I Want to be Baptized

Have you been baptized? If not...

On periodic Sundays, Hope baptizes individuals who have chosen to publicly announce their decision to follow Christ. If you're new to Christianity or have never been baptized and are interested, please SIGN UP and we will connect with you to help you prepare or decide if this is a step you are ready to take.

If you have any questions, email us for more info.

What else do I need to do?

Those who desire to be baptized need to let us know first, and then you will be contacted by a pastor about your interest in being baptized. Once a baptism date is set, we simply ask that you bring a change of clothing, a towel, and arrive at 9:15 a.m. the Sunday you will be baptized.

What We Believe About Baptism

Baptism... A Celebration

The Bible talks about a celebration that takes place after you cross the line and give your life to Jesus. We call that celebration baptism.

It is like having a reception following your wedding: you want everyone to know and to share in your joy! Baptism isn't necessary for salvation, but a public stand with Christ is often the first cooperative step a believer takes with God.

Baptize: to immerse, dip, submerge, or sink beneath water

Baptism is God's idea. He meant it to be a ceremony that would celebrate the commitment that you made to Jesus and the commitment that He has made to you. Believer's baptism is an event that rightly follows your personal commitment to Jesus Christ.

The Bible describes the ceremony of baptism as complete immersion in water. The ceremony is a picture of the vow that you are making to Jesus and the promises He is making to you.

What you vow to Jesus: "I surrender everything to Jesus because of what He has done for me."
The best marriages are not 50/50 propositions. A great marriage is where you and your spouse agree to give yourselves 100% to each other. Being completely covered in the water is a picture of a person holding nothing back.

What Jesus promises to you:

You are clean. He gives you innocence.
Through your baptism, Jesus wants you to remember that He has washed away everything that ever stood between you and Him. You can have a clean conscience without amnesia or denial.

You are covered. He gives you security.
Jesus paints another picture through baptism. You are in the palm of His hand, and He has promised to protect you there as He wraps His fingers around you, holding you, comforting you, and keeping you - always. Someday when you stand to be judged, God will look at you, and there He will see you covered with His Son.

God creates you anew. He gives you a future.
Baptism is the picture of a death and a resurrection. The resurrection isn't another chance at life - it's a new life. Jesus knew that the fallen world would tend to shape your self-image more than the image of God. We define ourselves by our accomplishments and failures instead of our identity as children in the image of God. Baptism serves as a reminder that you died when you gave your life to Christ. That death was followed by a resurrection - Jesus raised you from the dead. You were resurrected as a spiritual baby, which is why the Bible says you were "born anew" and "born again." In our spiritual infancy, we barely resemble the full glory of God's image. So Jesus gave us baptism as a reminder of the promise that since we died with Christ, we will grow up to be completely like Him.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism

I was baptized as a child. Should I be baptized again?
Did you have playground weddings in the second grade? Suppose that one day during recess you participated in three different times as the groom (or bride). Most adults would say that those weddings did not really count. As you consider your childhood baptism, would it compare with a playground wedding or a real one? At that time, were you making a genuine commitment to surrender your life to Jesus? If you were, then you don't need to be baptized again. If your baptism was more the expression of your parents' faith than yours, or if you were merely going through a ritual, you have not yet experienced biblical baptism.

Do I have to be dunked?
Dunking is not just a Baptist tradition; it is the meaning of the word "baptism." For a variety of reasons, through church history, the form of baptism has changed in some denominations. As you review the promises represented by baptism (above), you can see how immersion most dramatically represents them. For this reason, we prefer and recommend immersion as the way to express baptism. Even so, we do not respect other churches less for utilizing a different mode of baptism.

Who should baptize me?
After the resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to baptize people (Matthew 28:19-20). We believe He was talking to all of His followers, not just professional pastors. We believe the person who has been the most instrumental in encouraging your walk with God is the best person to baptize you.

Can I have my children baptized?
If a child has personally made a meaningful commitment to Christ and desires to be baptized, then baptism is appropriate. If you seek baptism for your child as an expression of your commitment to give your child to God, child dedication would be more appropriate.

Does baptism make me a church member?
No. Baptism is separate and distinct from membership at Hope Community Church. Your baptism reflects your commitment to Christ - your commitment to Hope is a separate issue.

Where does Hope hold baptism celebrations?
Baptisms can be held anywhere where there is enough water! We have them in a variety of places. At times, we have used rivers, bays, swimming pools, and even hot tubs. It is not the location of the celebration, but the preparation of the heart that makes the difference.