Baptism Frequently Asked Questions

Baptism is an outward symbol of inner transformation through Jesus Christ

FAQ

Baptism is such an exciting faith step and we are so glad that you are considering it. It makes sense that you could have a few questions and we want to help. Here is a list of some frequently asked questions about baptism. Of course if you don’t find your answer you can always reach out to us at [email protected]

As Christ followers, we get baptized because Jesus commands us to do so. Here are the instructions Jesus gave his own followers.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28: 19-20

Jesus also set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 28: 19-20, Mark 1:9). Baptism isn’t about being perfect or having our whole life together, it’s about a step of obedience to Jesus that shows we believe in and follow Him. Because Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin and we turn toward Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).

For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).

Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion, and Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10). Being submersed in the water represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6: 3-5)! It’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us, and a reminder of His own death and resurrection.

If you were baptized as a child, it means your parents had a desire to see you grow up to follow Jesus with your life. We think that’s great. Now we would invite you to take a next step of baptism by immersion and make that faith your own personal choice. Even if you have been following Jesus for years, but haven’t been baptized by immersion, we think it’s an important step for you.

If you have been baptized by immersion since you decided to follow Jesus, there is no need to be baptized again. However, if you’ve never been baptized as an adult after personally choosing to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, we invite you to take your next step of being baptized.

As parents, we can help point our children to Jesus, but they are the ones to decide if they will make their faith their own and commit their lives to Him.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

At Connexus, our desire is that your children will express their own decision to follow Jesus and to truly understand the meaning of baptism.

If your child is interested in baptism they are welcome to take that step. As a part of the process, a parent must attend a baptism class with their child. This will ensure your child is ready for this exciting and important step in their spiritual journey!

A member of our team will contact you, explain your next steps and help you through an online baptism class. At this class you will learn more about this next step in your spiritual journey and understand what Connexus Church believes about baptism. You’ll also get some helpful tips for writing your story!

All of our candidates will be asked to prepare their story to be shared. If you are being baptized on a Sunday throughout the year, you will be asked to share your story on video. If you are being baptized on a special Baptism Sunday, some stories will be shared on video while others will be read aloud by a reader prior to your baptism.

All candidates are baptized by a staff member or elder at Connexus. If you have someone in your life who has made a significant impact on you spiritually (e.g. small group leader, Christian mentor), they are welcome to stand with you.

We recognize that many people in the Christian faith perform baptisms in different settings. Baptisms at Connexus typically take place on a Sunday morning at one of our campuses.