Baptism & Baptism Certificates

What should we do about baptism certificates?

If you have wisdom you'd like to share with other readers that is not sensitive, you're welcome to comment rather than emailing me alone

1. Be honest with GodIt is disappointing when people ask for a piece of paper proving their baptism, as they seek emigration to a foreign country.  We should pray "Lord, raise up people whose baptism makes them all the more determined to serve amongst their own people.  May they have as their heart's desire and prayer to God that their fellow-countrymen be saved.  May they be determined, like Paul, to run the race and testify, even if prison and hardship awaits them"
2. Be understandingIn my situation, I have had to dispel my naivety and understand why emigration is an attractive prospect.  Firstly, these two guys are already displaced people.  We think of them as 'nationals', but they are somewhat foreign to mainstream society already.  Our city is especially discriminatory to people from the country west of here.  And secondly, would I want to give up my British passport and confine my kids to marriage and work in this Middle-Eastern country? 
3. Be thankfulTo seek legal emigration to the West is better than lying and colluding with wicked people-smugglers.  Good can be done in the West, especially if these dearly loved brothers of ours go and challenge the pluralism of the West and make disciples wherever they go.
4. Be faith-full
   Remember God is in control.  He is building his church.  No plan of his can be thwarted (Job 42:2)
5. Encourage locals to baptise one another, within the life of the indigenous churchHowever, sometimes they won't and I don't think it makes sense to delay active participation in the fellowship of the church because there is no one willing to baptise others.  We can feel guilty that we have 'tainted' the life of the local church by being the expat who does the baptising.  But Paul didn't seem bothered who did the baptising.  He was more concerned about preaching than baptising, but neither did he refuse to baptise according to a hard and fast rule that 'it must be a Corinthian who does the baptising'
6. Resist black and white methodologiesSome might say 'you shouldn't have baptised them'.  But they might have gone to someone else's ministry - this was a real possibility in one case - and had a much less biblically-instructive baptism service
7. Continue to teach baptism as a 'church thing'In other words, highlight 1 Cor 12:13- "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body"  In our case, we don't have a fully formed church.  This is the nature of baptisms on the cutting edge of mission.  But we should keep praying against baptism being seen as an individual attainment.  It is clearly a statement about an individual having come into the kingdom, but it is more than that: it is a sign by which the body of Christ welcomes a new individual believer into the family.  May that brotherly love abound in us and make it a sweet thing to join our fellowship!
8. Take note of this line from IOM RSC (Resettlement Support Center)
   Those "who can establish persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion may be considered for admission to the United States as refugees."  This is why baptism certificates might be eagerly sought after
9. We may prefer to write a letter to specific officials than issue a baptism certificate that could be used in who knows what kind of scenario
   However, this does seem to disappoint believers who feel a letter doesn't provide as much weight.
   I considered adding this as smallprint on any baptism certificate I issue:
   
   Baptism is not sure proof that the baptised is a genuine Christian.  The evidence that someone is a Christian is their changed character and ongoing, sacrificial participation in the life of the church.  If anyone would like to enquire whether someone baptised in this fellowship is continuing to live as a committed Christian, they are welcome to contact us.