Baptism is an outward sign of an inner decision we have made in choosing to live under the rule and reign of God in his kingdom. It represents:

• The washing we have received from the things we have done wrong (forgiveness)
• The fact we have "died" to a life without God and risen to a new life in Jesus
• Our adoption into the family of God

"...all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death. We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6.3-4)

We recognise that none of this is possible without Jesus - God's Son who became a human, lived as part of his own creation and willingly took the righteous punishment for our rebellion against God.

Why do we baptise?

Throughout the generations the church has continued to do the stuff that Jesus did. Jesus was specific about baptism, he told his disciples to train people in the ways of his kingdom and the act of baptism was to be a mark of their part in his kingdom.

So as followers of Jesus we continue to baptise one another because Jesus told us to. You can read more about this in the Bible (see Matthew 28 and Luke 3).

If you would like to be baptised or you would like your child to be dedicated, please speak to Mark or Viv Knight.

Our next baptism service will be May 30 2010.