How to Get Baptized

Getting Baptized as an Adult

Speak with an ordinary minister. Ordinary ministers are pastors, preachers, bishops, priests, and sometimes deacons who are vested with the authority to perform the sacrament. Priests have the power to perform baptisms without consulting with a bishop, and they may delegate the job to a deacon. Technically, anyone can perform a Catholic baptism. However, this is usually only done in extreme cases – i.e. when someone is lying on his or her deathbed, and fervently wishes to become baptized and to receive salvation.

Clarify why you are getting baptized. Perhaps you've had a born-again experience and you want to seek salvation to affirm your faith. Perhaps you were baptized as a child, and you wish to be baptized again. Perhaps you have recently joined from another church, and you want to be baptized according to your adopted tradition. The reasoning behind your choice will determine many of the details. Remember that you are doing this for you. An adult baptism can deepen your relationship with God, and it can act as a lodestone for your faith. If it feels like the right choice, then perhaps it is the right choice. If you are joining the church from a different Christian denomination, but you have already been baptized in the original denomination: you may not need to get baptized again, depending on the denominations in question. The United Methodist Church, for instance, recognizes prior baptisms from all other Christian denominations except for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Plan the ceremony. Set a date. Invite friends and family. Decide whether you want a big, fancy event, or an intimate affair. Most people hold their baptism ceremony at their local church. You might want to stage a big event in order to solidify your growing role in the church. Baptism is a big step! On the other hand, remember that this moment is not necessarily about your friends and family. It is an act of commitment to yourself and to Christ. Consider supplying food to create a reception-like time of fellowship. Hire a catering company and budget how much you will spend on food. Alternately, ask a friend or family member to help with the refreshments.

Immerse yourself. When people are baptized as babies, they have holy water sprinkled over them. As a child, teenager, or adult, you will kneel, sit, or lie in holy water. Specific rites may vary depending on which Church is baptizing you.

Get blessed. The administrator of the ceremony (the priest or minister) will bless you "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." He or she will dunk you into the water, then pull you out again. Once you have been blessed and immersed, you have been baptized. Rejoice. You are a Christian!

Baptizing a Baby

Speak with an ordinary minister. Ordinary ministers are pastors, preachers, bishops, priests, and sometimes deacons who are vested with the authority to perform the sacrament. Priests have the power to perform baptisms without consulting with a bishop, and they may delegate the job to a deacon. Technically, anyone can perform a Catholic baptism. However, this is usually only done in extreme cases – i.e. when someone is lying on his or her deathbed, and fervently wishes to become baptized and to receive salvation.

Choose a godfather and a godmother. Pick two people that you think would make great godparents. If you are a child or a teenager, then you may really want to consider designating godparents. If you are an adult, then this step is optional. Ask family members or close friends – people that you trust.

Plan the ceremony. Set a date. Invite friends and family. Decide whether you want a big, fancy event, or an intimate affair. Most people hold their baptism ceremony at their local church. Consider supplying food to create a reception-like time of fellowship. Hire a catering company and budget how much you will spend on food. Alternately, ask a friend or family member to help with the refreshments.

Bring the baby to the baptism ceremony. Set the date and plan everything out. When the special day comes, take the child to church. The priest, minister, or deacon will administer the ceremony.

Submerge or sprinkle the child with holy water. When people are baptized as babies, they often have holy water sprinkled over them. As a child, teenager, or adult, you will kneel, sit, or lie in holy water. Specific rites may vary depending on which Church is baptizing you. Some churches will sprinkle the child with holy water and say that this is enough. Other churches insist that you must be fully immersed in order to be truly baptized. Consult with your priest or minister.

Get blessed. The administrator of the ceremony (the priest or minister) will bless you "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." They will dunk the child into the water, then pull them out again. Once the child has been blessed and immersed, the baptism is complete.

Mentally Preparing for Baptism

Confess your sins. According to the Bible, you must confess your sins before you can be officially baptized. Speak to a priest or another Christian minister. The Bible describes John the Baptist baptizing people as such: "Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:5, 6, NKJV)

Repent of your sins. Many believe that it is not enough to merely confess your sins – you must truly repent for what you have done. Think about what it means to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Ask your priest for help. If you aren't sure how to make the step from confession to repentance, ask your pastor/priest or a knowledgeable member of your church for advice. On Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, many people were amazed by the Holy Spirit. When they asked Peter what to do, he replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38, NKJV).

Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin. The final prerequisite for baptism is that you really, truly believe. Search deep within yourself to make sure that you are ready for this decision. If you believe that you are ready, then you are ready. Express your intention to become a fully-baptized Christian. There are no age restrictions for baptism. In Christianity, any human being who has not yet been baptized can receive the sacrament of baptism. It is said that baptism leaves a permanent mark on your soul, such that you never need to be "re-baptized."