WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Baptism is water connected with the promise of God. Through Baptism, God offers forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation to all who believe. Baptism celebrates God's promise to us. Through it, God creates and strengthens faith, beginning our relationship with Him as members of His Kingdom and part of His Church.



WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE BAPTIZED?

• Register for and attend the Baptism class.
• The Alpha Course is strongly encouraged for new believers before Baptism, as well as for anyone who is new to Northgate or has not yet taken the course.

HOW IS BAPTISM DONE & WHERE DOES IT HAPPEN?

We baptize in two ways: sprinkling and full immersion.

Full-immersion baptisms are typically held each summer in August during our Day at the Lake celebration. Sprinkling baptisms are usually held at the church during a special Sunday morning service at 10:15 a.m.

CAN I BE BAPTIZED MORE THAN ONCE?

You only need to be baptized once. The Bible tells us there is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5).

Because Baptism is primarily about God's promise to us—and because God never breaks His promises—you can trust that your Baptism remains valid, even if it took place many years ago. God is always faithful.

If you have walked away from your faith and are now returning to Christ, you do not need to be baptized again. Instead, trust God's promise to forgive you through Jesus Christ and begin following Him once more. While there is one Baptism, we continually return to Jesus throughout our lives.

For those who were baptized as infants and are returning to the faith as adults, we offer an Affirmation of Baptism, also known as Confirmation. You'll learn more about this during the Baptism class.

WHO NEEDS TO ATTEND THE BAPTISM CLASS?

Any adult who wishes to be baptized should attend.

Parents requesting Baptism for their child should also attend. Older children (generally age five and up, though we trust your parental judgment) who are preparing for Baptism should attend the class with their parents. We encourage both parents to attend when possible, but we understand that isn't always possible, and one parent is perfectly acceptable.

DO WE NEED TO FIND A GODPARENT?

You don't have to, but we highly encourage it.

Godparents, also called sponsors, are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but they have been part of the Church's baptismal tradition since its earliest days. Originally, sponsors served as mentors for adult believers. As infant Baptism became more common, parents naturally became their children's primary faith mentors, and additional Christian adults were often chosen to support that role.

Having a trusted Christian mentor who intentionally invests in your—or your child's—faith can be a wonderful blessing.

WHEN WILL THE BAPTISM BE SCHEDULED?

We typically schedule baptisms on the third Sunday of each month during the 10:15 a.m. service or at our annual Day at the Lake celebration in the summer. If needed, we may also be able to arrange another date, depending on the schedule.

WHO PERFORMS THE BAPTISM?

One of Northgate's pastors will officiate at your Baptism. If you would like a particular pastor to lead the service, simply speak with that pastor to check their availability.

IS THERE A COST FOR BAPTISM?

No. Baptism is a free gift of God's grace, and there is no cost to be baptized.

If you're ready to take the next step or simply have questions about Baptism, we'd love to walk alongside you.

Register for a Baptism class or reach out to one of our pastors—we're here to help.