When a new believer is baptized, it’s a momentous event. A life has been changed for eternity! Try these fresh ideas to make baptism a true celebration:
Davis? Smile. Express true joy. Baptism is a holy ordinance, but it’s also a joyful event. I love it when the church breaks into spontaneous cheers or applause.
? Get personal. One church invites its entire small congregation to walk to the front and gather around the baptistry. It’s very touching (and makes great photos)! Some churches invite family or friends to stand during baptism.
? Invite everyone. Create a Facebook event. Provide printed invitations so the new Christian can invite everyone he or she knows! Make an e-invitation they can forward to friends using NAMB’s www.baptismcelebration.org or www.evite.com. Put a notice on the church website. Remind their Sunday school class to attend.
? Assign members with d?cor talent to update paint color, art, towels, hair dryer, etc. to assure the baptism dressing area is nice enough for a new “child of the King.”
? Prepare mementos. Take a quality photo to post to the church website so it can be forwarded to friends. Present a photo and baptismal certificate in a nice holder. Their small group might buy a personally imprinted Bible; each person writes a note and highlights a Scripture. Someone in the congregation could snap a panoramic photo and send it with a note to the new Christian.
?Audiovisuals can display names during baptisms. Personal testimonies may be communicated with a question, brief interview or prerecorded video-clip. Response cards can be used with an evangelistic invitation.
? Keep celebrating. Encourage their small groups, family and friends to plan an after-party at home or go out to celebrate. Or plan an all-church fellowship, with stories and Scriptures shared by people who influenced the new Christian. Bake a cake. Decorate. Celebrate!
? Remind the church by creating an ongoing photo bulletin board and an annual music video of baptisms.
Wait! You’ve had no recent baptisms at your church? Put down this article and go invite someone who doesn’t know Christ to church. Then, get ready to celebrate.
“You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).
– Davis is a columnist, speaker, and author of “Deacon Wives” and “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry” (B&H Publishing). Read more at www.keeponshining.com.