Baptism & Membership at Ridgeline

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"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."  - Ephesians 2:19-22

Baptism is one of the two sacred ordinances (along with Communion) we at Ridgeline believe Jesus Himself initiates and commands us to observe [Mt. 2:19-20, Jn. 3:5, Acts 2:38].

While the act of baptism does not save us, it is a visible and tangible expression of the gospel, and as such they serve to strengthen our faith—confirming and nourishing the believer and providing not only a public testimony to an unbelieving world, but serving as a physical severing of the believer from their old way of life to being made anew and born again in Christ. Baptism is also required to become a member at Ridgeline.

Four times a year, we hold special baptism weekends where all those who profess faith in Christ alone [Rm. 6:4, Gal. 3:27, Mt. 3:11] are baptized during one of our worship services, at whichever they choose.

We practice believer's baptism via full immersion, though we reserve the right in very unique and rare special circumstances, to make special accommodations to those who can only be partially immersed or "sprinkled," such as the elderly or handicapped.

We offer baptism services in conjunction with child dedications four times a year: Winter (January/February), Spring (usually around Easter), the start of Fall (September), and just before Christmas.

If you are a professing Christian who has put their faith in Jesus Christ alone and would like to be baptized at Ridgeline, please click the green button below to connect with a Pastor and begin the process!

For more on what we believe on baptism, you can go here, or see pp. 181-182 in Evangelical Convictions: A Theological Exposition of the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America.

While not an ordinance commanded by the Lord like communion or baptism, Ridgeline affirms the appropriateness when desired by families to dedicate their younger children or babies to the Lord in a brief ceremony known as Child Dedication. We offer these opportunities the same weekends as baptisms.

When used in the Scriptures, to “dedicate” conveys “the idea of being set apart for sacred use. Something or someone withheld from ordinary use and given to God for His sovereign purpose. We see examples like Hannah's dedication of Samuel [1 Sam. 1-2] and Mary's dedication of Jesus at the Temple [Luke 2:21-40] as instructive models to follow for faithful parents committing their children to the Lord.

It's in this spirit and unofficial tradition that we offer our parents the same opportunity. Though we recognize that not only are we dedicating their kiddos; we as a church are helping them commit themselves as leaders of their families too, and that is reflected in how we commission them before their peers and pray over them as well. This is truly a holy moment that we involve the entire church body in.

We offer baptism services in conjunction with child dedications four times a year: Winter (January/February), Spring (usually around Easter), the start of Fall (September), and just before Christmas.

If you'd like to learn more about child dedications for kiddos still too young to understand and own their personal faith, or if you'd like to be a part of the next dedication opportunity, click the button below to connect with a pastor and start the conversation.

We cannot wait to come alongside you and your family as you commit yourselves to the Lord!

The principles of church membership are both reflected in and strongly encouraged throughout the Bible. We continually see God calling a people together for His purpose in certain places, all united by their mutual identify as His Imago Dei.

In the New Testament, we are reminded that we are "one body" [Rm. 12:4-5], should not neglect meeting together [Heb. 10:24-25], remain devoted to one another [Acts 2], and charged with guarding over each other as a unified "flock" [Acts 20] -- church membership gives us the necessary framework for being faithfully obedient to all of these.

To become a member at Ridgeline, you must:

1) Be 18

2) Be a professing follower of Jesus

3) Commit to sound doctrine

4) Be or get baptized

5) Complete our 90-min Ridgeline 101 class

Applicants will then be interviewed by two elders and / or pastors, where the conversation will include discussion of foundational beliefs, alignment with our doctrine, and personal testimony. Candidates who are then accepted are then announced before the church in accordance with our bylaws as new members in good standing. Members can then vote at Congregational meetings, serve on committees, and if qualitied, serve as Elders.

For more information on the membership process or to begin your membership journey today, click the button below to connect with a pastor or elder: