Info & Form for Baby/Child Dedications

Baptism Information, Sample Testimonies & Request Form

Baptisms normally take place during our Sunday morning worship services on a quarterly basis (or upon special request). A baptism informational class will be offered 3-4 weeks prior to the Sunday services when the baptisms will be scheduled. Attendance at this class is normally required in order to be baptized (any exceptions must be worked out with Pastor Brian in advance). In this document you will find a form that you must be fill out and turn into Pastor Brian (bk@kluth.org) or the church office 2 Sundays before your scheduled baptism. Once the form is returned, 2 church leaders will contact you to schedule a time to briefly visit with you the Sunday before your baptism to go through your turned in form together.

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About Baptism

1. Who Should be baptized?

“Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized...” Acts 2:41

“Simon himself believed and was baptized...” Acts 8:13

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News...and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

2. What if I want to baptize my baby or toddler?

At our church, we practice "child dedication" where the parents dedicate themselves and their baby/child to the Lord. For more information on having your baby/child dedicated at one of our Sunday services, please go to the following website link: http://1freechurch.org/Forms/child-dedication.htm

3. If I’m not sure I have become a Christian or I struggle with doubts, what should I do?

#1 Admit you are a sinner that needs a Savior.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 1:8-9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

#2 Believe - - put your confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 10:9-10 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Note: Many Christians go through all their life wondering, "Have I really given my life to Christ? Am I really going to go to heaven?" They doubt their salvation over and over. You need to settle it today. If you call on the name of the Lord He says, "I will". God will not lie. It doesn't matter how you feel. Feelings come and go. Years ago I stood in front of my wife and said two words that changed my life forever: "I do". At the time I probably had a minimal understanding of the impact of those two words. But the rest of my life I'm working out the implications of those two words, "I do". Some days I don’t feel “married” – but it doesn’t change the reality that I am married! There are some days you won’t feel saved. There are some days you won’t feel like a Christian. Feelings come and go. When your feeling wane, go back to the word of God and your solid testimony of receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior.

#3 Accept God's free gift of salvation. You can’t earn it.

Ephesians 2:8,9 "It is by grace you are saved through faith and it is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works so no one could boast."

#4 Invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and be Savior and Lord of your life.

John 1:12 “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

What does it mean to be a Christian? You must believe and receive.

Rev 3:20 (Jesus said) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

You can take these steps by praying a simple prayer of commitment to God. If you've never settled this issue or if you've always had doubts, "Am I really a Christian? Do I know for sure I'm going to heaven?" You can know for sure today by doing what Christ has said to do, by praying this prayer and meaning it in your heart: "Dear Jesus, Thank you for making me and loving me even when I've ignored You and gone my own way. I realize I need You in my life and I'm sorry for my sins. I ask You to forgive me. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Please help me to understand it more. As much as I know how, I want to follow You from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new person inside. I accept Your gift of salvation. Please help me to grow as a Christian. Amen."

4. Why Should I Be Baptized?

1. To follow the example set by JESUS

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” Mark 1:9

2. Because Christ COMMANDS it.

“Jesus said, ‘Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” Matt. 28:19-20

3. It demonstrates that I really am a CHRISTIAN

“...many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized.” Acts 18:8

“We know that we have come to know Him, if we obey His commands.” 1 John 2:3

5. What is the meaning of baptism?

1. It illustrates Christ’s DEATH and RESURRECTION

“Christ died for our sins... He was buried...and He rose again.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4

“For when you are baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ. Col. 2:12

2. It illustrates my NEW LIFE as a Christian.

“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17

“By our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...so also we may live a new life!” Rom. 6:4

Baptism doesn’t make you a believer — it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring — it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

6. Why Be Baptized By Immersion?

Because JESUS was baptized that way.

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.” Matthew 3:16

Every baptism in the BIBLE was by immersion.

“...then both Philip and the man went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

When they came up out of the water...” Acts 8:38-39

The word “Baptize” means to “DIP INTO WATER”.

The Greek word baptizo means “to immerse or dip under water”.

It best symbolizes a burial and resurrection!

Note: The founders of various denominations supported baptism by immersion:

Martin Luther (founder of the Lutherans)...“I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies.”

John Calvin (founder of the Presbyterians)...“The word ‘baptize’ signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church.”

John Wesley (founder of the Methodists)...“Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

7. Who Should Be Baptized?

Every person who has BELIEVED in Christ.

“Those who believed and accepted His message were baptized...” Acts 2:41

“Simon himself believed and was baptized...” Acts 8:13

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News...and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

At the 1^st Evangelical Free Church, we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them. Generally speaking, this will be 7 years of age or older. Any child between 7-12 will first be interviewed by a pastor and/or elder to see if he or she has accepted Christ and is ready for baptism.

8. When Should I Be Baptized?

As soon as you have believed (or as soon as you realize the importance of being baptized)! (NOTE: BE SURE TO CHECK WITH THE PASTOR ABOUT WHEN BAPTISMS WILL NEXT BE SCHEDULED AT THE CHURCH).

“Those who believed...were baptized...that day!” Acts 2:41

“Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, ‘Look, here is water! Why shouldn’t I be baptized right now?’ Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The man answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him.” Acts 8:35-38

There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. If you wait until you are “perfect”, you’ll never feel “good enough”!

9. Do I Have To Be Baptized To Become A Member Of This Church?

Evangelical Free Churches do not require baptism for church membership, but they do actively encourage believer's baptism as an important act of obedience in someone's Christian life and spiritual development. Although baptism is not required for church membership, individuals desiring membership in an Evangelical Free Church are interviewed by church leaders and asked to articulate their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

10. Answers to Other Commonly Asked Questions

1. What happens during the actual baptism?

Meet in the room behind the sanctuary about 10 minutes before the service starts (you will be told in advance whether you will be baptized at the 9:00 or 10:45 service). Change into the clothes and gown you will be baptized in. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. If you're a woman, maybe a swim suit with a t-shirt over the top of your suit. For men, just a pair of shorts and a t-shirt is fine. Make sure it is something you don't mind getting wet. Over the top of your clothing, you will be given a white gown to wear. (Note: On some occasions, the baptisms are planned for the middle or the end of the service - - when that happens, you will be notified ahead of time. You will then need to meet in the room behind the sanctuary about 10 minutes prior to the start of the baptisms in order to get ready).
At the beginning of the time for baptisms, the pastor will briefly explain to the congregation the meaning of baptism. You then be called to come into the baptism pool.
The pastor will then ask for your personal testimony concerning how you came to faith in Christ (see sample testimonies near the end of this document). You have the choice of sharing your testimony verbally, personally reading it OR having it read out loud by the pastor OR a special person of your own choosing. A written version of your testimony needs to be turned in with your "request to be baptized form" 2 weeks prior to the baptism service.
After your testimony, the pastor will then turn you to the left, put his arm behind your back and on your waist and will say, “(Your name), based on your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your desire to follow Him all the days of your life, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” (If you want, you can hold your nose at this time). The pastor will then dunk you backwards (as you slightly bend your knees and lean backwards). The pastor will then help pull you back up. The congregation will normally applaud at this time. You can then walk out of the baptism pool and go back and change. You can use the bathroom in the lower level before you rejoin the congregation for the rest of the service.
If you want, you can have people take photos or videos of your baptism.
Following your baptism service, the church will give you a baptism certificate.

2. Can a family be baptized together? Yes. If each family member understands the full meaning of baptism and has become a Christian, we encourage families to be baptized at once. We once baptized a family of five. The mom and dad and three daughters. It was a memorable and moving experience for the family and the congregation.

3. What about younger children getting baptized? Younger children who wish to be baptized are asked to have a meeting with a pastoral staff member or elder for a pre-baptism conversation. Once the office or a pastor receives a written request form for a child to be baptized, they will set up a time to visit with the child.

4. Should I invite people to my baptism service? Baptism was always designed by God to be a public event. It is a time when a person says, “I’m a Christian and I want to obey the Lord and live my life for Him.” For this reason, it is good to use invitations (the church provides) to invite as many family, friends, relatives, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, or others to witness your baptism. Many times, people who normally do not attend church, will be willing to come to someone’s baptism if they are personally invited. A baptism service is a powerful way for people to see, hear and feel the reality of a living God in other people’s lives.

5. Does the church ever perform private baptisms? In the Bible there's no such thing as a Christian who hasn't been baptized. Let me mention a couple of special things. You may have a special circumstance which needs a private baptism. We would be happy to do that for you. Sometimes individuals who have been going through cancer treatments wear a wig or toupee and they're afraid that's going to fall off, or sometimes people are not physically able to walk into the baptismal pool because of physical problems - - if you need to arrange a private baptism, please talk with a pastor.

6. Is it ok to be baptized more than once? Because many people who were baptized as infants want to make a personal public profession of faith, they request to be baptized again. Sometimes people are baptized a second time because of special circumstances (for example: a Christian visits the Holy Land and decides they would like to be baptized in the Jordan River as a reaffirmation of their faith OR on occasion a Christian wife might want to be baptized with her husband who is making a first time profession of faith).

7. Can someone other than the pastor actually conduct the baptism? If you have a special Christian person in your life (father, grandfather, spiritual leader, etc.) that you would like to have baptize you, they can enter the baptismal pool with you. The pastor will then ask the questions and they will be allowed to hold you and perform the actual baptism or arrangements will be made in advance to have this person handle the entire baptism.

SAMPLE BAPTISM TESTIMONIES (Note: Your request form to be baptized is at the end of this page)

Here are a number of testimonies that were given before the following individuals were baptized. We trust this will help you in preparation of your own testimony that you can share verbally or have read during your baptism:

Testimony of Tim Piggot "I was about 5 when I came to know the Lord. I am glad that I came to know the Lord when I was younger and that I am a Christian and in a Christian home. If I were not, I would probably be in a lot of trouble with gangs, stealing, swearing, evil music, and trying to be like the rest of the world. There are a few other things that God has saved me from, like dishonesty, cheating, and lying. I am thankful to Him for saving me from this. I trust Him all the time to keep me from this trouble."

Testimony of Sandi Kluth "As a sophomore in high school I realized my need to receive Jesus as my Savior through the example of my church Youth Director and through the Bible studies he led. So, at the age of 15, I did just that. Looking back now, I can't imagine my life without Christ. He has been there with me during the good times (which have been many), and He has helped and strengthened me through the bad times (including the death of both of my parents and of my father-in-law, as well as the miscarriage of our first child). I realize He is the only One who can give true peace and joy and meaning in our lives, and I wouldn't want to live without Him. My desire at this time is to be obedient to Him and be baptized."

Testimony of Terri Simon "It was a year ago that I was totally in darkness. I figured I was a good person because I only hurt myself and not others. Like Pastor Shane said in his sermon last week, "I was a spider hanging on a thin web over the fires of hell." I needed to be saved from countless sins that were rapidly destroying me. During this time I tried to fill the void in my life by searching for love in the bars, experimenting in the "New Age -- do-it-yourself" religion, swearing like a trucker, and going shopping with my numerous credit cards -- but none of these things satisfied, and actually only made my life more miserable. After years of mocking "Born-Again" Christians, the joke is now on me, because I am delighted to say that I have accepted Christ into my life. I no longer have the urge to hang out in bars and get drunk, I've tossed all of my New Age crystals into the trash, I read God's Word instead of books by Shirley McLaine, my language is now "G-rated", and I haven't needed to fill the void I felt with material things because it is now filled with the love and presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Psalm 118:5 says: "In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered me by setting me free."

Testimony of Bob Blake "I became a Christian a year and a half ago. I tried everything I knew for happiness and fulfillment, but never felt peace. I began searching for God because I knew He was the only reasonable option left. Since Christ has come into my heart I have had the peace and fulfillment I was looking for. I have a new definition of love and forgiveness and I want to spend the rest of my life serving Him.

Testimony of Julie Olson "I accepted Jesus when I was really little, so I never noticed any major changes in my life. Now that I'm older, I can see that I have different values than other people my age have. I can question things that I'm taught in school, such as evolution, because I know God's truth. I've also chosen friends who won't lead me in the wrong direction. I'm thankful for my parents who helped lead me to God."

Testimony of Matthew Leonard "As Christians, my parents wanted me to start my life with Christ as early as possible. So at a few weeks old I was baptized. Being a minister's son, I rarely missed church on Sunday. At the age of fifteen I reaffirmed my baptism by participating in confirmation. I was active and involved in the leadership of my youth group. I believed in Christ, but never really felt Him in my life. I thought that because my father had God in his life, I just automatically inherited God in my life. When I finally was on my own in college, I fell into many temptations. As I grew older I became more confused and my life became a mess. That is until Jesus moved in next door in the form of two neighbors, Brian & Sandi Kluth. I now have asked the Lord into my life and for Him to lead me. Being unemployed, I asked God to take over my job search. He showed me immediately where He wanted me. And even though I don't have that job yet, I'm learning that trusting God also means being patient. I've found that when the world hands you some down times, Jesus can turn them to up times.”

Testimony of Susan Leonard "As a child I was raised in a strong religious family. Because of this, I thought my entire life would be "safe" and that by being a good person I would live with God for eternity in heaven. When given the choice as a young adult to pursue my own religion, I chose the path of "peer pressure" and temptation. For the most part this choice left me very empty and unfulfilled. After being married in a church service performed by my new father-in-law, I began to feel that my life needed a new direction. Not really being sure which religious background we wanted to pursue, we searched in a few locations for what was missing in our lives. Then Matthew and I met two very special people who told us it was possible to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is something we had never heard before. Brian & Sandi Kluth invited us to Harvest Church one Sunday knowing that we needed the Lord in our lives. Since that time in Feb 1992 I have learned so much more about God's Word and His love that I now can say that after asking Christ into my life I also have that personal relationship with him. It is the greatest feeling of love and belonging that I have ever had. In the last year and a half God has made himself very real to us with many blessings, but through many trials too. In both though I now know that I am never alone and that when I trust in the Lord He will provide for me, and that I now will spend eternity with Him. What a peaceful feeling that is."

Testimony of Janet Lamere "I cannot give you the exact date and time in which I accepted Jesus in my heart, but I can tell you the difference it has made in my life. Accepting Jesus has placed everything into proper perspective. I see now that the good I did in the past was only to give praise to myself. I wanted people to think I was a good person, looking for praise from other people. Now I realize that was all for vanity. I want the glory to go to God who has opened my eyes to His greatness. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not of works, lest any man boast. I thank God for His goodness and perfect righteousness.

Testimony of Allen Lamere "For many years I thought I knew the Lord. Being raised in a good Catholic home, I believed like many others that just going to church and saying a few prayers would be enough to stay in touch with God. Now I realize I had not even known God at all. After I met my wife and we were dating, I was introduced to Pastor Shane & Julene. After participating in a few Bible studies I found out how little I knew about the Bible or being a Christian. With the help of my wife, Pastor Shane and others at Harvest Community Church, I've found Christ as the one who filled the void in my life and brought peace into my heart." Ps 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart o God, and renew a right spirit in me."

Testimony of Harold Gunderson "It all began in 1980 when my son-in-law and daughter-in-law went to Israel and I asked them to bring me back a Bible. I was so fascinated especially with the Old Testament as I read what God had done for His people Israel when they turned to Him, but the tragedy that followed after their disobedience. That Christmas I decided that I wanted to turn my life over to the Lord as Israel had done and begged Him to forgive my sins. The next day I quit drinking (after having become an alcoholic). I also quit smoking. With the help of the Lord, I've never smoked or drank again. My life with Christ is not always easy. Sometimes I feel like Job. Even though I've experienced suffering and afflictions, I continue to trust Him. God faithfully takes care of me and provides for my every need. I've wanted to get baptized for a long time but due to health problems and circumstances I couldn't. But I'm so happy I can now follow our Lord Jesus in baptism."

Testimony of Cathy Weber "As a young girl I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. Christ at that time was very evident in my life. But as I reached my teen years I began to fall away and pursued the things of the world. As the years went by I put God more and more on the back burner. Then my life started to take some difficult turns. My health deteriorated, and I lost my job and my health insurance. This put my husband and I in a devastating financial situation. Then the most tragic thing that I ever thought could happen happened. I lost my Dad, one of the most important people in my life, to a sudden and tragic accident. At the funeral Pastor Shane gave a sermon about Christ and what it meant to have Christ as your personal Savior and how we need to put Christ in control of our lives. It was then I began to really realize just how much I really had turned away from God and that He was still patiently waiting for me to turn back to Him. On August 10th, 1992 I recommitted my life to Jesus. Over the past year God has opened my eyes and heart to a new way of life. He has blessed me with a loving, supportive husband who now also is a Christian. He gave us a beautiful little girl who came at the perfect time. He has also given me a supportive family, and a new church with new friends. He is patiently teaching me how to put my worries and concerns in His hand, and I'm learning to trust Him with the results. But most of all I am blessed with knowing His promise and gift of eternal life with Him."

Testimony of Mike Weber "Sundays, a day when everything in town is closed. A day when you're not in school. On this day as a young boy, time would stand still. Every Sunday our family would go to church. I would dread my mother coming into my room to wake me up. I was a kid. I went to school all week. Sunday was a day for sleeping late. This was to be my day. How could she make me do something so foolish? Little did I know I was the fool. I look back at this time now and wonder what could have possibly kept me from getting to know Christ sooner -- was it my fear, my lack of commitment, or was I just so wrapped up in my own world that there was just no room for Him? I think the turning point in my life was when I met Cathy, who is now my wife. Cathy and I were friends throughout High School. I was like a permanent fixture at her family's home. During all that time there, little to my knowledge did I know I was being witness to a prime example of a Christian family. As Cathy and my relationship grew, so did my interest in becoming a Christian. On August 11th, 1992 I made a commitment to Christ. Since that time my whole outlook on life has changed. I owe a lot of credit to Pastor Shane and Harvest Community Church. Shane brought me to this almighty gift of having Christ in my life. I remember my father-in-law Eugene talking to me about Christ. The guidance and direction he gave me -- well, I can only hope that someday I will be able to guide my family and others around me the way he did. I cannot thank him enough for being the great witness he was."

Testimony of P.J. Burrage "My 'Born Again' experience is far from dramatic and will never become a 'made-for-TV' movie. I wasn't struck blind on the road to Damascus...I didn't have to struggle out of the depths of an alcohol or drug addiction... And, I've never collapsed in a puddle of tears responding to an altar call. I grew up always going to church, and realized in high school that I had a personal faith in Christ and that I intended to pursue a Christian lifestyle for the rest of my life. But for a number of years I was not involved in any church. I found it very difficult to live a Christian lifestyle without being part of a good church. I had my share of "backsliding" in the years that followed high school. If you were expecting to hear any of the sordid details of my "backsliding" -- sorry to disappoint you. They will remain as part of my personal faith experience and confessed before God. I'm grateful for the direction I've received from the messages at Harvest Church, and the affirmation and guidance I have received from both Pastor Shane and Brian."

Testimony of Jennifer Kobb "I had often reached out to God from early childhood on. I always believed I was a Christian because I was raised in a church. I tried to be good to please God, but never felt His presence. Eventually I got tired of trying. Friends around me started drinking. Their acceptance was more tangible. About that time, I was attracted to a girl who seemed to emanate joy and peace. As she began to witness to me, a new awareness of God gave me both a deep longing for Him and a fear of His power and judgment. I knew He wanted me and I ran. In college, Christians seemed to be everywhere. I told my friends to avoid the manipulative Christian weirdoes, but somehow ended up in Bible Studies myself. I longed for a deeper touch from God. For months, I struggled to develop the amount of faith I felt was needed for God to accept me and make me Born Again. Finally, a friend explained the parable of the tiny mustard seed, how my little bit of faith was enough. I clung to that promise and began to focus on God's power and love instead of my inadequacies. As I asked for God's grace to live a Christian life, I was amazed by the flooding of peace and joy into the deepest parts of my soul. God's power no longer makes me want to run. God's power is now my rock. I know that I no longer have to earn God's love by trying to be good. Rather I am made good by allowing God's eager, loving, gentle Spirit to work through me as I follow His will. I know that I can never be shaken from this faith instilled by an all powerful loving God."

Suggestions & guidelines for preparing your own written testimony about how you came to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior:

1. Indicate your religious background or your understanding of God while growing up.

2. Indicate when or how you became aware of Jesus Christ and His willingness to become your personal Savior and Lord.

3. Indicate any difference Jesus Christ has made in your life.

4. If desired, share a verse that is meaningful to you personally.

5. NOTE: Your written testimony should normally be no longer than a 1/2 page (typewritten) and will be reviewed by the pastor or a church leader and may be edited for clarity or length.

Remember: You have the choice of sharing your testimony verbally, personally reading it OR having it read out loud by one of the church leaders OR a person of your own choosing.

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Request Form to be baptized

at the First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs

Turn this form into the pastor or church office at least 2 Sundays prior to the scheduled baptism. You can email the form to: bk@kluth.org, give it to Pastor Brian at church, OR drop it off, fax it, or mail it into the church offices at 3022 W. Fontanero - Colo Springs, CO - 80904 (Phone: 634-3144 Fax: 634-7933).

Please call the church office and talk with Annie (634-3144) if you would like to know when the next baptism informational class and baptism service will be taking place.

I would like to be baptized during the worship service when baptism will be taking place

First Name:_______________________ Last Name:________________________ Birth date:___________

Address:_________________________________ City/State/Zip:___________________________________

Home phone:_________________ Work phone:________________ Email:__________________________

If possible, I would prefer to be baptized during the: ( ) 9:00 Worship Service ( ) 10:45 Worship Service

Please print your full name (as you would like it to appear on your baptismal certificate):

_____________________________________________________

1. If you are under 18, do your parent/s or guardian/s agree with you being baptized? ( )Yes ( )No

What are the name/s of your parent/s or guardian/s:______________________________________

Note: Children 7-12 will be interviewed by a pastor and/or elder prior to be approved for baptism.

2. I prayed and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (state approximate time period, as best as you can articulate -- examples: “1995” or “fall of 1995” or “September 5, 1995”):__________________________

3. I have gone through (or am planning on attending) the next Baptismal informational class and recognize that being baptized is an outward sign of an inward reality that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. ( )Yes ( )No ( )I still am unclear what baptism means and I would like to talk with a church leader further.

4. I am planning to invite family, relatives, friends, colleagues and/or others to this baptismal service and would like to request cards from the church that give the baptismal service time and a map to the church:

( )No ( )Yes…number of cards/maps needed:______

5. I would like to express my faith in Christ in the following way during my baptism:

( ) Verbal testimony/comments about how I came to faith in Christ. My personal written testimony is attached* (if possible, please email a copy to: bk@kluth.org).

( ) Written testimony/comments about how I came to faith in Christ. My personal written testimony is attached* (if possible, please email a copy to: bk@kluth.org). I would like my testimony read by: ( ) The pastor ( ) Church elder:____________________ ( ) The following special person in my life:__________________

6. I understand that this form must be turned into Pastor Brian or the church office at least 2 Sundays prior to the baptism service. I also understand that I will be contacted by 2 church leaders to have a brief meeting to go over my form the Sunday prior to my baptism. ( ) Yes (If these things will not work out in your schedule, please call Pastor Brian on his cell phone at 930-4000 and explain your circumstances so other arrangements can be worked out).

*PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING SHEETS FOR ACTUAL SAMPLE TESTIMONIES. YOUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY WILL BE WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE PASTOR OR CHURCH LEADER AND MAY BE EDITED FOR CLARITY OR LENGTH.

As a helpful encouragement and reminder, a devoted and faithful Christian is normally one who:

Has accepted Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
Has chosen to follow Christ by being baptized. NOTE: By filling out this form and proceeding with your baptism, you will be taking a significant step forward in your Christian life.
Is a faithful participant in a local church.
Seeks to develop their relationship with the Lord through daily Bible reading and prayer.
Seeks to serve God and others with the gifts, time and abilities God has given them.
Faithfully supports their local church from the finances God has entrusted to them.
Actively prays for and looks for opportunities to share Christ with others.

MY TESTIMONY ABOUT COMING TO KNOW CHRIST AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR IS:____________

_________________________________________________________________________________________