WHERE, WHEN & HOW?

You can choose to be baptized in the sanctuary during the 9:15 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. worship service (with water from our baptismal font sprinkled or poured on the head) or at another time via full submersion in swimming pool or even Wolf Creek. We can help make the arrangements.

FOR WHOM?

Adults who profess faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and who have not been previously baptized, including as infants.

Children and teens who profess faith in Jesus, and who, in the judgement of their parents and an East Main elder or pastoral staff member, have sufficient, age-appropriate understanding of what baptism signifies and have not previously been baptized. 

WHY BAPTISM?

The following explanation explains baptism simply and well: 

Baptism is meant to show the world that you love, trust, and have put your hope in Christ. It’s like a wedding ring.

Let’s say I’m not married right now, but if I put a wedding ring on my finger, would that make me married? No, of course not. Similarly, I can be baptized in a church, but that doesn’t make me a true believer in Christ. Imagine that I really was married, though. My husband and I really did go through that marriage ceremony, but I didn’t have my ring on my finger. Would that mean I wasn’t married? No way, of course I would still be married. Similarly, I can be a believer in Christ but not baptized, and my sins are still paid for and forgiven by God. But imagine that I truly was married and I really really loved my husband. Would I wear my wedding ring? Of course! I would love my husband and want the whole world to know it! In the same way if I have trusted in Christ to save me from sin, and He is the lord and joy of my life, then I want everyone to know about it. So baptism is a statement to everyone who sees it that I have trusted Christ for my salvation and I’m committed to living for Him. Moreover, it is a beautiful witness to what Christ has done on my behalf. 

A KEY PASSAGE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:

Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive – right along with Christ! Think about it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant cancelled and nailed to Christ’s cross. – Colossians 2:12-14, The Message trans.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

1. Indicate your interest by contacting a pastor (email Bill or email Melissa) or call us at 724-458-8270

2. Meet personally with Pastor Bill or Pastor Melissa or one of our current elders. 

3. Briefly share your story of coming to faith in Christ and being His follower, either in writing or verbally via a recorded video.

4. During your meeting a pastor will explain the baptism process, answer your questions and schedule your baptism.

If you would like to have your infant baptized, please contact Pastor Bill or Pastor Melissa for a meeting and to decide a date.  Below are some excerpts from our denominational documents explaining a bit more about infant baptism. 

Infant Baptism FAQs

• The Christian church has baptized people of all ages from its beginning. This has been the majority perspective throughout church history. Infants are a celebrated part of the people of God throughout the Bible.  
• Baptism is not a celebration of an individual's faith choice, but a sacrament that God honors with his presence in the Holy Spirit that integrates a person into the people of God. ECO (our denomination) holds that the good news of Jesus is not a personal message only, but that God's mission is to adopt people into his family. 
• We believe that baptism is primarily about God's faithfulness, not our belief statement. Those who are not capable of formulating correct belief statements because of age or disability are not to be excluded from the people of God. We believe that Jesus achieved salvation from the wrath of God on sin at his death and resurrection. A person does not "get saved" at the point of conversion, but by the work of Jesus. The benefits of salvation are applied to the believer's life by the power of the Holy Spirit, symbolized in baptism.
• It is the family and the church's responsibility to raise children well and train them in righteousness (see Deuteronomy 6) with the idea that through spiritual education and confirmation (an intense study of the faith typically for students in 9th grade) is how baptized infants learn to grow in a life of faithfulness to God.  

WHAT IF I'VE BEEN BAPTIZED BUT STILL WANT TO DECLARE MY FAITH? 

If you have been baptized before as an infant or later in life, you can still reaffirm your baptism vows in front of the church!  The same process would occur (see steps below) but without the element of the water.  At East Main we believe once baptized, always baptized, but we understand the desire to make that statement known to the congregation (especially if you were baptized as a baby) or if you have returned to faith after some time away.  We are happy to celebrate with you!  Here's what you need to do: 

1. Indicate your interest by contacting a pastor (email Bill or email Melissa) or call us at 724-458-8270

2. Meet personally with Pastor Bill or Pastor Melissa or one of our current elders. 

3. Briefly share your story of coming to faith in Christ and being His follower, either in writing or verbally via a recorded video.

4. During a meeting a pastor will explain the recommitment process, answer your questions and schedule your profession of faith.