Those who are baptized are following Jesus’ example and obeying His command.

• “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” —Matthew 3:16–17

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” —Matthew 28:18–20

Water baptism is your public declaration of three very important things:

• You are a follower of Jesus Christ.
  “Those who accepted his message were baptized.” —Acts 2:41

• You are beginning a new life in and with Christ.
  “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” —Romans 6:4

• You are part of a new spiritual family.
  “So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” —Galatians 3:26–27

Water baptism is your public declaration of what occurred privately when you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior. It tells the world that you follow Jesus and have a new family. If your water baptism experience was not your decision, you should be water baptized again. 

It’s important to have a clear understanding of the meaning of water baptism and why believers should be baptized. At ICWW, our Children’s and Teen’s Pastors are here to guide you and your child when making the decision for water baptism. 

Throughout the New Testament, the Bible teaches that baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have when we follow Jesus. In the Bible we see that Jesus’ parents dedicated him to the Lord (Luke 2:22–40), and he was later baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:16–17).

We understand that some churches practice “baptism of confirmation” for children. This ceremony is intended to be a commitment between the parents and God on the behalf of the child. The parents promise to raise their children in the faith until they’re old enough to make their own personal confession of Christ. This custom began about 300 years after the Bible was completed and is different from the biblical examples of new believers being baptized to publicly profess their faith in Jesus.

At ICWW, we dedicate infants and children (ages 7 and under) back to the Lord just as Hannah did, according to 1 Samuel chapter 1.