We practice what is called, Believer's Baptism. Water Baptism is a one-time act of a follower of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 2:41) Baptism is a beginning point not an end goal. We encourage baptism as one of the first acts of discipleship. It's never too soon. If you haven't been baptized yet, it's never too late.

The Biblical pattern is that baptism is for believers. (Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:12, Acts 16:31-33) We baptize upon a person's "profession of faith". This means that it is your declaration of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, that we acknowledge your faith and obedience to Him in discipleship. A believer is someone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of sin and new life.

The Bible tells us of a number of aspects to baptism.

1. It is an act of obedience: When people heard the message of the Gospel and asked how they should respond Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ..." - Acts 2:38
2. It is a public declaration of our faith: When the people were baptized they did it publicly: "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and there were about three thousand added to their number that day" - Acts 2:38
3. It is symbolic: Baptism is an outward act of an inner truth: "In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" - Galatians 3:26,7
4. It represents a resurrection to a new life: As Christ was buried and resurrected our baptism reenacts that truth as it applies to our own lives: "We were buried, therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." -Romans 6:4

While baptism is not required for our salvation (We are saved by grace) there a some very important reasons for being baptized.

1. In baptism we identify ourselves with Jesus: It marks a starting point and a redirecting of the rest of our lives in following him. "And you were buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead." -Colossians 2:12
2. It serves as a benchmark for the rest of our lives: In times of uncertainty or feelings of defeat it is an event we can point to with certainty about our decision to follow Christ. "Baptism does not mean we wash our bodies clean. It means we are saved from the punishment of sin and go to God in prayer with a heart that says we are right." -1 Peter 3:21
3. Because Jesus commanded it: If there is no other reason, those who choose to follow Jesus enter into a life of obedience. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." - Matthew 28:19

Immersion is the only form of baptism mentioned in the New Testament.

1. John the Baptist immersed people: "They were baptized by him in the river Jordan confessing their sins." - Matthew 3:6
2. Philip went down into the water with the Ethiopian: "They both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." -Acts 8:38

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward commitment that you made when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Baptism is not about being perfect, but rather, making a life-long commitment to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.