How can we prepare children for baptism?
Traditional churches, such as Anglican and Lutheran, have creeds their members memorize. A creed is a statement of beliefs that answers the simple question, “What do I believe in?” It outlines the fundamental doctrines upheld by ones church denomination. The Apostles’ Creed is one example of a historical statement of beliefs.
Many churches require each child desiring to be baptised attend a special class accompanied by their parents. In that class, each candidate is taught the plan of salvation, basic Christian doctrines and the meaning of water baptism. At the conclusion of the class, each child should be able to answer simple questions about salvation and baptism, and be able to articulate a basic declaration of faith.
On the day of this special event, people are often asked to share a portion of their testimony. This task can easily be overwhelming for a child, but your help and a few simple guidelines can make it much easier. A couple of key principles: Write the information down, and keep answers short and concise. And remind the child this is about what God has done—it’s not about the child.
Here is an example guideline you could use:
- Who I am: name and age
- When and how I heard about Christ: Tell us about how you came to know about Jesus. You might have heard about Jesus in kid’s church or from your parents. Maybe you went to a camp, or a friend told you about God.
- When and how I started my friendship with Jesus: How did you make this decision? Was there anyone (friend, parent or a teacher) with you? Did anyone help you pray? How did you feel after?
- Now that I have Jesus in my life: Share how you feel about having Jesus as your friend. What is your life like now? What does Jesus teach you? Tell us one exciting truth you have learned about Him.
- Why I want to be baptized: Explain why you want to be baptized.
Parental Consent
It is vital to have parental consent before walking a child through the sacrament of baptism. If the child is from an un-churched family, the children’s ministry leader must contact the parents or guardians to inform them of their child’s desire to be baptized. The leader must take the time to explain to them the meaning of this ceremony. We recommend you obtain written permission before baptizing the child. In the event the parents or guardians refuse, it is recommended you abstain from baptizing the child. Encourage that child to continue growing, learning and following; and talk about when it would be appropriate for them to take that step as you counsel them to honor their parents.
If the child is from a believing family, parental consent should be easier to get. Some parents, however, would rather wait for their kids to become teenagers, even adults, before they get baptized. If this is the case, try to get the parents involved in the preparation and training prior to the ceremony. This will allow the parents to witness first hand their child’s grasp of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. You can also gain their support by making them part of this baptismal ceremony. Some pastors allow parents to baptize their own children. As children’s workers and ministers, we value the parents’ role as primary shepherds for their children. Getting parents in the water with their children is a meaningful way to engage them in their child’s journey of faith.
