I Go To A Baptist Church |
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Baptism |
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What makes a Baptist church different from other Christian churches is partly found in the name. At my church people are baptised when they are older teenagers or adults. In the same way as John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the River Jordan, so at a Baptist church people are taken under the water for a split second, in a special pool of water called a Baptistry. |
(Roll your mouse over the picture to see what happens, or click to see an enlarged photo in a new window) |
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The church leader, called a Minister or Pastor, is in the pool with you, and lowers you under the water to show that your old life has ended - when you come back up it shows that a new life with Jesus has begun. This is a big step for anyone to take, and one which only comes when someone has really thought hard about following Jesus. This is why it is left until you are older. |
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DedicationIn my church babies are not baptised, as we think they are too young to have made up their minds about Jesus. We do have a special service, called a 'service of dedication', and at this special family service babies are brought by their parents to be prayed for. We say 'thank-you' to God for their safe arrival, and ask for his help and protection as they grow up, hoping that one day they will decide to follow Jesus and be baptised. |
(Click to see an enlarged photo in a new window) |
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