Baptism
Baptism at Lake Houston Methodist Church
Baptism is a sacred moment for your family and for our church. In the Methodist tradition, baptism is a sacrament—an outward and visible sign of God’s inward and spiritual grace.
It marks God’s covenant promise to us and reminds us that salvation begins with God’s action.
Two Faithful Approaches
In the Methodist tradition, we understand baptism as a sacrament — an outward and visible sign of God’s inward and spiritual grace. It is God’s covenant promise to us, and for that reason we baptize both those who profess faith for themselves and children who are being raised in the faith.
Infant Baptism
For infants and children, baptism emphasizes that God’s grace comes before we can respond — what we call prevenient grace.
From the beginning, God has included children in His covenant people.
In the Old Testament, infants were marked with circumcision as a sign of belonging to God’s covenant family (Genesis 17).
In the New Testament, baptism takes that role as the sign of the new covenant (Colossians 2:11–12).
When infants are baptized, the church and parents promise to nurture them in Christ’s love until the day when they can personally affirm those promises through Confirmation.
Baptism at Profession of Faith
For children, youth, or adults who are ready to profess faith, baptism takes place as their personal declaration of trust in Christ.
This highlights the importance of their own decision and allows them to speak their “yes” to Jesus in that moment. It honors baptism as a response of faith, whether that response happens at 8 years old, 18, or later in life.
Faithful Approaches
Both approaches are faithful. Both affirm that baptism is God’s gift and that each person must one day respond in faith.
The decision comes down to how you, as parents, would like to shape your child’s journey of faith: either beginning with baptism and growing toward confirmation, or waiting to be baptized at the point of personal profession.”
Do you still have questions about baptism or which approach is right for you? Schedule a time to meet with one of our Pastors.
Next Steps
- Start the conversation: Use the form below to tell us who is seeking baptism and share any questions.
- Meet with a pastor: We’ll walk through the meaning of baptism and plan the service together.
- Choose the mode: Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion—each is a faithful expression of Christian baptism.
- Celebrate in worship: Baptisms happen within Sunday worship so the whole church can welcome and support you.
- Next steps: We’ll help you (or your child) take simple steps toward discipleship, small groups, and Confirmation when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does baptism save you?
No. Baptism does not guarantee salvation. It is God’s gracious sign and our entry into the community of faith. Each person must personally respond to Christ in faith.
Can my child be baptized now and later be baptized again when they’re older?
No. There is one baptism. When they’re ready, they will confirm their baptism and publicly profess their faith.
What if my child is ready to make a personal profession in Jesus now?
Wonderful! Children, youth, or adults who profess faith can be baptized as their own declaration of trusting Christ.
Which mode do you use—sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?
We honor all three. We typically use sprinkling or pouring in worship, and we can arrange immersion as available.
Do we have to be members?
Baptism connects you to Christ and his church; membership is the step of formally joining the congregation, often at Confirmation for those baptized as children.
How do we schedule a baptism?
Complete the form below and a pastor will reach out to set a date and discuss details.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the moment when someone who was baptized earlier, often as an infant or young child, makes their own public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
It is the personal “yes” to the promises that parents and the church made at baptism, affirming that they now belong to Christ and His Church by their own decision.
In the Methodist tradition, Confirmation is not a second baptism — there is only one baptism — but it is the point at which baptized believers claim those baptismal vows for themselves.
At Confirmation, young people (or adults who were baptized earlier) are received as professing members of the church, committing to follow Christ through prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
This milestone recognizes that while God’s grace has been at work from the beginning, each person must one day personally embrace the life of faith.
Confirmation classes are typically offered in the spring for those in 6th grade and up.
