Church of the Nazarene Article of Faith on Baptism:
"We believe that Christian baptism, commanded by our Lord, is a sacrament signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement and incorporation into the Body of Christ. Baptism is a means of grace proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. It is to be administered to believers indicating their full purpose of obedience in holiness and righteousness. As participants in the new covenant, young children and the morally innocent may be baptized upon request of parents or guardians. The church shall give assurance of Christian training. Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. (Matthew 3:1-7; 28:16-20; Acts 2:37-41; 8:35-39; 10:44-48; 16:29-34; 19:1-6; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:18-22)"

What is Baptism?
Baptism is the public declaration that an individual belongs to the Church, “the Body of Christ,” which is the covenant community established by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. It is participated in by mature individuals who have become disciples ofJesus Christ, declaring him their Lord and Savior. Sometimes, parents choose to baptize their young children, signifying that this child will be brought up in the church, participating with the Covenant Community.

The Biblical Background:
•Baptism is about new beginnings, about going from a place of bondage to a place of freedom, and going from a place of death to life:

• In Exodus we read about God leading his people out of bondage in Egypt towards the Promised Land. He leads them through the waters of the Reed Sea.

• In Joshua we read about God leading his people out of a place of wandering and rebellion in the wilderness into the Promised Land with pledges of obedience. He leads them through the waters of the Jordan River.

• In Matthew and the other gospels, John the Baptist is described as baptizing people in the Jordan River as a sign of repentance, preparing them for the Messiah’s arrival. Jewish ritual washings were common in that time, and later sources describe baptism of Gentile
converts to Judaism. John’s call for even his fellow Jews to undergo such a rite was striking, emphasizing that all needed repentance before God’s coming kingdom.

• In the New Testament, Jesus commands his disciples to make disciples in all the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism in and of itself is not what distinguishes between believers’ destiny being heaven or hell, rather it is a
sign of the faith and the family of God to which they belong.

​What happens on the day of baptism?
If immersion taking place during a typical worship service at our church:
The pastor will give you an order of service ahead of time. We may want to meet with you before the service to make sure you are comfortable and ready to go. There are two areas behind the platform, behind the wall with the projector screens. The baptistry is in the middle of the upper platform with stairs leading to it from both sides. If you have a towel you would like to use, you can keep it on a chair in the area to the left of the baptistry. A change of clothes is a good idea to have there handy as well. During the service the pastor will call you to come forward and stand at the front.

You will then go through the following script, or something similar:
-----------------------------------
"DEARLY BELOVED: Christian baptism is a sacrament signifying participation by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and incorporation into His Body, the Church. It is a means of grace proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Apostle Paul declares that all who are baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into His death. We are buried with Him through baptism so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too are raised to walk in newness of life. As we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be united with Him in His resurrection. The Christian faith, into which you now come to be baptized, is affirmed in the Apostles’ Creed, which we confess: 'We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Church of Jesus Christ, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.' Will you be baptized into this faith? If so, say 'I will.'"Response: "I will." Do you, by faith, acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you believe that He saves you now? If so say 'I do.'" Response: "I do." As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, will you, with God’s help, follow Him all the days of your life, growing in grace and the love of God and neighbor? If so, say 'I will.'"  Response: "I will."
------------------------------------
Then you will head back with the baptizing pastor to the room to the right hand side of the platform. There you can take off/change footwear if needed. The pastor will go into the water first and invite the baptizands in order. There may be a pre-recorded video testimony playing or you might be asked to share a brief testimony before you step into the water.

Standing facing the side of the sanctuary, the pastor will say
------------------------------------
“[Full name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
------------------------------------
At that moment, with your hand over your nose, the pastor will place a hand over your nose as well, then dip you backwards into the water. If you bend backwards at your knees, it will be easier to get you back up. The pastor will help lift you up with a hand behind your back. Then you will be able to exit the baptistry, find your change of clothes, etc. If a different mode of baptism is preferred, talk to your pastor about sprinkling or pouring.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! - Pastor Bennett