A child dedication is a sacred moment where parents recognize that their child is a precious gift from God and, in response, promise to steward that gift by raising them in a Christ-centered home.
It mirrors the beautiful example found in 1 Samuel 1:27–28, where Hannah prayed fervently for a child and, upon receiving him, declared, “I now give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”
There’s also a biblical tradition shown in Luke 2:22, when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord.
Typically during the dedication, the parents hand the child to one another member of the church in a symbolic gesture of giving them to God.
A child dedication is also an event that involves the whole church family. We believe that raising a child in faith is never meant to be done in isolation. The church gathers to stand alongside young families and surrounds them with prayer, support, and a community that models the gospel. Together, we will work to foster an environment where these little ones will know, love, and follow Jesus.
A note about baptism. We believe that being baptized in water is an important milestone in our walk with God, and that should happen when the person has an understanding of the good news of salvation, and has chosen to follow Him. For infants, we do child dedications.
