How to Have a Child Baptized

There are many ways to have your child baptized. The Catholic Church has their newborns baptized, or christened, while Baptists wait until the child has claimed a personal faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Regardless of your faith or denomination, you should understand a few things before having your child baptized. Here's how to have your little one baptized to grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Do some research on how the different denominations view baptism. The Catholic Church, for instance, views baptism as washing away the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Other denominations, such as Methodist, view baptism primarily as the parents and the church promising to raise the child up in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Still others, like Baptists, see baptism as an outward sign of the inward change that Christ has made in the life of a new believer.
2. Decide what you believe about baptism. Pray and ask God to show you the way He would have you baptize your child. Talk with a pastor or family member if you need additional reassurance on your position.
3. Find a church family that shares your position on baptism. Pray about which church God is leading you to. For help finding a Bible-honoring church in your area visit USAchurches.org, where you can search for churches by state and city, or netministries.org, where you can search for a listing of churches by denomination.
4. Meet with the pastor or priest of the church and discuss your personal faith and reasons for wanting to have your child baptized. Ask questions about what the Bible says about baptism and your understanding of why people are baptized. Discuss the topic of God parents and other particulars as well.
5. Pick a day and time to hold the baptism. Some churches baptize during a Sunday service, while others choose another day of the week to hold the baptism service.
6. Invite the family and friends to share in the celebration. Hold a small luncheon afterward in the church's fellowship hall and enjoy a time of celebration with friends and family.
7. Be involved in the church where you have had your child baptized. In order for your child to grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus, you need to meet regularly with your church family. See if there is a class or youth group that you and your children can get involved in. For instance, some churches have a class called Alpha, which is a great place to begin your walk. To find a church that has an Alpha class, visit alphaUSA.org.