Baptism was instituted by Jesus himself and is therefore served all over the world. The form of baptisms and how they are prepared differ. What is baptism like in an area above the Arctic Circle?
Adult baptism
The evangelists we support in the far north belong to so-called non-registered Baptists. They are adherents of adult baptism by immersion. They see baptism as an outward confirmation of conversion: “That is the most important thing. Without it, baptism is not possible.”
Announcement of baptism
When someone comes to faith in the Lord Jesus, at some point the question of baptism becomes topical. In principle, it makes no difference whether it is a young man or woman brought up in a Christian family or a man or woman converted from the world. At some point, the person will go to the leader of the congregation asking, ‘I want to be baptised. A process then takes effect.
Preparation
That process involves, first of all, the church leader/elder speaking to the person (individually, but more often in groups) in depth about the meaning of baptism. Is the person aware that in baptism he is breaking with his old life of idolatry, alcoholism, disobedience and the like? Other aspects of repentance and the foundations of the Christian faith also come up in conversations, as do the rules that apply within the church. It is somewhere similar to our confessional catechism.
Consent by the environment
Before the date is set, another important step takes place: persons close to the prospective baptised person are asked whether the person has shown ‘fruit corresponding to conversion’ in their lives. These may be family members, or friends, but also (unbelieving) colleagues. Finally, the congregation must approve the person's baptism. This takes place in a meeting of the congregation where the person who wants to be baptised first gives a personal testimony himself/herself. The congregation may then ask him/her questions. These can be general (‘who is the Lord Jesus for you?’) but also very personal (‘we know you as someone who smoked and drank a lot, are you really free of that?’, ‘how is your relationship with your unbelieving husband?’). Then the congregation, without the person himself being present, decides whether the person will be admitted to baptism.
The day of baptism
It makes a big difference whether someone is baptised in winter or summer. In winter, one makes a hole in the ice. After all: baptism takes place in natural water, Baptists believe. In summer, of course, there is no need to carve such a hole.
The person baptising is always an ordained brother: a church leader, an elder or an evangelist. In the water, the person being baptised is asked a number of baptismal questions. These are not church-ordained but usually boil down to something like, ‘Do you believe in the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour and Saviour?’, ‘Do you deny your sins?’ and ‘Do you promise from now on to serve God to the best of your conscience and faithfully adhere to Him? When the baptised person answers these questions in the affirmative, the Baptist will completely submerge him/her in water after which the baptised person ’rises in newness of life‘.
After baptism
After baptism, there is a service of thanksgiving with the whole congregation. The congregation then also celebrates Holy Communion, which the baptised person attends for the first time. The baptised person receives flowers from the congregation and a photo is taken showing the baptised person sitting in the centre surrounded by the entire congregation. The congregation addresses words of encouragement, gratitude and love to the baptised person and gives them gifts. Then there is a love meal in which the entire congregation participates. Thus, it becomes a celebration for the whole congregation.