Hi *|FNAME|*,
We’re so glad that you are feeling compelled by God to get baptized! Baptism is such an important part of our journey with Christ. Jesus Himself demonstrated the importance of baptism by being baptized by John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 3. This step in your journey with Christ is a public declaration of what God has already done in your heart. When you go under the water and rise up, you are proclaiming to all who are present that you are dying to your old self and becoming a new creation in Christ.
As a Church, we recognize the importance of this event, but as an online campus we recognize the challenge we face in not being in close proximity to be able to perform baptisms for everyone who desires to be baptized. As a solution, here are some options for you to be able to make this commitment regardless of your location.
You can be baptized by a member of your small group. This may come as a surprise but baptism does not need to be performed by a pastor. Any fellow believer can baptize you, but it is important that you are surrounded by a community of people who will hold you accountable to the declaration you are making. Notice that the baptisms in the Gospels were performed in the Jordan river and had a large public presence. This commitment was not made in solitude, but was a public declaration.
The other option is to come visit us at the Rock here in San Diego to be baptized. We know that this may not be possible for all of our online campus members but we have had many visitors come to San Diego in the past several years and we would love to meet you in person!
Lastly, you can contact a local church to be baptized. If you would like help connecting with a church in your area we would be happy to help you get connected!
Hopefully these options are helpful. Once again, we are so excited that the Lord is leading you to be baptized as a next step in your journey with Him. God bless you and we hope to see you this Sunday!
God Bless,
Pastor Vince Freeman
Associate Online Campus Pastor
|
