Baptism

NEXT BAPTISM EVENT: APRIL 17 / FIND OUT MORE

What is baptism?
When you think about it, baptism seems pretty weird…a person getting dunked in the water and being happy about it! But baptism is a ceremony that dates back 2,000 years and is the way people publicly declare their love for Jesus and their commitment to follow him all the days of their lives.

If you want more information on baptism, you can read some FAQs and history here: Baptism 101 (PDF)

Why do people go under water?
Some churches baptize people by sprinkling water on people. Others do it by pouring water over their heads. And we think those ways are great ways to get baptized. At Kensington, we baptize by what is called immersion so the entire person goes under water.

The reason we do it this way is because of the symbolism:

• When the person is in the water just prior to getting baptized, that represents the person’s life before he or she was a Christian.
• Going under water represents dying to the old ways of living.
• Coming up out of the water symbolizes the person’s new life as a Christian.

What the Bible has to say:
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Corinthians, “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

WP-Bible plugin, read the whole chapter here). And baptism by immersion is an outward symbol of showing this inward reality.

Again, if you want more info, or something to show parents or friends on what Kensington believes about baptism, please read Baptism 101 (PDF).

To sign up to get baptized, click here.