What Happens at Believer's Baptism? |
| Before the baptism service, most churches have a baptism course, where the candidate will look at what the Bible says about baptism, and living as a Christian. They may do this with the Minister or Pastor of their church, or an Elder or their Youth Leaders, and it will probably be in four to six sessions, spread over a number of weeks. |
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There are no sponsors at believer's baptism. The baptismal candidate usually asks a friend to hold their towel, and they may have some close friends who will pray for them during the service. There is usually a time when the candidate will talk about how they became a Christian and why they are being baptised - this may be an interview, or the person may just talk. This is called a testimony. |
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Roz gives her testimony before being baptised |
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| The baptising may be done by the church Minister or Pastor. In independent churches it may be done by an Elder, or anyone who has had a significant role in the candidate's spiritual life; young people may be baptised by their youth leaders, or other young people in the church. | |
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The candidate and the person doing the baptising (who we will call the Minister) go down into the water together.The Minister will usually give the candidate a verse from Bible, which may be specially relevant to them. The Minister then says, "Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?" The candidate says, "I do." |
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Prayers are said for the person being baptised |
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| The Minister says, "Do you promise with the help of the Holy Spirit to love and serve God for the rest of your life?" The candidate says, "I do." The Minister says, "Then on this, the confession of your faith and at your request, I now baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (These words may vary a little from church to church, but the meaning will be the same.) | |
| The Minister then lowers the candidate under the water, as a symbol of their dying to their old life, and living for their own selves, and raises them back up again, as a symbol of their desire to live a new life, with Jesus as the boss! (That's what Lord means.) | |
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