FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?

WHY SHOULD I DEDICATE MY CHILD? The Bible provides an example for us in that Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to God. As followers of Christ, we also should want to make the public declaration to our family, and our church. It is invaluable to be able to tell your children as they are growing up that they belong to Jesus and that you have asked God to use them in a formal declaration.

WHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES IT SAY TO DEDICATE YOUR CHILD? Scripture does not mention anything about the dedication of children; however, Hannah dedicated her son Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:27, 28). Jesus was dedicated to the Lord as a baby (Luke 2:22) and baptized as an adult (Matthew 3:13-17). In Mark 10:11-13 we read “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’. And He took the children in His arms, put His hand on them and blessed them.” It is primarily from this passage of Scripture that we model our service of “blessing” your child to the Lord privately.

HOW OLD SHOULD THE CHILD BE? While there is no set age for a child to be presented to the Lord, children are generally presented within the first year or two of their life.

CAN I, AS A GRANDPARENT, DEDICATE MY GRANDCHILD? Yes, only if you have full custody (legal guardian/s) and the child lives with you. The person making a public vow should be the child’s caretaker and legal guardian who is responsible for the upbringing of the child.

WHAT ABOUT GODPARENTS? There is nothing mentioned in the Bible about Godparents. Parents (legal guardian/s) themselves have the primary biblical responsibility to raise up their children in the things of the Lord. During the dedication, grandparents and the church are asked to stand and take a vow as well.

WHAT IF I AM A BELIEVER BUT MY SPOUSE IS NOT? If only one parent is a believer, the dedication of the child can be done if the unbelieving parent has given permission.

WHAT IF I AM NOT MARRIED BUT I LIVE WITH THE CHILD’S FATHER/MOTHER? Dedication does nothing for the child; it is actually a declaration (vow) where the parents (legal guardian/s) dedicate themselves to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is very difficult to make such a declaration when living in opposition to the Word of God. We are very supportive of parents and do encourage them to make their union biblical and legal and then proceed with the Baby Dedication.

WHEN IS THE NEXT CHILD DEDICATION CEREMONY? We hold the Child Dedication ceremony on our Life Day, which takes place in the Spring and Fall. You can check the church calendar or contact the church office for the next date.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE ACTUAL CEREMONY? During the ceremony, the Pastor will ask the parents to bring their child(ren) to the altar/platform. The Pastor will share scriptures and thoughts on how you will raise your child in the Christian faith, that you will be his or her example, and that you will train your child in Christian disciplines: Prayer, Bible reading, church attendance, etc. This is a very sacred, holy, and reverential moment. The Pastor will read the vow for the parents/legal guardians, and you will answer with “I will”. The Pastor will ask grandparents to stand, the Pastor will read their vow, and they will answer “I will”. Then the Pastor will ask the church to stand, read their vow, and they will answer, “I will”. The Pastor will conclude in prayer. You will then receive your child’s Dedication Certificate, and you may be seated following.

SHOULD THE CHILD BE DRESSED IN A SPECIAL WAY? No. You can dress the child in whatever clothes you wish.

CAN WE TAKE PICTURES DURING THE CEREMONY? Picture taking is permissible if done orderly and without interference. The vows being made at this time are sacred and serious before the Lord. Please make sure that your guests are aware that they should use great discretion when taking pictures during the ceremony. Please do not walk on the platform during the baby dedication.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AFTER I DEDICATE MY CHILD? Dedication is a pledge to cultivate a spiritual atmosphere in the home. One must never underestimate the incredible influence a parent (legal guardian/s) has on the faith of their children. Infant dedication expresses the intention and faith of the parents to do everything they can to lead their child to salvation. It is a public pledge to circle the child with a Godly environment that will nurture the child’s faith in God. Scripture tells us that we are to train a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6). This includes meeting together regularly as Christians to spur one another onto love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:23-24). Dedication of children to God is a promise to model a Christian lifestyle to the children while worshipping with a church family regularly. In actuality, a Christian/Biblical Dedication of a child is a dedication of the parents (legal guardian/s) to be godly role models. 2 Timothy 1:5 states, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

WHY DO I NEED TO MEET THESE GUIDELINES? It is sad to see parents (legal guardian/s) who go through the ritual of a baby dedication who have not even dedicated themselves to the Lord, much less their children. This makes a mockery of the whole event, and it loses its significance. Therefore, we would expect that those parents (legal guardian/s) who want to publicly dedicate their child to the Lord meet the guidelines stated above and below.

I CURRENTLY DO NOT MEET THESE GUIDELINES. HOW DO I GET MORE UNDERSTANDING? One of our Pastors or Elders would love to have the opportunity to help assist you in God’s Word and God’s love, so you can position yourself and family for God’s best. We love you! If you have any questions regarding the Baby Blessing or Dedication ceremony or desire to make an appointment for counseling regarding this, please contact the church office.

I MEET THE GUIDELINES. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO DEDICATE MY CHILD? Please email the church office 2 weeks before Life Day (held in the Spring and Fall) with your child’s full name, date of birth, both parents’ names, and which service you plan to participate. Someone from our pastoral staff will email or call to confirm your registration.

If you still have questions, please feel free to connect with one of the pastors to schedule a meeting.  Thank you and God bless.