BAPTISM SOCIAL STORIES

BAPTISM SOCIAL STORIES

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Let s celebrate! You have become a Christian! A Christian: Believes that Jesus is God s Son Knows they have sinned Tells others they are a Christian Jesus Believes Jesus is the only way to Heaven Asked God to forgive their sins?? Heaven God Begins to live the way God wants

Baptism is one of the ways we tell others we are a Christian. I can be baptized when I trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of my sins. Baptism is when your whole body is placed under water. We are placed under water because it reminds us of how Jesus died on the cross and came back to life!?

Do you believe God sent Jesus to help you? Jesus Do you believe Jesus saved you from your sin? Do you want to get baptized??

SALVATION APPOINTMENT

Let s celebrate! You want to get baptized! First, you tell the adult who cares for you, I want to get baptized. Then they call: Mrs. Amanda and set up a time where you get to talk with: Pastor Chad!

Pastor Chad loves to talk about Jesus! Pastor Chad wants to talk about Jesus with you! Jesus Pastor Chad will ask you about sin: What is sin? Can you tell me four different ways we sin? God Pastor Chad will ask you about God: God has to punish sin, but He loves us so much he had a plan to help us! What was that plan? Do you trust this plan to be true in your heart??

Pastor Chad is going to talk with you and the adults who came with you. Sometimes Pastor Chad will say you are ready to be baptized. Sometimes Pastor Chad wants to help you learn more about Jesus before you can get baptized. This is OK. If Pastor Chad says you can be baptized, he will walk you and the adults with you to the baptistery. This is the place where you will get baptized.

Pastor Chad wants you to feel safe and happy on the day you get baptized so he will tell you everything you need to know about that day! You can always ask questions if something doesn t make sense: You can say, I don t understand, or tell me again please.?

All Done This is a lot to remember for a very important day. If you start to feel frustrated or anxious you can say, Could we take a break? You can take a break, but Pastor Chad will want to finish telling you about baptism day. Once your break is over, you will finish talking with Pastor Chad.

Pastor Chad may want you to work on a journal. This is really fun! You get to color, play games, and learn more about Jesus! You will work on this journal at home. If you need help from adults you can always say, I need help. They would love to help you! Help When you finish working on the journal the adults who take care of you will tell Mrs. Amanda. She will find a Sunday on which you can be baptized!

When you finish working on the journal the adults who take care of you will tell Mrs. Amanda by phone call or email. Then, if Pastor Chad says you can be baptized. Pastor Malcolm will contact you and set up a time when you can be baptized. Make sure to write down the important dates and times Pastor Malcolm gives you.

BAPTISM DAY

Let s Celebrate! Today you are going to be baptized! What are you going to pack?? Girls bring: A light colored one piece swim suit? An extra pair of dry clothes Boys bring: Light colored swim trunks with a white t-shirt Personal hygiene products like combs, deodorant, hair ties, whatever you need so you can attend church after you are baptized! Are you packed? Great!

15 MIN Make sure you are inside the church 15 minutes before the service starts. You will meet Pastor Chad at the baptistery entrance which is on the second floor by the Rehearsal Hall.

First, you will go into the correct changing area. Then you will go into a stall and change into your swim suit. You can leave your dry clothes in the stall.

Then you will pick one white robe and put it on over your swimsuit. Sometimes the robes may not fit well. This is OK.

Then you will sit down in the blue chairs and wait for Pastor Chad. Then Pastor Chad will talk with you and the adults with you. He will tell you some important information. Make sure you use your listening ears!

Sometimes there are a lot of people in the baptistery. Sometimes it can be loud. Sometimes Pastor Chad might have to change the order of events. This is OK. Make sure to listen and follow Pastor Chad s directions. Everything will be OK.

Then a person with a camera will take pictures of you in your white robes. You get to have a picture with Pastor Chad and the adults with you. Make sure to smile!

Pastor Chad will then ask you to tell him about when you knew Jesus was your Savior. When did you accept Jesus as your Savior?

Then everyone holds hands and Pastor Chad prays. During this time, you will try to stay still with your eyes closed and head down. It s important to use your listening ears and quiet mouth when other people are praying! Now it s time to get baptized!

You will walk up the stairs when Pastor Chad tells you it s OK. Make sure to hold onto the railing. Pastor Chad will help you up the stairs. If you need help you can say, I need help. Pastor Chad would love to help you climb the stairs!

Then you will hold onto the railing and step into the water. It should be a great temperature! Not too hot and not too cold! Just step right in!

Now it s really time to use your listening ears! Pastor Chad is going to tell you where to stand and how to stand. Pastor Chad wants to help you so help him by following all of his directions!

There are some men or women who help Pastor Chad. There is a person in all black who helps the moving panels open on time. There is also a person with a camera. They might not be the same people every time. They want to help you, so help them by using listening ears and following Pastor Chad s directions.

You might get scared or frustrated. This is OK. You may have a buddy with you. Mrs. Denise Mr. Thad Ms. Brittany may be near you. When you are all done they will give you a BIG hug. Until then, take a deep breath and count to ten!

When it s time you will cross your hands over your chest and look at the man with the camera. Make sure you look at him the whole time you are in the water so he can get a good picture!

It s time! The big panels will open. Pastor Chad will tell the people at church the story of how you accepted Jesus as your Savior! Keep looking at the man with the camera!

Then Pastor Chad will raise his right hand and say, I baptize you in the name of God the Father, His Son Jesus the Christ, and His Holy Spirit who empowers us for life and godliness.

At this time you will lean backwards and be placed under water. Pastor Chad will make sure you don t fall. Pastor Chad will make sure you are under water for a very short period of time. He will then bring you out of the water. Pastor Chad will then say, Buried with Christ in baptism Raised to walk in the newness of life.

Let s celebrate! You have been baptized! Everyone in the church will clap! You will walk toward the man with the camera. He will hand you a towel. You will then walk down the steps and get another towel because you are WET! Now you can change back into your dry clothes which are in the dressing stall. CELEBRATE! YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED!

Frequently Asked Questions Does getting baptized make me a Christian? No! You become a Christian when you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and allow Him to be Lord over your life. We get baptized to SHOW others we are Christians. Baptism does NOT make you a Christian.

If I sin after I m baptized do I still get to go to Heaven? Heaven Holy Spirit You still get to go to Heaven! We make bad choices, and we have to ask God to forgive us. But eternal life in Heaven is a free gift that we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior. It can never be taken away from you once you submit your life to Jesus. What is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is a part of the trinity which we receive once we have become a Christian. Just like an egg has three parts (shell, yolk, whites) God is made of three different persons but they are ALL God God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus went back to live in Heaven He gave Christians the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to make good choices, reminds us of what is right, and tells us when we do wrong. We can t see the Holy Spirit, but just like wind, we can see the effects of a Spirit- led life!