Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work of God’s grace in our lives. It is one of the two sacraments we practice at Morning Star Church. We recognize three forms of baptism.

INFANT BAPTISM
We believe baptism is a way we experience God’s grace, so we baptize infants as part of a covenant between God, the parents, and the church. Infant baptism shows what John Wesley called prevenient grace—the grace of God that is at work in our lives even before we are aware of it. When we baptize a baby, we are celebrating that God is already at work in that child’s life and welcoming them into the family of God. At an infant baptism, commitments are made by God, the parents, and the church.
The church promises to provide a loving and faith-filled environment where the child can grow to know Jesus. The parents promise to raise their child in that environment and help guide them on their spiritual journey.

As a person grows and comes to understand what Jesus has done for them, they experience what John Wesley called justifying grace. This is when someone chooses to follow Jesus and receives God’s forgiveness and new life. The Bible says we receive this grace when we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When this happens, baptism is the next step in their faith journey.

DECLARATION OF FAITH
If someone was not baptized as a baby and chooses to follow Jesus later in life, they are baptized as a first-time profession of faith. This baptism is a public way of saying,
 “I have chosen to follow Jesus and receive His grace.”

REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM
If someone was baptized as an infant and later chooses to follow Jesus for themselves, this baptism is a reaffirmation of baptism. It shows that the grace their parents and church pointed them toward as a child has now become their own personal faith.