After Jesus died and rose again, he appeared to his disciples and gave them one final instruction before returning to heaven:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19)
From the very beginning of the church, followers of Jesus were baptized as a public expression of their faith.
What is baptism?
Baptism is a public act of obedience to Jesus that follows a person's decision to trust in Him.
At Central, we baptize by full immersion in water. Going under the water symbolizes dying to our old way of life, and coming up again symbolizes the new life we have in Christ (as described in Romans 6:1–6).
We practice believer's baptism. This means we baptize people who have personally chosen to follow Jesus because, throughout the New Testament, people were baptized after they believed in him (for example, Acts 2:41 and Acts 8:12).
For this reason, we encourage everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus to be baptized.
Why be baptized?
Baptism is a demonstration of one's allegiance to Jesus through:
- Public identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus;
- Celebration of the new life in Jesus;
- Obedience to Jesus' command to the churc; and
- Bearing witness to God's specific work in your life.
Baptism sets the precedent of a life of obedience.
How do I get baptized?
Speak with one of our pastors after a Sunday service or contact the church office, and we'll help you take the next step.