Christian Megachurches Baptizing Thousands through Special Baptismal Services

[James Nored]

I read a recent post from the Christian Standard, the leading periodical for the Christian church on baptisms and megachurches that was eye opening. Click here for the article. Here is a quote:

A new trend in 2009 was for megachurches and emerging megachurches to hold special baptism services during their regular weekend services. Fifteen of the 50 churches that held special baptism services baptized 100 or more people in a single weekend. Overall, these 15 churches experienced a 91 percent, single-year increase in the total number of baptisms; in 2009 these 50 churches baptized 12,761 people.

 

This increase in baptisms in the worship assembly is quite a new trend--or rather, an old trend revived. For the past few decades, more and more people have made the decision to be baptized outside of a worship service after many Bible studies. And this is still, I believe, the primary way that unchurched people respond, as they are usually so far away from a biblical understanding that they simply cannot absorb the biblical story and decide to make a life change all within a 30 minute sermon. Would you do this if, for instance, you attended a mosque service? Would you decide to convert to Islam after 30 minutes? It is doubtful. Yes, many people responded publicly in worship and were baptized in my fellowship (Churches of Christ) decades ago in this manner. But they were mainly church going people from various denominations who needed to be taught a little better about baptism. This is no longer where people are today.

 

However, clearly these megachurches are tapping into something new, but what exactly? Well, there may be a lot of other things that these megachurches are doing to prepare these people to make this decision that we cannot see. And certainly, they must be doing something to have this number of unbaptized people in their worship assemblies.

 

I would have to attend these services to see all what is going on here. But I would think it would be two things. First, by telling people there will be a baptismal service beforehand, they create expectation for this day. It gives time for the unchurched people to think about this, so that in reality they are not responding in a 30 minute sermon, but over the course of several weeks. There is prayer about this day, and we can be sure that God is at work on hearts during this time. 

 

Second, these megachurches are probably well designed for this type of call, with many moving visuals, music, and the like to keep people's hearts thinking about making a response. And when one person responds (as is likely in any group of thousands), this can create a ripple effect which builds momentum, causing others to respond. This is a harder phenomenon to create in smaller churches.

 

I don't believe the idea that every sermon must have a call to baptism. A recent minister search ad contained the following: "[The minister must] . . . conclude each sermon with a specific invitation to accept the Gospel and explain that one must Hear, Believe, Confess, Repent, and be Baptized regardless of the subject matter of the sermon." Not every sermon especially lends itself to a baptismal call, and these "five steps" all assume that people already know the gospel story--a bad assumption in today's world--and is a modern, linear form of presentation that is not very resonate for today's postmodern culture. There are better ways to presenting these truths, such as through narrative, video, invitation to a journey, etc.

 

Despite some of the misuses of the worship assembly in the past, I could do nothing but rejoice if 700 people were baptized in a worship assembly. Wow--that is like the book of Acts. On the other hand, I don't want people to think that evangelism is something that primarily happens in worship assembly, and that they have to need to share their faith with their friends.

 

So what do you think is the reason why so many people are being baptized through these special baptismal services? Should all churches have this kind of service?

[James Nored]

Good thoughts here, Paula. Yes, a church of 150 with few unbaptized in attendance would have a very different dynamic. Thanks for sharing! It was great to see you at LTC.

[Paula White]

I think as you said in the article that one reason is expectation. Those that have not yet been baptized are over a few weeks "prepped" (I mean that in a good way) that over the next few weeks, we will go over the gospel story and this is what the gospel story builds up to "baptism." (Maybe be like the old fashoined gospel meetings but once a sunday instead of every night for five nights) Also, in a congregation that big, the thought of just me walking up in front of 5000 or so people by myself to be baptized would be very intimidating. The only down-side I see is people beginning to think the only time they can be baptized is that special service. I don't think it could apply to all churches. Our congregation of 150 at any given time would have very few not yet baptized in the audience all starting their introduciton to church at wide gaps. I could be wrong or maybe we should have more new people in the worship assembly.