25 ways to increase your baptisms

25 Ways 25 Ways to to

Increase Your BaptismsIncrease Your Baptisms

A Few Alarming Facts A Few Alarming Facts About SBC Churches:About SBC Churches:

3 out of 4 are plateaued or declining.3 out of 4 are plateaued or declining.

North America is the North America is the onlyonly continent where continent where Christianity is NOT growing.Christianity is NOT growing.

The average church baptizes The average church baptizes only 7only 7 people. people.

It takes It takes 4444 members to reach members to reach 11 new believer. new believer.

It is a sin to be GOOD,It is a sin to be GOOD,

When God has called us to be GREAT!When God has called us to be GREAT!

-- Dr. Thom Rainer, President Lifeway-- Dr. Thom Rainer, President Lifeway

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms

1. Set a Baptism Goal1. Set a Baptism Goal

• Let your leaders help set the goal. Let your leaders help set the goal.

• Share the goal with your Share the goal with your congregation.congregation.

• Share the goal often.Share the goal often.

2. Constantly Talk about 2. Constantly Talk about BaptismBaptism

• Preach on baptism 2-3 times a Preach on baptism 2-3 times a year. year.

• Incorporate baptism into most Incorporate baptism into most sermons.sermons.

• Explain the meaning and purpose Explain the meaning and purpose of baptism.of baptism.

• See people, not numbers.See people, not numbers.


3. Use Media to Promote 3. Use Media to Promote BaptismBaptism

• Use pictures with music in the Use pictures with music in the background.background.

• Show in next week’s service.Show in next week’s service.

• Give copies away.Give copies away.


4. Use a Membership Class4. Use a Membership Class

• Have all new members complete Have all new members complete the class.the class.

• Discuss baptism in class.Discuss baptism in class.

• Show video in class.Show video in class.


5. Develop a Baptism 5. Develop a Baptism BrochureBrochure• ““The Meaning of Baptism” The Meaning of Baptism”

• Give in membership class.Give in membership class.

• Make it available in the foyer.Make it available in the foyer.


6. Use Testimonies at 6. Use Testimonies at BaptismBaptism• Let the candidate share their Let the candidate share their

story. story.

• Live or by video.Live or by video.


7. Make it a Celebration 7. Make it a Celebration EventEvent• Create a party atmosphere.Create a party atmosphere.

• Let there be applause, hugs and Let there be applause, hugs and whistling.whistling.

• Luke 15:5-7Luke 15:5-7



• Luke 15:5-7 (NIV): Luke 15:5-7 (NIV):

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. his shoulders and goes home.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' have found my lost sheep.'

I tell you that in the same way there will I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. to repent.

8. Baptize Outside of the 8. Baptize Outside of the BuildingBuilding

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms8. Take Your Baptisms Outside of the Building

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms25 Ways to Increase Your BaptismsUse Hot Tubs, JacuzzisUse Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis


The Beach or OceanThe Beach or Ocean

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms Lakes or RiversLakes or Rivers


A Water TroughA Water Trough

25 Ways to Increase Your Baptisms25 Ways to Increase Your BaptismsInflatable PoolsInflatable Pools

• Lake, River, OceanLake, River, Ocean• Water Trough, Hot TubsWater Trough, Hot Tubs• Jacuzzis, PoolsJacuzzis, Pools• Even the Bed of a Pick Up Truck!Even the Bed of a Pick Up Truck!


9. Help Them Overcome 9. Help Them Overcome BarriersBarriers

• Some Natural Barriers:Some Natural Barriers:– Fear of waterFear of water– Way you look when wetWay you look when wet– Odd activityOdd activity– Singled outSingled out

• Counsel, explain, prepare.Counsel, explain, prepare.

• Use humor.Use humor.

• Baptize a group – there is comfort in Baptize a group – there is comfort in numbers.numbers.


10. Invite Family Members10. Invite Family Members

• Encourage them to invite family. Encourage them to invite family.

• Offer invitations they can use.Offer invitations they can use.

• Plan event details well in advance.Plan event details well in advance.

• Recognize family present.Recognize family present.

• Make family attendance an Make family attendance an expectation.expectation.


11. Make Your Baptisms Special11. Make Your Baptisms Special

•Remove it from the regular Remove it from the regular service.service.

• Baptism is not an add-on.Baptism is not an add-on.

• Don’t minimize your worship Don’t minimize your worship service.service.

• Don’t minimize your baptism Don’t minimize your baptism service.service.

• Make it a memorable event.Make it a memorable event.


12. Tie it to a Church-Wide 12. Tie it to a Church-Wide FellowshipFellowship

• Church picnicChurch picnic

• Dinner on the GroundsDinner on the Grounds

• Involve as many people as Involve as many people as possible in the preparation and possible in the preparation and promotion.promotion.


13. Take Your Time13. Take Your Time

• Don’t rush this experience.Don’t rush this experience.

• Expect it to take some time.Expect it to take some time.


14. Take Pictures & 14. Take Pictures & Prepare CertificatesPrepare Certificates

• Designate 1 or 2 photographers.Designate 1 or 2 photographers.

• Provide film & pay for Provide film & pay for development.development.

• Get group shots.Get group shots.

• Take family shots.Take family shots.

• Get live shots.Get live shots.


15. Use Special Events or 15. Use Special Events or DaysDays• Don’t baptize every Sunday.Don’t baptize every Sunday.

• Highlight holidays Highlight holidays – Memorial Day Weekend, Mother’s Memorial Day Weekend, Mother’s

DayDay

• Highlight special daysHighlight special days– Anniversaries, birthdays, etc.Anniversaries, birthdays, etc.


16. Allow the Christian Father 16. Allow the Christian Father to to Baptize His Children and Baptize His Children and WifeWife

• It will strengthen the family unit.It will strengthen the family unit.

• Sets up father as the spiritual Sets up father as the spiritual leader.leader.

• Memorable for kids, mothers & Memorable for kids, mothers & fathers.fathers.

• An ordinance of the church, not of An ordinance of the church, not of ordained ministers.ordained ministers.


17. Involve SS Class or Small 17. Involve SS Class or Small GroupGroup

• Let members of the class participate.Let members of the class participate.

• Allow the candidate a chance to Allow the candidate a chance to share who was significant in them share who was significant in them coming to Christ.coming to Christ.

• Invite class or small group to stand.Invite class or small group to stand.


18. Define Public Profession18. Define Public Profession

• Emphasize baptism.Emphasize baptism.

• De-emphasize walking the isle.De-emphasize walking the isle.


19. Use Multiple 19. Use Multiple HooksHooks• Trot line fishing.Trot line fishing.

• Give options on ways to respond:Give options on ways to respond:– Walk isleWalk isle– Use a Use a Response CardResponse Card– Offer someone to pray with youOffer someone to pray with you– Stay afterwardsStay afterwards– Membership ClassMembership Class


20. Use Baptism as an 20. Use Baptism as an Evangelistic Evangelistic OpportunityOpportunity

• No better time to present gospel.No better time to present gospel.

• Ask if there are others who would Ask if there are others who would like to be baptized.like to be baptized.

• Have counselors ready and Have counselors ready and prepared.prepared.


21. Plan Annual 21. Plan Annual CampaignsCampaigns• Plan 2-3 “evangelistic pushes” a year.Plan 2-3 “evangelistic pushes” a year.

• Examples:Examples:– RevivalRevival– Vacation Bible SchoolVacation Bible School– Marriage conferenceMarriage conference– Financial seminarFinancial seminar– Wild game dinnerWild game dinner– Women’s retreatWomen’s retreat– Hunting, fishing, golf EventHunting, fishing, golf Event


22. Make it 22. Make it ComfortableComfortable• Set up heaters.Set up heaters.

• Provide towels.Provide towels.

• Have volunteer teams to assist.Have volunteer teams to assist.

• Clothes vs. RobesClothes vs. Robes


23. Discover the 23. Discover the Natural OpportunitiesNatural Opportunities

• Marriage CounselingMarriage Counseling

• Financial CounselingFinancial Counseling

• Pre-Marital CounselingPre-Marital Counseling


24. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail24. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

• Try new ideas.Try new ideas.

• Attempt new approaches.Attempt new approaches.

• Communicate: Communicate: – WhatWhat– How How – WhyWhy– OftenOften


25. Begin Now25. Begin Now

• Don’t procrastinate.Don’t procrastinate.

• The pastor is the pacesetter for The pastor is the pacesetter for baptisms in the church.baptisms in the church.

• Pursue as if someone’s life depends Pursue as if someone’s life depends on it – because it does!on it – because it does!


Fred L. HewettFred L. HewettManager of Field Service, Region 3Manager of Field Service, Region 3

Church Planting GroupChurch Planting GroupNorth American Mission BoardNorth American Mission Board

[email protected]@namb.net770-410-6218770-410-6218

mailto:[email protected]

25 ways to increase your baptisms

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baptisms25 ways

building25 ways

jacuzzis25 ways

ocean25 ways

rivers25 ways

baptismsa water trough25

baptism service

purpose of baptism