U
Usige
Guest
Actually it’s not just small non-denominational churches don’t provide certificates. I was baptized at 15 in a Presbyterian church and didn’t get a certificate. I had to get a letter from the pastor of the church stating that he remembered baptizing me and it was recorded in the church register.
The main benefit for the larger mainline protestant denominations is that how they baptize is generally well known. That means if a Methodist walks in one can safely assume the baptism is valid. That is not always as clear cut with someone that walks in and was baptised at say Eternal Life in the Shimmering Woods church. Non-demoninational churchs are harder to pin down because they tend not to have a systematic doctrine that is well defined or well known.
The main benefit for the larger mainline protestant denominations is that how they baptize is generally well known. That means if a Methodist walks in one can safely assume the baptism is valid. That is not always as clear cut with someone that walks in and was baptised at say Eternal Life in the Shimmering Woods church. Non-demoninational churchs are harder to pin down because they tend not to have a systematic doctrine that is well defined or well known.
… Hmm I believe I did receive a certificate, I don’t remember what it said however 
It was our small non-denominational church is what they called it, of about 10 members. They prayed over my sons and put anointed oil on their foreheads, not with water, so yes as some have said I do not believe it was baptism. I am going to set an appointment with my local priest to start the process for all of them and to start catechism classes, my husband is ok with all this, I am actually in the process of trying to convert him as well to catholicism. He was baptized catholic but his parents never went to church, his first time going where he was able to pay attention was actually this past Sunday