Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8). Baptism, nor any other religious act, has the power to save us (Galatians 5:1-12).

Why be baptized?
Though not necessary for salvation, baptism points to the heart of the gospel and makes us aware that apart from God’s cleansing; we are unclean and dead in our sin. Furthermore, baptism is essential for full obedience to Jesus’ command that those who believe in him be baptized (Matthew 28:19, Acts 16:30-33).

Who should be baptized?
Men, women and children who have repented and believed in Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38, 8:37) can be baptized.

Do you baptize infants?
We do not baptize infants VCH. We believe the biblical example shows that baptism is reserved for those that are old enough to make a faith decision. We do encourage parents to follow the example of Jesus’s parents (Luke 2:22) and of Hannah (1 Samuel) by dedicating children to God. If you are interested in dedicating your baby, please contact us for more information.

What about elementary-aged children?
If a child in grade 1-5 has said “yes” to Jesus and has expressed an interest in being baptized, we would love to meet with the child and the parents to talk about baptism. To learn more, contact our Children’s Pastor, Jlll Lively.

Do I have to be re-baptized to join the Vineyard Church?
No. You do not need to be re-baptized if you have already taken this step in another church.

How do you baptize at the Vineyard?
We believe in baptism by immersion. That means you will be put completely under water and then brought back up. While some churches sprinkle, baptism by immersion was an undisputed church practice for the first 1,300 years of church history. The very word “baptism” means “to immerse”, which is consistent with the biblical record, including Jesus's baptism by immersion.

What will baptism do for me?
Baptism will identify you with Christ in his death and burial (Romans 6:3-11), symbolizing the cleansing that takes place when the blood of Jesus is applied to our account and that we are joined with him in new life. The cleansing that takes place is one that happens from the inside out, but our immersion in water brings about an awareness of the regenerating forgiveness we have when we enter into a new covenant with Jesus.

Just as Jesus was commissioned by his Father at his baptism, you will enter new dimensions of service through your baptism. We are called to service in every area of our life, so it is important to maintain an open heart and prepare to receive his blessing that enables us to live an extraordinary life in ordinary circumstances.

What do I do if I want to be baptized?
We require all persons interested in baptism to take the class conducted the week prior to all scheduled baptisms. To receive an application, please call the church office.