Baptism
Baptism is a visible sign of your decision to follow Jesus with your whole being, to leave your old life behind, and to begin a new life with Him. The Bible says: “For through baptism you have been buried with Christ. But you have also been raised with Him to a new life…” (Colossians 2:12).
If it’s time for your baptism or if you’d like to learn more about it, please sign up for the baptism class. We look forward to seeing you!
PREPARATION & GODPARENT
Basically, baptism doesn’t require any special knowledge or a long preparation period—in biblical times, it was often the first step of faith for people after they had invited Jesus into their lives. Nevertheless, we encourage you to prepare well for your baptism. To do so, we recommend joining one of our small groups, because that’s where genuine friendships are formed—friendships that will help you experience Jesus and find a home in our church.
Get Free is also an ideal foundation for your spiritual journey. There, you’ll learn how to live by God’s power in every area of your life. Your Get Free mentor could also be your godparent. We hope that your godparent will pray for you regularly—especially during the first year after your baptism—and accompany you on your journey with Jesus.
To be baptized here, you are required to attend the baptism preparation class (2 sessions). However, if you’re generally interested in the topic, you’re welcome to attend even if you don’t plan to be baptized.
Our Bible reading plan, “Your Baptism,” can also help you prepare.
BAPTISM CELEBRATION
A baptism during one of our services is a very special moment for us as a church. And, of course, it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your baptism in the presence of your friends, family, small group, or team. Occasionally, baptisms also take place during other church events. During the baptism class, we finalize which person will be baptized during which service and how the baptism will proceed.
CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
It is important to us that everyone chooses to live a life with Jesus of their own free will and with full awareness. For this reason, we do not baptize babies or children. However, we are happy to bless them during a special children’s blessing celebration.
If your child expresses a desire to be baptized on their own initiative, please feel free to speak with our Lead Pastor, Kathrin Hänsch, at ICF Kids on Sundays to discuss how we can support your child in this process. For minors under the age of 16, we require the consent of both legal guardians.
