As when a baby is christened, it is a joyful time for an older child or teen to profess faith and be baptized. Most churches do not allow you to jump right into baptism with your child, however. They want to make sure your child truly is ready.
Preparing Your Older Child or Teen for the Ceremony
Preparing your child for baptism often includes going through religious study materials, which guide you and your child through scriptures not just about baptism, but about having a meaningful relationship with Jesus and living by God’s commands. Work through these materials together rather than separately to send the message that the baptism preparation is worth your time and focus. Meet with your pastor or priest, as well, as church leaders further can answer questions and assess your child’s readiness, and because each church has slightly different rules for conducting a baptism.
Your child should learn points such as Jesus served as a substitute, taking punishment for all people’s sins, that Jesus commanded people to be baptized and that baptism represents resurrection and being born again into a new life of obedience to God. It’s also important to teach that baptism is an outward display of faith that gives greater power and glory to God, weakening the Devil and evil.
Most parents find that it helps to start baptismal education as early as possible and to get the whole family involved with support and prayer. Role playing with your child for any interviews your pastor might require can reduce or eliminate nervousness. Make sure your child knows all the baptism logistics, such as what the pastor will say where to go to dry off. Use analogies when you can to explain scriptural ideas that could be confusing, cutting out or clearly defining “churchy” terms like “repent” and “salvation”. Above all else, be a good example, modeling the solid faith you want your child to have.
How to Dress
Your church might provide a baptismal robe for your child. If this is the case, your child likely can wear something comfortable under it, such as a T-shirt and shorts. If not, semi-casual to semi-formal attire, as you would wear to a regular church service, is fine. That generally means khakis or dress pants with a polo or collared shirt for boys and a pant suit, dress or blouse and skirt for girls. The only two requirements are that the outfit should be relatively modest and not be ruined if it gets wet. In any case, bring a change of clothing for after the baptism.
Gifts
Baptism and christening gifts for older kids and teens may include personalized Bibles or other religious books, jewelry, rosaries, crosses, faith-based trinket boxes and stuffed lambs. Teens respond especially well to baptism gifts like Christian music, Bible carrying cases and covers for mobile devices that have Christian images, scriptures or messages on them.
Conclusion
Early study, done jointly with other family members and church leaders, is very beneficial for child/teen baptism. Once this prep work is finished, it’s important that your child be logistically prepared in terms of what to do and wear so he’s not anxious or physically uncomfortable. Many different gifts are appropriate for the occasion, so think about your child’s personality when choosing something to celebrate with.
Courtney Clower is a church worker and avid writer. She likes to share her insights by posting on the web. You can read her articles on many websites and blogs.
Image courtesy of luigi diamanti FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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