CHILD DEDICATION

CHILD DEDICATION

The purpose of Child Dedication is for parents to present their child before God and the church, formally calling upon God’s blessing and wisdom in raising their child and publicly commit to raise them in accordance with Scripture.

CHILD DEDICATION INTEREST FORM

KEY BIBLICAL COMMITMENTS OF CHILD DEDICATION

CELEBRATE:

Acknowledging your child as a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 says “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Child Dedication is a time for us to celebrate and thank God for the gift of your children. 


COMMIT: 

To guide your child to Jesus.  It is a vow to guide them toward a personal relationship with Jesus, modeled by Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:22).


CULTIVATE: 

Cultivate a home that raises  your child to follow Jesus. Parents commit to training their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:4).


CHARACTER: 

Model Christ-like Behavior.  Parents pledge to live a godly life, setting an example for their child to follow.  It’s a time for you, as parents, to commit to model what following Jesus looks like and to raise your children to understand that they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and to believe that the Bible is absolute Truth.   


CONSECRATE: 

Recognizing children belong to God. Parents commit to submitting their desires for the child to God’s will, stewarding the gift that God has given them. 


COMMUNITY: 

Parents commit to bringing their child into a Christian Church community for support, fellowship, and accountability in raising their child.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Child Dedication is a part of the Sunday service. After completing the CHILD DEDICATION INTEREST FORM and having a dedication date, here's what to expect.

  1. During the service, parent(s) will be invited to come forward onto the stage with their child.
  2. The dedication leader will invite you to publicly commit to help your child grow in their faith and to raise them in a Christ-centered home. You will respond "WE DO."
  3. Our leadership prays a blessing over your child and family.

HOW DOES DEDICATION DIFFER FROM BAPTISM?

Baptism is a commitment of the individual.  Ascent Church believes baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Jesus alone for their salvation, once they have the maturity and ability to understand what that means.  This is done through immersion in water. 


Dedication is not salvation or a sacrament for salvation (like baptism); it is a parent's pledge to guide them until they can choose to follow Christ personally.



Child Dedication is a commitment of the parents.  Rather than baptizing infants or children, we encourage a dedication ceremony, where parents formally call upon God’s blessing for their child and publicly commit to raise him or her in accordance with Scripture.