Baptism is the outward symbol of the transforming work that God does in our hearts when we make a personal faith commitment to Him. The word 'baptism' comes from the Greek word 'baptizdo' which means to dunk under water.  Being lowered into the water symbolizes death to self.  The water symbolizes being cleansed of our sins and raised to new life in Christ. 

When and how do we share in the celebration of baptism at Woodridge ?  Baptism services are held at Woodridge about three times a year. They are usually done in Lake Independence or in a hot tub at the church. These services are announced well in advance and there are opportunities to meet with pastors or participate in classes prior to being baptized. Baptism is a very significant marker in a person’s spiritual journey as well as a very impactful time for the gospel to be shared. Families should consider who they would like to invite to share in this important event as well as who may be witnessed to by attending.  We also encourage family members, friends or other spiritual mentors to take an active part in the baptism. At Woodridge we wait to baptize children until they are old enough to make their own decision to follow Christ and can articulate a short testimony about their personal faith commitment.  As a general guideline we wait until a child is 7 years old. Another practical consideration is whether they are ready for a full immersion baptism. It is worth considering how the action of being “dunked” might take away from the true meaning if the child is not ready. When your child is ready to be baptized we look forward to meeting with you and making this a memorable and significant experience in your child’s faith journey.