"Or 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." - Romans 6:3-4

Baptism as a Visible Identification with Christ

At GHC we believe that God has given baptism to the church as a way to visibly express one's identification with Christ. In His final words to his disciples, Jesus commanded them, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,..." (Matthew 28:19).

Baptism by Immersion

Along with the practice of the Southern Baptist Association, GHC peforms baptism by immersion. While the form takes second place to the act, we believe that the Bible teaches immersion. The original word for baptism, baptizo, literally translates "immersion." It comes from the first century practice of dying clothes, where the clothes were said to be baptized or completely immersed into a dye such that it took on a new color or identity upon coming out of the dye. We believe that baptism symbolizes the Christian's identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection, as expressed above in Romans 6:3-4.

Communion (Lord's Supper)

"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. " - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Communion is a Memorial of the Death of Christ

At GHC we celebrate Communion two to three times a year (usually Easter Friday and New Year's Eve). While there are many ways to remember and celebrate the Lord's death, Communion is the biblically prescribed way for us to do this. In the early church, they likely practiced this very frequently, perhaps even daily (Acts 2:46). The Passover was a seven-day holiday celebrated by the Jews in remembrance of God's deliverance from the last plague, death on the firstborn, before they were delivered from Egyptian bondage. This practice was associated with the Old Covenant Mosaic Law. Jesus transformed the Passover into the New Covenant Communion, so that now the memorial would be what Christ accomplished on the cross for sinners. The Bread represents his broken body and the Wine his blood poured out for us. Whereas Israel was delivered from physical bondage to Egypt, Jesus delivers from spiritual bondage to sin.

Communion is for Believers Only

Although the elements (bread and wine) are only representative and not actually the body of Christ, we do hold the occasion with reverence. Communion was given as a memorial for believers; therefore, anyone who has not yet trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord should not participate. There are certain warnings about taking Communion in an unworthy manner. Some have become sick and others have died. Therefore, we only encourage believers with reverence to partake of the elements (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). GHC substitutes grape juice for the wine whenever we celebrate Communion together as a church.