How do we Baptize People in C21 Britain?
I’ve been thinking a lot about baptisms recently. On average freedom network have been holding ‘baptism services’ once or twice a year. We haven’t got a building, so we’ve been booking local swimming pools for a fee of £50-60 a time!
For our most recent baptisms we borrowed an inflatable pool and held services in a comunity centre. This was cheaper but still heavy on the organizing- (it took 3-4 hours just to fill the pool with two hoses plus buckets of water)
In the New Testament people were often baptized immediately! How can we create immediate baptisms?
Some thoughts:
- Carry around a set of swimming trunks (with a spare pair for the person you meet) and baptize them in local swimming pool
- Use outdoor swimming pools like the one found in Meadows Embankment (Nottingham)
- Form Housechurches where the people are baptized in bath tubs
Any tips on dips?
paddling pool is an excellant idea pete
katie mcelvaney said this on July 8, 2008 at 3:00 am
Hey Katie,
It’s great to see you on this blog! If you have any more ideas regarding community ressurection or inner-city mission and church feel free to leave comments
peterfarmer said this on July 8, 2008 at 8:50 am
In the past we have used the sea side, rivers, lakes etc. This is also a very public place. Swimming trunks optional in more liberal environments
Jason Reid said this on July 29, 2008 at 7:01 pm
That’s brilliant! great for the Devon and the South West and also the coastal areas of Britain. But inland the rivers can be dirty and dangerous, the seaside non-existant and the lakes, for away. Espeacially in the midlands.
However, public swimming pools are useful, as are inflatable pools and outdoor swimming pools in public parks
Looking forward to seeing more seaside baptisms!
peterfarmer said this on July 31, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I was reading Acts and it’s amazing!- 3000 baptized immediately in chapter two; the Ethiopian baptized on the road in chap 8; Saul(Paul) baptized before his next meal in chap 9, Cornelius and clan baptized immediately in chap 10, the jailor and his family baptized in the middle of the night in chap 16- Looks like a Holy Spirit given model to do it as soon as a person is ready to surrender his or her life to Christ- Annanias’ words ring out in Acts 22:16 “What are you waiting for. Arise and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
C said this on November 7, 2009 at 5:58 pm