Baptism Packet
What We Believe About Baptism and Who Should Be Baptized Christians believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, salvation occurs only when a person places his or her faith in Jesus Christ through Christ s death and resurrection as the sufficient payment for his or her sin. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are ready 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 accepted Christ and are now walking with Him. If you have any questions about how to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please contact info@mynewhope.tv or call us at 330-601-0419. What Baptism Symbolizes Baptism is a way of showing others that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It symbolizes what took place in your heart at the time of salvation: - Accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. - Shared in His death and resurrection, illustrated by going under the water (dead to your old life), then rising again (new life). Romans 6:5-10 - We re symbolically washed clean, and sins were forgiven by His death on the cross. Because Jesus instructed us to be baptized, baptism is an act of obedience. While it is not necessary for salvation, it demonstrates submission to God. We immerse at New Hope Church because we believe Scripture shows that Jesus modeled that for us as a way to publicly acknowledge our faith in Him. In the original language it is the word Baptizo, which literally translates to dip, to immerse, get wet all over. Some denominations choose to christen infants. While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant christening, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism. Baptism does not make you a believer, rather it shows that you already believe. The Baptism Process The baptism process at New Hope has been designed to be both simple and meaningful. From the registration form to the baptism meeting, each step has been carefully planned with you in mind: 1. Let us know about your decision by marking it on your Connect Card during a weekend gathering, or give us a call at 330-601-0419. Once we know of your decision, we will contact you to schedule your Video Testimony and baptism. 2. Read about making your video. We have each individual record a short video testimony instead of making you nervous having to share something live. We want you to be as comfortable and prepared for the video as possible. Shooting your video is as simple as having a conversation with one of our Pastors.
3. Prepare your story for the video by following the provided guide. 4. Attend a meeting and record your testimony. After we receive your registration form, you ll be contacted to schedule an informational meeting where you ll also have your testimony recorded. 5. Get baptized! Baptisms either take place during one of our Weekend Gatherings. The Baptism Celebration includes the baptism and a showing of your prerecorded video. Making Your Video One of the most powerful aspects of baptism at New Hope Church is your story. People have the opportunity to hear your story through the video testimony shown right before your baptism. The video 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. Many people ask, Do I have to do the video? We strongly encourage it. Baptism is meant to be a public profession and it is an incredible opportunity to share God s message of redemption with other people. Another important reason we do a video is that we as a congregation grow in our faith by watching these stories. It allows friends, family, and even those you don t know to celebrate the amazing transformation God has worked in your life. Some people are nervous about recording their stories, but we work hard to make the process both simple and fulfilling. At your scheduled video recording, we will go over everything you need to know about the baptism process in general, and the recording in particular. We want baptism to be a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and we look forward to walking through it with you! Preparing Your Story for Video Your baptism will be accompanied by a short 1 to 2 minute video testimony that will be shown before your actual baptism. This will be an opportunity for you to share when and how you turned your life over to Jesus Christ. You can also thank family, friends and others who might have been instrumental in your decision. Even if you are camera shy, we hope that you will find this a joyful experience. Everyone who has done it always says at the end that was a lot easier than I thought. The following will help you to put a short script together for your testimony, and our staff and volunteers will make this process enjoyable for you. If you are a teenager or adult, you should complete this information yourself and bring it to your recording. Mom or Dad, if your child is being baptized, you can help them through this information and be with them during their video shoot. Through the video, you will be sharing your testimony with all those who are present at your baptism and anyone who may watch the video. It s exciting to think that your baptism can help lead another person to Christ.
Writing Your Testimony Your testimony is simply the story of how you came to faith in Christ. It should include the following elements (which can be one or two sentences each): - What your life was like before you were a Christ-follower. - When and how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. - Any special or interesting circumstances surrounding your conversion. - A declaration that you have committed your life to Jesus Christ. - A thank you to anyone who helped you begin a relationship with Christ. Now, that sounds like a lot of information-but really, it s just a few sentences. In fact, for the purposes of your video testimony, it needs to be kept brief. We ve found that the very best way to prepare for your video is to write out the answers to these questions and then actually write a paragraph version of what you will say in the video. We will provide on these pages a place for you to answer each of these questions and then a place to write your actual testimony using the answers to those questions. Come Prepared It is very important that you answer these questions and bring your completed testimony with you to your video shoot. Experience suggests you will have difficulty doing this on the fly in front of the camera. It is our desire that your testimony be presented clearly. Please take adequate time to prepare before your recording. A Special Note to Moms and Dads Parents, your child is also strongly encouraged to give their testimony for baptism. Talking with them about their decision to follow Christ, and helping them through the answers to these questions, is a great way to affirm their decision and begin to build a foundation for their faith. Make sure they come prepared, and our video crew will help you and your child feel comfortable. Instructions for Dress and the Actual Videotaping Your video shoot should take about 15 minutes. You will be shot from your waist to the top of your head. You may want to bring a hairbrush or mirror with you for last minute touch up. Wear a dark, solid-color shirt. It helps with microphone attachment if the shirt has buttons. Do not wear a shirt with a slogan on it, a tank-top or tube-top
Sample Testimonies SAMPLE 1 My name is Jane Doe. A few weeks ago while listening to the message I realized that I was going to die a sinner. I needed Jesus Christ to save me from my sin. I asked Jesus to forgive me and save me. He is my Savior, and I have committed my life to Him as my Lord. I m excited about following Christ, and about what He is doing with my life. I want to thank the Pastor, and my husband, for praying for me and helping me commit my life to Christ. SAMPLE 2 Hi! My name is Tiny Tim, and I m 10 years old. The other night I was talking with my mom about Jesus. She told me how everybody sins and that Jesus saves people from their sins. I said I wanted to be saved from my sins. My mom and dad prayed with me, and I told Jesus I was sorry for my sins. Now Jesus is in charge of my life. I want to thank my mom and dad for talking to me about Jesus and helping me understand what it means to be a Christ-follower. SAMPLE 3 My name is John Doe. My greatest recent business success was also a time that God began to work in my life, helping me realize that all my stuff didn t mean anything outside of Christ. God used Christian friends and business associates, and many late talks at Starbucks, to help me understand what s really important. One month ago, my wife and I committed our lives to Jesus Christ, and I m being baptized today as a symbol of what He has done in my life. Developing Your Story 1. What was your life was like before you were a Christ-follower. (read Romans 3:23) 2. When and how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. (use a specific date if you can. What did you pray or talk about? Who did you speak with and why?) 3. Were there any special or interesting circumstances surrounding your conversion. (medical condition? Family crisis? Unique place or time? Something interesting that God showed you?)
4. Give a declaration that you have committed your life to Jesus Christ. 5. Write down the names of those who helped you begin a relationship with Christ. If you need help, talk with a Christian friend and let them help you answer these questions. You can also contact one of the staff at 330-601-0419. Writing Your Story Now that you ve thought through your answers to the interview questions, combine them into a simple paragraph below. Be sure to begin by stating your first and last name. After you finish, practice saying your testimony aloud. Say each word slowly and make your pronunciation distinct. Be sure to get comfortable with your testimony before you come to your videotaping. The video crew may also make helpful suggestions at the taping.
Baptism Form Now that you ve read this packet, if you d like to be baptized, please fill out this form and return to the church office or bring it with you to the videotaping of your testimony. GENERAL INFORMATION Name: First: Middle: Last: Name you go by: Address: Home Phone: City: Work Phone: State: Cell Phone: Zip: County: Fax: Email Address: Sex: Male Female Birthday: (mm/dd/yyyy) Marital Status? Single Widowed Married Divorced Anniversary / / Employer: Occupation: School (students): School Grade: 1. Do you believe you're going to heaven? Why do you believe that? 2. Please state briefly how and when you accepted Christ as your Savior: 3. Why do you want to get baptized? Have you been baptized before (since becoming a Christian)? Baptism is a public profession and symbolizes a death to our old life and our receiving a new life through Christ. Although everyone getting baptized is a sinner, life in Christ should be seen in our daily life. Is your lifestyle reflective of your life in Christ? O YES O NO