DEAR PARENTS,
Congratulations! We are joyful with you in the child that God has blessed you with. Your child is certainly a miracle to behold, a beautiful creation of body, soul and spirit - knitted together by the hand of God himself.

We also rejoice that you are now considering Baptism for you child! This truly is a miracle of God. But how good it is to stop for a moment and remember the reason why it is important that your child be baptized.


WHY DO WE BAPTIZE?
All people need to be baptized. But why? The reason is that in our “natural” condition we are not innocent or perfect. In fact the truth is that the sin and guilt of the human race has corrupted everyone from conception. (Ps. 51: 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.) It is also true that even as a very small child we all learn to rebell against God and his perfect will for us. Because of sin our relationship with God has been broken.

Because of our sorry condition, God in his great love for us heard our cry for mercy. In the fulness of time he sent his Son Jesus Christ to take upon himself the sins of the whole world and suffer the punishment of eternal condemnation for us. And then, even as he won that salvation for us, he instituted Baptism as God’s way of handing that salvation over to each one of us personally.
 

WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is the FREE GIFT of God through water and His Word in which He Forgives all our sins, sets us free from the power of death and the devil, and gives us everlasting life. It is in baptism that we are made His people and brought into the kingdom of God! Baptism is God’s way of putting his brand on us and saying: “You belong to me from now on. You are in my family.”
 

STEPS TO BAPTISM:
But even as Baptism is such a tremendous event in and of itself, it must be understood that there are far reaching implications for the rest of your child’s life and for you and your whole family. As you look forward to bringing your child to baptism, this is the appropriate order of tasks to accomplish:

1. Even considerably before the birth of your child, it would be good to share your desires and hopes for baptism with your spouse (or the other parent of the child if not married) and other family. It is important that as many people as possible are supporting and encouraging each other in bringing your child to God in baptism. Perhaps at this point you might begin to consider who the sponsors (Godparents) of the child might be.

NOTE ON SPONSOR(S): As you consider sponsors, please be aware that although they do not necessarily have to be Lutheran, they should by all means be individuals who are committed Christians who can affirm all of the above statements of faith and who you are confident will be able to love and cherish your child in prayers and continually encourage the Christian faith.

2. Read and consider with prayer the statements of faith and commitment which follow below.

3. Finally, make an appointment to meet with the pastor to ask any questions and to discuss any other issues surrounding baptism. At this time a date may be selected for the baptism to take place.

 
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STATEMENT OF FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING:

We ask you to please consider the following statements of faith and understanding carefully and prayerfully. If there are any questions at all, please note them in your further consultations with the pastor.

1. We desire Holy Baptism for our child because we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, gave us the gift of Holy Baptism that we might be given forgiveness and faith, saved from sin, death, and the Devil.

2. We believe the scriptures which declare that by Baptism our children enter a covenant (promise relationship) with the one God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

4. Because we desire that our child remain a member of the Kingdom of God, we therefore pledge ourselves to give our child a Christ - centered education as a grounding for the rest of his/her life.

5. It is our purpose to assume the responsibilities of godly parents, to provide, with the strength and wisdom from God, a home which will be conducive to our child’s spiritual welfare.

6. We desire that our child will become an integral part of the community of faith in the local church, participating in its worship, life and witness. We desire to make it a priority to support our children in this life.

7. We as parents desire also to be the first examples to our child of the Christian life within the worshiping community of faith. We desire to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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APPLICATION FOR BAPTISM (Return to church office)

WE DESIRE TO BRING ____________________ TO BE BAPTIZED. (please print full name)

DATE OF BIRTH: PLACE OF BIRTH:  

NAME OF FATHER: MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER:

ADDRESS & PHONE:

 
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SPONSORS:


 
 
SIGNATURES OF PARENTS:



THINKING OF BAPTISM
FOR YOUR CHILD?