What Is Baptism?

As Christ's followers, we get baptized because Jesus modelled and commanded it. Take a look at what Jesus says here:

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28: 19-20 NLT

Jesus also set the example by being baptized himself (Matthew 28: 19-20, Mark 1:9). 

Baptism isn’t about being perfect or having our whole life together; it’s about a step of obedience to Jesus that shows we believe in and follow Him. Since Jesus went public about His love for us, we can go public about our love for Him. Being baptized shows that we turn away from a life of sin, and we turn toward Jesus, the only one who can change us (Acts 2:38-41).

As a simple illustration, what a wedding is to a relationship with a spouse, a baptism is to a relationship with Jesus. A public declaration of your commitment to Jesus for life.

For everyone who decides to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step. Anyone who commits his or her life to following Jesus is ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).

Baptisms in the Bible were by immersion, and Jesus was baptized by being immersed in the water and rising out of it (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10). 

Being submerged in the water represents our death to sin and old way of life, and being raised out of the water is a picture of how Jesus gave us a fresh start in life (Romans 6: 3-5)! 

It’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us, and a reminder of His own death and resurrection.

If you were baptized as a child, that likely reflects something beautiful — parents or guardians who desired for you to grow up knowing and following Jesus. We celebrate that legacy of faith.

At GraceValley, we also believe there comes a moment when faith becomes personal — when you choose to believe and follow Jesus for yourself.

That’s why we practice baptism by immersion after someone has made a personal decision to follow Christ. It’s not about dismissing what your parents did; it’s about you taking ownership of your relationship with Jesus.

If you’ve been walking with Jesus for years but have never been baptized by immersion as a believer, this is a meaningful next step. It’s your opportunity to go public with a faith that has become your own.

If you have already been baptized by immersion after personally choosing to follow Jesus, there’s no need to be baptized again. Baptism is a declaration, not something we repeat.

But if you’ve never taken that step since saying “yes” to Jesus, we would love to walk with you as you do.

At GraceValley, we help people Believe, Belong, and Become — and this may be your moment to step forward in obedience and declare the life God is building in you.

As parents, we have the incredible privilege of pointing our children to Jesus — through our words, our example, and the environment we create in our homes. But at some point, faith must become personal. Each child must decide for themselves whether they will follow Jesus and make Him Lord of their life.

Scripture says:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9

At GraceValley, our heart is that every child would not only hear about Jesus, but truly know Him — and understand what it means to trust Him personally.

Baptism is a meaningful step, and we want children to fully understand that it represents their own decision to follow Christ. When a child expresses a desire to be baptized, we partner closely with parents to ensure they are ready and understand the significance of that step.

If your child is asking about baptism, we would love to walk alongside your family. Our team will guide both parent and child through the process so that when the big day comes, it is joyful, confident, and rooted in genuine faith.

This isn’t about pressure.

It’s about preparation.

And it’s about celebrating a child choosing to Believe, Belong, and Become all God has for them.

Once you complete and submit the baptism form, you’ll see the date of our next water baptism.

During the week of baptism, you’ll receive an email with all the details — including what to wear, what to bring, and where to go when you arrive.

On Thursday of that same week, a member of our team will give you a quick call to confirm everything and answer any questions you may have. We want you to feel fully prepared and confident for the day.

GraceValley will provide a baptism T-shirt for you to wear. We also have shorts available if you would prefer them. If not, please plan to wear jeans or dark pants.

We’re excited to celebrate this step with you.

All candidates are baptized by a staff member or elder at GV. If you have someone in your life who has made a significant impact on you spiritually (e.g. small group leader, Christian mentor), they are welcome to stand with you on your special day.