After having a conversation with a faith filled couple about the Baptism of their child, I began to do a little research on the experiences of couples who attend a class as part of the preparation. I was extremely interested in understanding the perspective of this new generation of parents as I prepared to instruct these classes within my parish. Roughly eight out of ten couples, who I could see were walking with the Lord, had an extremely unsatisfying experience. Many commented that “it was a waste of time”.

As an Evangelist, I see Baptism as an amazing opportunity to evangelize to these young parents who may not know the Lord. What has become absolutely evident is that parents who are walking with the Lord often experience what I mentioned above because the purpose of baptism was not addressed, rather the focus was on rules and regulations. Those parents who have no real idea what Baptism is or does, nor have their own relationship with Christ, have no idea what they are missing. Therefore, the basic content often provided in these classes may appear sufficient to them and those who present.

In my opinion, the Sacrament of Baptism (really each Sacrament) is a great opportunity to lead our people into an encounter with Christ (Evangelizing). But to do this, we must become intentional about evangelizing people in our pews. Below I am going to highlight several key elements that need to be adapted to bring about genuine conversion among our parents and their kids.

Key Elements for a Conversion Centered Sacrament

1. Transform your own attitude about Evangelization so that you can become intentional in leading souls to encounter God.
2. Stop Living the Great Assumption – The Great Assumption is assuming that your parents own reception of the entrance sacraments have led them to encounter the Lord. These days that assumption is extremely uncommon.
3. Examine your process for a child to get baptized – Clergy (and Lay Ministers teaching Baptism classes) often times have inherited a process that is old and antiquated. Does the process include any conversation about encountering Christ or leading them into an intimate relationship with Him? Most programs focus only on the bare minimum: rules and regulations.
4. Get trained in the Evangelization Process – It is at this point where clergy and lay ministers hit a wall because they have not had any real training in the 1-on-1 evangelization process. This is a problem when it comes time to interview the couple for baptism. Without training in evangelization, it is difficult to pinpoint what the couple needs besides the sacrament. This is where I give a shameless plug for NEM. Over the past fifteen years, we have been developing an amazing training for this process that not only equips you but also empowers you to push through the fear that most often prevents you from presenting the gospel to someone.
5. Interview the parents- As part of your Baptism Process, create an interview with the parents that can inform you on whether they are walking with the Lord or not. We should be asking questions like:
   1. Why are you seeking Baptism?
   1. What do you believe Baptism will accomplish for your child?
   1. Tell me about your own encounter with Jesus?
6. Create a vision within your parents – It is at this point that a Baptism catechist can create the vision for what Jesus wants with that child and how He desires to be in an intimate relationship with the baby. But parents can only give what they have. If they don’t have a real relationship with Jesus, that they experience in their hearts, then they can’t give that to their child.
7. Let the Spirit lead you to bring them to Him – We can provide needed information, but the real encounter is all the work of the Holy Spirit. We must allow him to lead us in the dialogue that can bring parents to a repentance, their own baptismal death and decision to give their lives to Christ.

What baptism really accomplishes is to unite the soul with the Holy Spirit. This means that the child is snatched away from Satan, whom they belonged to BEFORE Baptism. For a soul to enter into this amazing relationship with God they must be properly disposed (CCC 1131) to receive the gift of God (Holy Spirit) This proper disposition is:

1. The listener receives a clear description of the five points of the Gospel.
2. Their hearts led to repent of their sins and idolatry.
3. They are led to recognize that a decision to die in their own baptismal death needs to be made by way of giving hearts and control of their lives over to God.

What you may not recognize is the terminology of death associated with Baptism. This is what we believe – If we unite ourselves in Christ’s death, we will rise with Him in the Resurrection. In John 11:25, Jesus informs Martha that He is the Resurrection and those who believe in Him will not die. In this context, the word “believe” is more than understanding the story and particular points. It is where the real faith in God lies.

St. Paul put it this way in Gal. 2:19b-20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” NRSV

To live the truth of our Baptism is not to join a country club called the Catholic Church. It is to die with Jesus in his death by living FOR Jesus in our life! This is not clearly visible in a majority of baptized believers. Why? Since we baptize infants who can’t be properly disposed at their age, the Parents must take up this mantle of instruction to lead their children to live a repentant life to God and to live their lives for God.

This last point, by the way, can only be accomplished through BEING A LIVING MODEL.

Thus, we come back full circle to our initial conversation with our parents who, for various reasons, are seeking Baptism for their child. We do a grave disservice to them if we just take them through the rules and regulations without equipping them with what they need to lead their child to God.

“Well Deacon Ralph, this sounds like a whole lot of added work.”

Now we see what it really takes to evangelize and why the Church has been tempted to give the bare minimum. It is easy to take people through a bunch of hoops with no real goal to accomplish. But if we are going to become intentional about leading people to experience the person who of God, then we must do what is required to accomplish it.

Let us rise, Brothers and Sisters, and regain the focus of the mission Christ gave us!