Introduction

Baptism is going public with your faith and declaring to everyone that you have trusted in Jesus. It’s a special milestone in the life of every believer!

We are excited that you are interested in baptism and consider it a privilege to walk with you as you take this next step on your spiritual journey. The baptism process at GFC has been designed to be simple and meaningful.

If you want to register your child (5th grade or below) for baptism, please visit our Kid’s Baptism page.

From the registration form to your baptism, each step has been carefully planned with you in mind:

  1. Complete the Adult/Student (grades 6-12) Baptism Registration Form below. Once we receive your registration form, we will contact you to schedule your baptism interview, testimony recording, and baptism date.
  2. Read/watch the content below, including “What We Believe About Baptism,” video, and Frequently Asked Questions to help prepare you for your baptism.
  3. Attend your baptism interview session and testimony video recording (this will be scheduled after you have submitted your form).
  4. Get baptized!  Baptisms take place during the Sunday services.

Please don’t hesitate to submit your registration at any time. If the following approaching baptism services are complete, you will be placed in the queue for the following baptism once that date is set. Someone will contact you upon the receipt of your registration, regardless.
We look forward to walking alongside you in this next step of your faith journey!

Adult/Student Baptism Sign Up
Kid’s Baptism Sign Up

What We Believe About Baptism

If you trust in Christ alone as the sole basis for your forgiveness of sins and a new life, then you are ready to respond to Christ’s command to be baptized. Just like a bride and groom show others their love for one another by wearing wedding bands, your baptism is your opportunity to show others that you have trusted Christ and are committed to following Him the best you know how.

Baptism does not make you a believer in Christ; rather, it shows that you already believe. You do not have to be baptized to be a believer in Jesus Christ, any more than you must exchange rings to be pronounced man and wife. But if you have trusted Christ, the outward symbol of baptism should be as valued and visible as the gold ring on a newlywed’s finger. If you have questions about how to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please contact us.

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality of the new life of Christ that has come to us by faith, based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. In Romans 6:1-11 the apostle Paul explains how the immersion mode of baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going under the water represents Christ’s death, and coming out of the water illustrates His resurrection. So when you are baptized, you are publicly identifying yourself with Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We recognize that other churches and denominations choose to practice infant baptism. We understand that the Bible teaches that only individuals who have trusted Christ as their Savior qualify for baptism. In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them, and told us to welcome them. He did not baptize them.

If you were baptized as a child, it was due to your parents’ intent that one day you come to faith. Your baptism as an adult believer in Jesus Christ can be seen as the fulfillment of your parents’ desire. Your believer’s baptism in no way diminishes the intent of your parents who baptized you as an infant.

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the powerful aspects of baptism at GFC is the video testimony played right before your baptism. The recording allows you to share how Christ has been working in your life. Prerecording allows you to do as many takes as necessary while sharing the message you have thoughtfully and prayerfully prepared ahead of time. You will simply read what you have prepared. Baptism is meant to be a public profession, and it is your opportunity to share God’s message of redemption with numerous people. We believe that sharing your story can have a life-changing effect on others.

Another important reason we do a video recording is that we, as a congregation, grow in our faith by hearing these stories. It allows friends, family, and even those you don’t know to celebrate how God has worked to bring you to a place of faith in Christ.

Some people are nervous about recording their stories, but we work hard to make the process both simple and fulfilling. You will be asked to attend a baptism interview where we go over everything you need to know about the baptism process in general and the video-taping in particular.

  1. Prepare for your video testimony (see next question) by writing out how you came to believe in Christ as Savior. You will have no more than 60 seconds, which is approximately 150 words.
  2. Practice reading your testimony, making sure to maintain a steady pace with annunciation and expression. During your actual recording, you will be reading from a teleprompter.
  3. On the day of the recording, wear whatever clothing you are comfortable with on camera. Please do not wear the color green or a pattern of tight stripes, as these will visually affect the recording.

PLEASE BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR SALVATION:

Your walk with Christ is definitely a process, but you need to be able to express a point in time when you recognized that you were a sinner in need of a Savior. You don’t need to know an exact date and time, but there was a time when you received Christ, and you need to express that clearly.

WHAT TO SHARE:

You’ll have 60 seconds (approximately 150 words) to tell your story. The video recording will be interview-style (you will read your pre-written answers from a teleprompter). You’ll be asked two questions. Here is a sample outline to help you organize your thoughts:

Question 1: “Tell us the story of how and when you came to trust Christ as your Savior.”

  • Share briefly about your life before you trusted Jesus. (Depending upon your specific story, this may be 1 or 2 sentences.)
  • Describe as best as you can the circumstances that led you to believe in Jesus and put your trust in Him alone for salvation. (This is the main part of your story.)
  • Share briefly how Christ has affected your life since you trusted Him.

Question 2: “Who is baptizing you today and why?” (This should be 1 or 2 sentences.)

WHAT NOT TO SHARE:

  • Please don’t say you have “always been a Christian.” This gives the idea that salvation is something someone can inherit. Becoming a Christian is about making a decision to trust Christ’s death on the cross as payment for your sin, not simply growing up in a “Christian home.”
  • Please do not mention previous church denominations.
  • Please don’t mention your infant christening, if applicable. It’s important to differentiate between your christening and the baptism taking place right now.

OTHER TIPS:

  • Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and guidance in preparing and sharing your story.
  • Write out what you will say and edit it until it feels comfortable. This will help you articulate what you’ll say and how you’ll say it in the recording.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice.
  • Be yourself.
  • Email your written testimony to the person you had your baptism meeting with by the Wednesday before your scheduled recording date. He or she will work with you to finalize your script.

  • Please wear your GFC Baptism T-shirt and something that can get wet. (Your T-shirt will be given to you the day of your baptism so you can change into it before the service.)
  • Females: Please wear a swimsuit underneath your clothing. No skirts or short shorts please.
  • Please bring a change of clothing and a plastic bag for wet items.
  • Towels will be provided for you.
  • Meet 45 minutes before the service for which you are scheduled (at either 8:30 am or 10:15 am). A GFC staff member or volunteer will meet you at your scheduled arrival time.
  • Meeting location will be in the West Lobby alcove outside of the Worship Arts office.
  • We will reserve seats in the Auditorium for you and your immediate family members.
  • Please share this information with the person who will be baptizing you.

You will receive an email the week before your Sunday baptism with these day-of instructions and contact information in case of emergency.

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