The Meaning of Child Dedication

Child dedication is a commitment to cooperate with God's purposes.


Being a lifelong friend is a lifelong adventure, and God sovereignly lays a solid foundation for the relationship He longs to have with your child. He does this even before your child is born (Ephesians 1:4-6). King David was in awe of the loving hand of the Father seen in the development of every person:


"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth." (Psalm 139:13-16)


God's ultimate goal is to continue to develop and shape your child into the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29).


In the Child Dedication Service, parents and the church community - together - make a personal and public commitment to cooperate with God's loving purposes to raise the child according to God's biblical design.


As a parent, be a role model for what you want to develop in your child. Prayerfully saturate your child in God's Word and Spirit. Model a commitment to serving the church community. Live a life dedicated to following Jesus in the power of the Spirit. As your child grows and develops in this environment, he or she will be better prepared to hear the gospel and follow Jesus as an adult.


We can never guarantee an easy life for our children, but we can always offer them the hope, healing, and transforming love found in Jesus.


The Story of Child Dedication

We dedicate children following the example of parents in the Bible who publicly dedicated their children to God because He has entrusted them to their care.


Hannah dedicated Samuel with these words: "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." (1 Samuel 1:27-28)


Mary and Joseph dedicated baby Jesus: "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." (Luke 2:40) May this blessing be true of your child, too!


Jesus especially loved children and taught that we were to depend on God the way a child depends on their parents. Scripture shows Jesus called children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Luke 18:15-16)

The Process of Child Dedication

In the worship services the families who are dedicating their children are invited to come to the front of the church and each parent and child is introduced. Then the parents and those representing the church community (pastors, prayer ministry team, and other family members) pray for the child and the parents.


The spiritual significance of this prayer of dedication includes:

  • Together, the parents and the church community recognize that God gives us the gift of children to parents. (Psalm 127:3)
  • The parents dedicate themselves to raise their child in a Christian environment and train and educate them to follow, love, and serve God. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Ephesians 6:4)
  • The church community dedicates itself to help the family train and instruct the child and to lay a foundation of learning about God.
  • The Holy Spirit blesses both the child and the parents and answers the prayers of the church community to influence the child now - and for the rest of the child's life!

Experience Child Dedication

Child dedication is an important day in the life of families. If you would like to make this commitment at our next Child Dedication service, click the link below and we'll get you connected with more information.

Our Next Child Dedication will be early 2024


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