READY TO BE BAPTIZED?
What Is Baptism?
When you say yes to Jesus, your new life begins - and baptism is your next step. It’s a powerful, public declaration of an inward transformation - your way of saying, “I belong to Him.”
Going down into the water represents your old life buried; rising up represents new life in Christ. It doesn’t save you - Jesus already has - but it shows the decision you’ve made.
At GraceValley, baptism is a meaningful step in your journey to Believe, Belong, and Become.
If you’ve said yes to Jesus, we’d love to celebrate this moment with you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Why should I be baptized?
As Christ's followers, we get baptized because Jesus modeled 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.
When is the best time to be baptized?
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)
Why do we baptize by immersing people in water?
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.
I was baptized as a baby, should I be baptized as an adult?
If you were baptized as a child, we celebrate that legacy of faith - it reflects parents who desired for you to know and follow Jesus.
At GraceValley, we also believe there comes a moment when faith becomes personal. That’s why we practice baptism by immersion after someone chooses to follow Christ - it’s not about dismissing the past, but owning your faith.
If you’ve said yes to Jesus and haven’t taken this step, this is your opportunity to go public. And if you already have, there’s no need to repeat it.
We’d love to walk with you as you Believe, Belong, and Become.
Do you baptize children?
As parents, we have the privilege of pointing our children to Jesus - but at some point, faith becomes personal. Each child must choose to follow Him for themselves.
At GraceValley, our heart is that every child not only hears about Jesus but truly knows Him and understands what it means to trust Him. Baptism is a meaningful step, and we partner with parents to ensure children are ready and confident in that decision.
If your child is asking about baptism, we’d love to walk with your family - helping prepare for a moment that is joyful, meaningful, and rooted in genuine faith as they Believe, Belong, and Become.
Once I sign up to be baptized, what’s next?
Once you submit the baptism form, you’ll see the date of the next baptism.
That week, you’ll receive an email with all the details - what to wear, what to bring, and where to go. On Thursday, a team member will give you a quick call to confirm everything and answer any questions so you feel fully prepared.
GraceValley provides a baptism T-shirt - just plan to wear dark shorts or pants (shorts are available if needed).
We’re excited to celebrate this step with you!
Who will baptized me?
All candidates are baptized by a GV 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.
