As a church family, we recognize and celebrate baptism as a significant time in an individual’s relationship with Jesus Christ.  Baptism is commanded by scripture for every believer and is a love response to our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Baptism identifies an individual with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-4) and depicts the death of an old life and birth of a new life in Christ (John 3:3-6).  Believer’s baptism also emphasizes an individual’s membership in the corporate body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

The biblical mode for baptism is immersion (Romans 6:1-4), and outside of exceptional circumstances (e.g. physical disability, etc.) other modes of baptism are not performed at Village.  However, it is our desire to honor the intent of the individual and the diversity in the body of Christ by accepting for membership those who have been baptized as believers by sprinkling or pouring.

In scripture, baptism always follows conversion, thus the term “believer’s baptism.” Therefore, here at Village we only baptize those who have put their faith in Christ’s payment on the cross for their sins. We do not perform “infant baptisms.” However, parents who want to dedicate their infant or child to the Lord may have a pastor or director do so in a worship service.

Village schedules baptism services 5-6 times a year in the main services. Adults who want to be baptized are asked to attend a mandatory one-hour baptism class. Teens and children wanting to be baptized must meet with the Children’s Director or Youth Pastor for the class. Following the class, those being baptized will have their testimony pre-recorded to be replayed in the worship service when they are baptized.