Baptism is a sacred and joyful step in the life of a believer. It is a public declaration of faith and an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow Jesus. Through baptism, we celebrate new life in Christ and the work God is doing in you.
As you prepare for this moment, we encourage you to reflect, pray, and invite God to continue shaping your heart and life. Baptism is not the end of the journey – it is the beginning of a deeper walk of obedience, surrender, and trust in Jesus.
We are honored to walk alongside you, celebrate with you, and support you as you take this step of faith. If you have questions or would like help with next steps, our team would love to connect with you.
At Open Bible Church, we practice baptism by immersion. We understand water baptism is a symbol of spiritual obedience in the life of the believer.
We baptize in order to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself was immersed in baptism in the Jordan River. In addition, it is a powerful symbol of our faith:
We are commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Matthew 28:19. Although there are other scriptures concerning water baptism (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5, Galatians 3:27), these scriptures emphasize the process of following Christ and repenting of sin, rather than the baptismal formula itself.
Scripture is clear that those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are to be baptized in water. Water baptism validates our faith in Jesus and reveals in a public manner our new life in Him.
Ultimately, water baptism is an act of submission. It is about showing that your heart is yielded to Jesus Christ. Baptism is not done to save us, because only faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ can do that.
If you take a trip to Israel and tour the ancient land where Jesus lived and ministered, you’ll discover that the world of the Bible included the concept of ritual bathing. Men and women would wash ceremonially to cleanse themselves from dirt and defilement of the body and therefore make themselves pure.
Jesus and his disciples came preaching and calling people to a new kind of baptism to symbolize the cleansing of spirit and soul that takes place through faith.
The Greek word for baptized is “baptizmo” which means immersed. New Testament believer baptism is more than just immersion in water but represents immersion into the teaching, beliefs, commands, and attitudes of Christ. In the Great Commission, Jesus commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mat. 28:19)
Please set aside some time to journal about the following:
The New Testament uses four different illustrations to help us understand the significance of water baptism.
Look up the following passages, read them carefully, and journal about the implications of these things being compared to water baptism:
Peter teaches us that “removal of dirt from the body” doesn’t save us. In other words, it is neither the act of baptism nor the water of baptism that brings us salvation but our faith in the “resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Baptism is a powerful picture, symbol, and ceremony but we must not be elevated to overshadow the work of Christ on the cross. God sees the sincerity of faith in the heart of believers seeking to get baptized and that’s what counts.
Each of the Bible’s illustrations of baptism communicate a similar theme: the old life is being put away and the new life is emerging.
In baptism, we publicly display what Jesus did for us and identify ourselves as one of his committed followers. “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of Christ.” (Acts 22:16)
1. Register & Share Your Testimony by noon the Thursday before baptism day. Your testimony helps us honor and celebrate what God has done in your life. You may use these prompts to help you write your testimony:
2. Attend the Pre-Service Class
Please arrive at the church conference room (near the main entrance) 30 minutes before the service for a short pre-service class. If you’ve chosen someone special to baptize you, they should attend as well. This time will help you feel prepared and allow time for any questions or concerns you may have.
3. During the Service
There will be reserved seating for family and close friends in the sanctuary near the baptism area.
You’ll be asked to share a brief testimony or why you are being baptized so our church family can celebrate alongside you.
You will enter the baptismal with assistance. Baptism will take place by full immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Afterwards, you will be prayed over by members of your church family before heading off to change into dry clothes.
Our team will guide you through what to do, offer physical support as needed, and ensure you feel comfortable, informed, and cared for throughout the process.
What to Wear
We will provide you with a baptism shirt to wear and keep if you’d like. Please also wear dark colored shorts or pants (we recommend avoiding heavy clothing such as jeans that may feel heavy or uncomfortable when wet) and be sure to remove any watches, phones, or other things that shouldn’t get wet.
Don’t forget to bring a set of dry clothes to change into afterwards. You’ll be directed to a nearby restroom to change.
We trust parents to guide their children in spiritual decisions like baptism and are happy to support and answer questions as you discern readiness together.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you have about baptism. You can call our office Monday – Friday 8 AM to 3 PM at (605) 342-4496 or speak to a staff member, pastor, or elder any Sunday between services.
We generally offer baptisms on the second Sunday of the month. Please complete the form by the Thursday prior if possible.