Read A Note From Our Pastor about Baptism.
We are excited that you are interested in baptism. This page has been designed to explain baptism and the necessary steps to be baptized at Journey. The links below are intended to contain all the information you’ll need, but if you have further questions, feel free to contact us at baptism@journeyrva.com. We consider it a privilege to walk with you as you take this next step on your spiritual journey. The following will explain our basic beliefs about Christian Baptism.
Who Should Be Baptized?
We believe the Bible teaches that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, salvation (i.e. the forgiveness of sins) occurs only when a person places his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus as the sufficient payment for his or her sin. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died for your sin on the cross, and if you want to follow his leadership in your life then you are ready to be baptized.
What Baptism Symbolizes
Baptism is more than a person being dipped under water; it is filled with deep spiritual meaning and reality. Consider the spiritual realities that baptism so vividly pictures:
- An embrace of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- A sharing in His death and resurrection, illustrated by going under the water (dead to your old life), then rising again (new life)
- A symbolism of being washed clean and sins being forgiven by His death on the cross
Because Jesus instructed us to be baptized, baptism is an act of obedience. While the act of baptism itself does not save us, obedience to Christ in baptism demonstrates our submission to God and simple faith in him. We immerse (dip under water) at Journey Christian Church because we believe the Bible shows that Jesus modeled that for us as the way to publicly acknowledge our faith in Him.
Next Steps
The baptism process at Journey has been designed to be both simple and meaningful. From the registration form to the baptism meeting, each step has been carefully planned with you in mind:
- Complete the Baptism Registration Form
- A staff member or baptism coordinator will reach out to you to schedule your baptism date and talk with you about sharing your story via video
- Once your video and baptism are scheduled, we will have a conversation to help you shape your story in a way that points people toward Jesus
- Your baptism will take place directly after your video shoot
- We will then work with the service production team to schedule your baptism video to be shown in service
Making Your Video
One of the most powerful aspects of baptism at Journey is the video testimony shown right before your baptism. The video allows you to share how Christ has been working in your life. Many people ask, “Do I have to do the video?” The answer is yes, we really encourage you to do so. Our faith may be a very personal thing, but Jesus never intended for it to be something private.
Another important reason we do a video is it allows friends, family, and even those you don’t know to celebrate the amazing transformation God has worked in your life. You can also see examples of our recent baptism videos. This will help you get a better idea of what to expect with your video.
We want baptism to be a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and we look forward to walking through it with you! If you have any questions, please contact us at baptism@journeyrva.com.
Still Have Questions?
You may listen to the baptism message “Sinless Baptism” by James Brummett. In the message, he answers the questions we are most often asked about baptism. You may pickup a CD in the Connections environment on Sunday morning or listen to the message online. In addition to the message, we encourage you to read the personal study guide “Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism”.