If you’ve decided to follow Jesus, the next step the Bible describes is baptism. Not church membership. Not a small group. Not even a Bible reading plan. Baptism.

This post tells you what it is, what it isn’t, exactly how to get one, and what happens at the moment. Including the boring practical stuff — what to wear, what to bring, how long it takes — that nobody else seems to write down.

TL;DR
  • Baptism is a public declaration of a private decision. It’s symbolic, not magic — but it’s commanded.
  • You qualify if you’ve personally trusted Jesus. That’s the only requirement.
  • At Carlsbad Coast Church we do ocean baptisms three times a year (Easter, Summer, Fall). Free. Open to all believers.
  • Wear what you’d swim in. Bring a towel. The whole thing takes about 60 seconds in the water.

What baptism actually is

Baptism is the visible, physical sign of an invisible, spiritual reality. The reality is that you’ve died to your old self and been raised to new life in Jesus. The sign is going under water and coming back up.

Romans 6:3–4 makes the symbolism explicit: “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Three movements, all in one moment:

  1. Going down into the water = you’re dying to your old life. The thing you used to live for is over.
  2. Being under the water = you’re with Jesus in his death and burial. You’re trusting that what happened to him handles what was wrong with you.
  3. Coming up out of the water = you’re rising with him to a new life. Same body, different person.

It’s a one-time event with a forever meaning.

What baptism isn’t

A few things baptism is not, because confusion here is common:

It’s not what saves you. Faith in Jesus saves you (Ephesians 2:8–9). Baptism is the public declaration that the saving has already happened. The thief on the cross was never baptized; Jesus assured him “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Baptism matters, but it isn’t the salvation transaction.

It’s not a graduation ceremony. Some people delay baptism because they don’t feel “ready” — meaning they don’t feel holy enough. That isn’t biblical. The New Testament pattern is people getting baptized within hours or days of believing (see Acts 8:26–40). You don’t have to clean up first.

It’s not for infants in our practice. We baptize “believers” — people old enough to personally profess faith in Jesus. We bless and dedicate infants in a separate dedication service. (If you grew up in a tradition that practices infant baptism, we respect that and you can ask us about it; we just practice differently.)

It’s not a re-do button. You don’t get re-baptized every time you mess up. Baptism is one event; repentance is the daily pattern after.

Who can be baptized?

The biblical requirements are simple:

  • You’ve personally trusted Jesus. Not just attended church, not just been raised Christian. You’ve made the decision yourself. (See how to be saved.)
  • You can speak for yourself. This is why we don’t baptize infants — the New Testament pattern is people who can answer for their own faith.
  • You’re willing to make it public. Baptism is meant to be witnessed. The witnesses are the church.

That’s it. No age maximum. No theological exam. No fundraising goal.

Step-by-step: how to actually do this

If you want to be baptized at Carlsbad Coast Church:

Step 1: Tell us. Easiest way: fill out the form at /connect/baptism/. Or grab a pastor after a service. Or email us through our contact page. Saying you want to be baptized starts the conversation.

Step 2: Brief conversation with a pastor. Usually 30 minutes, in person or by phone. We’ll ask: when did you trust Jesus? What does following him look like for you right now? Any questions before the day? It’s not a test. It’s a confirming conversation.

Step 3: Pick a date. We hold ocean baptisms three times a year — Easter weekend, mid-summer (usually July), and early fall (usually October). All at Carlsbad State Beach, around 5 PM, just before sunset. If you can’t wait for the next one for a real reason, we’ll do private baptisms in between.

Step 4: Show up. Bring a towel, a change of clothes, and 1–3 people who matter to you. The service runs about 30 minutes total. You’ll be in the water for about 60 seconds.

Step 5: Day of.

  • We start on the sand with a short reading from Romans 6 and a brief explanation for any guests who haven’t seen this before.
  • One at a time, you walk into the water with one or two pastors. The water is about chest-deep for an adult.
  • A pastor asks: “Do you trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” You say yes.
  • You’re immersed under the water briefly (one or two seconds) and brought back up.
  • Everyone on the shore claps. You walk out, towel off, hug your people. Done.

The whole thing is meaningful, brief, public, and (if you’re like most people) one of the most surprising peaceful moments of your life.

What to wear (the practical stuff)

This is what people most ask:

  • Wear what you’d be comfortable swimming in. Most people wear a dark t-shirt over a swimsuit. Avoid white — wet white tees become see-through. Avoid loose, billowing fabrics — they get heavy and unwieldy underwater.
  • Bring a towel and a change of clothes for the walk back to the car. Sweatshirts and sweatpants are perfect.
  • No jewelry that can come off. Wedding bands are fine. Necklaces with light clasps tend to slip in salt water.
  • It’s the Pacific Ocean. The water is cold even in summer. You’ll be fine, but bring a hoodie for after.
  • Eat something beforehand but not within an hour. Cold water + empty stomach + nerves is rough.

What if I want to be baptized somewhere else?

Totally valid. The Bible doesn’t require a specific location. We’ve baptized people in pools, hot tubs, rivers, and once in the back of a horse trough. The setting matters less than the act.

If you want a private baptism — maybe just you, your family, and a pastor — we can do that too. Same conversation, same readings, smaller ceremony. Reach out via /connect/baptism/.

What about kids?

We baptize kids who can personally articulate what they believe and why they’re choosing to follow Jesus. The age varies — some kids are ready at 7, others at 14. We don’t have a fixed minimum.

The way we screen: we ask the child a few questions (without parents in the room, to avoid prompting). “Why do you want to be baptized?” “What does following Jesus mean to you?” “What does Jesus’s death and resurrection have to do with you?” If the answers are genuinely the child’s own — and they usually are — we baptize. If the answers sound coached, we suggest waiting a year and revisiting.

This isn’t gatekeeping. It’s helping the moment be real for the child rather than performative for the parent.

What’s next

Baptism is one of the simplest, oldest, and most overlooked acts in the Christian life. It’s not magic. It’s not optional, in the long run. And it’s not as scary as you think.

We’d love to baptize you. Reach out when you’re ready.

A pastor and a person standing waist-deep in the Pacific Ocean at golden hour, the moment before baptism — silhouettes of guests watching from shore in soft backlight.
We do baptisms in the Pacific Ocean at Carlsbad State Beach three times a year. Sunset starts; full immersion; brief. Public. Real.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be baptized to be saved?
No. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8–9). The thief on the cross was never baptized, and Jesus told him 'today you will be with me in paradise.' But Jesus commanded baptism (Matthew 28:19), and every New Testament conversion includes it as the immediate next step. So while baptism doesn't save you, refusing to be baptized when you can is a strange contradiction for a person who claims to follow Jesus.
What if I was baptized as a baby?
Christians disagree on infant baptism. We practice 'believer's baptism' — meaning we baptize people who personally professed faith, not infants. If you were sprinkled or baptized as a baby, you can absolutely choose to be baptized again as a public declaration of your own faith. We don't view that as 'second baptism'; we view it as the first one you actually chose. You're not 'rejecting' your parents' faith — you're owning your own.
Do I have to be 'good enough' to get baptized?
No. The thief on the cross is the entire counterargument. Baptism doesn't require a certain holiness threshold. It requires a real decision to follow Jesus. If you've made that decision — and you mean it — you're ready. Sanctification (becoming more like Jesus) happens after baptism, not before, and it takes a lifetime.
What if I'm afraid of being dunked under water?
Tell us. Genuine fear of water is real. We've worked with people who needed extra time, a shallower depth, a hand on their shoulder, or a private baptism instead of a public one. Baptism should be meaningful, not traumatic. We can adapt.
Can I get baptized somewhere else, like in my own pool?
Yes — baptism's validity isn't location-specific. The Bible has people baptized in rivers, the sea, a roadside pool, and presumably tubs. The key elements are: a believer in Jesus, full immersion (the New Testament word *baptizo* literally means to immerse), in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, performed by another believer. We prefer to do baptisms publicly because that's the New Testament pattern — but a private ocean baptism with your family present is still a valid baptism.

Further reading & references

About the author

Ryan Okafor — Lead Pastor, Carlsbad Coast Church. Ryan Okafor is the Lead Pastor of Carlsbad Coast Church. M.Div. from Talbot School of Theology. He lives in Carlsbad with his wife Maddie and their two kids.

  • M.Div., Talbot School of Theology
  • 12 years in pastoral ministry