is ours in him. It is a joyful act of obedience, and a public declaration that we belong to Jesus.
Child dedication
A promise made togetherFor parents who want to give thanks for their child and commit to raising them in the Way of Jesus. It is not a baptism and it doesn't save a child. It is a set of promises: from parents to God, and from the church to the family.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”Romans 6:4
Baptism
Jesus gave baptism to his church when he sent his apprentices to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We practice believer's baptism by immersion, because it's the clearest picture of what has already happened inside: united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism doesn't make someone a Christian. Salvation is a gift received by grace through faith in Jesus. But for everyone who has received that gift, baptism is the next faithful step.
Each summer we gather at the river, hear stories of what Jesus has done, and celebrate as brothers and sisters go under the water and come up into new life.
Taking the step
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Reach out
Let us know you're interested. There's no test to pass, only a conversation to start.
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Talk it through
Meet with a pastor to talk about what baptism means, where you are with Jesus, and any questions you have.
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Share your story
Put into words how Jesus has met you. Your story is a gift to the church, and often a word of hope for someone listening.
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Into the water
Be baptized surrounded by your church family, then celebrate together.
Child dedication
Like Hannah bringing Samuel to the house of the Lord, and like the parents who carried their children to Jesus for his blessing, we bring our children before God with thanksgiving. Parents promise to raise their child in the Way of Jesus, by teaching, by prayer, and most of all by example.
Then the church makes a promise too. A child doesn't learn to follow Jesus from parents alone. They learn from teachers, grandparents, friends, and a whole community that knows their name.
We dedicate our children now and pray for the day when they choose to be baptized themselves.
Dedicating your child
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Reach out
Let us know you'd like to dedicate your child, and we'll share upcoming dates.
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Talk it through
Meet with a pastor to talk about the promises you'll make and how the church can walk with your family.
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Make the promise
Stand before your church family as we pray over your child and promise to help them know and love Jesus.
Questions
The questions we hear most.
About baptism
What is baptism?
Baptism is an ordinance, a practice Jesus gave his church when he sent his apprentices to make disciples of all nations. Simply put, it's an outward sign of an inward change. It marks a person as a disciple of Jesus and celebrates their passage from the old life into new life in him.
Paul describes it as being united with Christ in his death and resurrection, and as clothing ourselves with Christ, like putting on a new set of clothes.
Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:27
Do I need to be baptized to be saved?
No. Salvation is a gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by anything we do. Baptism is a response to that gift, not a requirement for it. Even so, Jesus asks all who follow him to be baptized, and we encourage every believer to take that step of obedience.
Ephesians 2:8–9
Who can be baptized?
Anyone who has turned from sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ. In the early church, baptism followed repentance and faith. On the day of Pentecost, Peter invited the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and about three thousand people responded. Alliance churches follow that same pattern today.
Acts 2:38–41
Why is baptism done in public?
In the early church, baptisms happened in public places, and they marked a person as a follower of Jesus for everyone to see. That public witness is still part of the practice. When you're baptized, you declare in front of your church family that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, and your story becomes an encouragement to everyone watching.
I was baptized before. Do I need to be baptized again?
If you were baptized as a believer, after putting your own faith in Jesus, there's no need to be baptized again. If you were baptized as an infant, we honor the faith of the family who brought you. We'd also invite you to consider believer's baptism as your own response to Jesus, and we're happy to talk it through with you.
How old do you need to be?
The Bible doesn't name a minimum age. A person should be old enough to understand what baptism means and to say in their own words that they are following Jesus. We love baptizing children who are ready, and a pastor will meet with you and your family to talk about it.
About child dedication
Why do you dedicate children instead of baptizing them?
Like all Alliance churches, we practice believer's baptism: baptism for those who have personally turned to Jesus in faith. So instead of baptizing infants, we dedicate them. Parents give thanks for their child and promise to raise them in the Way of Jesus, and we look forward to the day that child chooses to be baptized for themselves.
What happens during a dedication?
Families come forward during a worship gathering. A pastor introduces each child, the parents make their promises, and the church family promises to support them. Then we pray a blessing over each child and family.
1 Samuel 1:27–28; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Mark 10:13–16
What are we promising as parents?
You're promising to love and follow Jesus yourselves, to pray for your child, to teach them God's Word, and to make your home a place where they can see what it looks like to practice the Way of Jesus. None of us does that perfectly. That's why the church promises to walk alongside you.
How old should my child be?
Most families dedicate their children as babies or toddlers, but there's no age limit. If your child is older, we're glad to celebrate with you.
What are Bible presentations?
On some of our celebration Sundays, we also give Bibles to the children of our church. It's a way of keeping the promise we made at their dedication: to help them know God's Word and learn to follow Jesus for themselves. Each child is prayed over and receives a Bible of their own.
2 Timothy 3:14–15; Psalm 119:105
For a short overview of what Alliance churches believe about baptism, read The Alliance's guide.
Water Baptism guide (PDF)Past celebrations
Watch earlier baptisms and dedications. Newest first.