Actscelerate.com

Eddie Robbins

Baptism at Youth Camp

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/24/16 7:21 pm**

I think we have discussed this before. Do you think that water baptism should be done at the local church with the friends and family of the person present?

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **6/24/16 10:13 pm**

Nah, "There is water, what doth hinder....." Smile

I attended the very first 'Boys Camp' in NC and continued until I left home. I think I got 'saved & Baptized' at the first one and re-saved and re-baptized in the rest of them. (I wasn't Baptist then and 'knowed I was Backslid')

Maybe if folks feel so strongly about the ceremony/ritual there should be one question, "If the camper feels the need of Baptism is he/she permitted to do so" Y or N. (Of course the ? should be worded better but would that help?)

If it was my son, I would let him make the decision, after all it is 'his' Christian walk.

Cool

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Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/25/16 12:05 pm**

If my child is getting baptized, I want to be there. That's just me.

Nature Boy Florida

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **6/25/16 12:08 pm**

Let child call parents and see if they want to come.
They are forming a lifelong bond with the leaders/campers that led them to Christ... Baptize at youth camp...feed it on the internet...it is a great time at camp.
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Da Sheik

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **6/25/16 12:22 pm**

As a parent, I see both sides. Sometimes it isn't feasible for the parent to get to camp to see the baptism. I understand their disappointment. I also appreciate the immediate response of the candidate at camp among their peers. They could always do it at camp and then have some type of ceremony in their respective home churches.

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **6/25/16 4:57 pm**

sheepdogandy

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 7307 **6/26/16 9:25 am**

What about the Lord's Supper at the end of Youth Camp?

I've been stewing on this one. Very Happy

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Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/26/16 9:46 am**

I started this same thread on our Church of God-Cleveland Facebook page, which you should join. The consensus seems to be to have parental consent in the youth camp application and baptize the child again at the local church so that everyone who is involved with the child can be present and witness their outward expression of their decision to follow Christ.

Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **6/26/16 2:12 pm**

bonnie knox

Re: Baptism at Youth Camp

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **6/26/16 2:29 pm**

diakoneo

Re: Baptism at Youth Camp

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **6/26/16 2:36 pm**

Kyle Morrow

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2397 **6/27/16 7:36 am**

In Scripture they were baptized immediately following conversion. We have made it into a ceremony, not too different than a child taking his first communion. It's not for the family, but for that infividually to publicly say, "the old me died, and a new me was reborn."
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bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **6/27/16 9:02 am**

If you can find in scripture where the kids got baptized at youth camp, we'll consider it. Wink

I don't see any harm in waiting a few days.

Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/27/16 9:26 am**

I believe in baptizing as soon as someone is saved but it's not even done in churches, is it? Don't you designate certain days for baptism like once a month,moor example? But, at youth camp they do it almost immediately. I have no problem with it IF you have parental consent. Not all campers are COG. I know that we used to take the girls' friends. One girl was Greek Orthodox. Her family may not have appreciated her being baptized without their permission.

It's simple. Get consent.

Kyle Morrow

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2397 **6/27/16 3:47 pm**

Do we need consent for them to pray for salvation as well? Baptism is not for the family. IIt's a spiritual experience.
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Love. Grow. Serve.

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **6/27/16 4:07 pm**

When you are looking after someone else's kids, why wouldn't you respect their parents' wishes?
Eddie's point about how often you baptize at you church is a very good question. If you don't baptize everyone in your church within a week of their professing Christ, why would it be different for the kids at camp?

Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/27/16 5:38 pm**

Why not just get parental consent?

Salvation is SO different from baptism. At some point in a child's life, they become believers. You cannot get a consent for that, it just happens. Baptism is a planned act of obedience as an outward expression of testimony of that belief. If it can wait a few days at the local church, it can wait at youth camp too. Again, get consent, baptize and baptize again at the local church where the people that mean the most to them are present. What's wrong wth that?