Child Dedication

An opportunity for new parents to focus today on what will affect their child's future the most.

CONGRATULATIONS on the gift of parenthood! 

YOU will have the greatest influence in your child's life. We want to come alongside you, encourage you and support you as we partner with you in raising your child to know, love and follow Christ. We are your biggest fans!

Child Dedication is more than a special event but instead an incredible opportunity to put first what really matters most in the life of your child because what you do today can have the greatest impact on your child tomorrow.

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What is a child dedication?

The child dedication ceremony is much more about you, the parent, than it is about your child. You will stand before family and friends an publicly promise to God to do everything in your power to raise up a godly, faith-walking child.

The Biblical model for child dedication: 1 Samuel 1:24-28

Hannah prayed for a child. The Lord blessed her with a son that she named Samuel. Recognizing that her child was a precious gift from God she dedicated him to the Lord.

As your child's parent, God calls you to be his/her spiritual leader. 

These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

The child dedication should not be confused with salvation.

Dedicating your child to the Lord does not secure his/her eternal destiny. The Bible tells us that salvation is by faith alone and not by works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift f God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Each of us must make our own personal decision of faith. As your child grows he/she must make their own decision to trust Jesus Christ as their savior. You cannot do it for them. what you can do is be a godly role model for them by living a life of faith and parenting them in a Christ-centered atmosphere that will lead them towards Jesus Christ.

Is a child capable of making a faith decision?

Absolutely! Jesus made it clear that His message of hope is not only for adults but also for children and that they have the capacity to trust Him.

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." Mark 10:13-15     

Every child grows and develops at a different pace. There is no set age at which a child is ready for salvation. We do know that of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, most of them did so by the age of 14. No matter what the age, salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit and a matter for which you can begin praying today. 

Why don't we use water baptism in our dedication ceremony?

We believe that baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith decision. We baptize by full immersion (not sprinkling) because we believe it to be a picture of us being buried with Christ in His death and then raised with Christ in His resurrection to lead a new life. While baptism is not a requirement of salvation, it is a powerful expression of our union with Christ and it should be our first act of obedience after coming to Christ. When your child makes his/her own personal decision to trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then he/she should be baptized. For more information of children baptism, click here.

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Upcoming Child Dedication Classes & Celebrations

• April 11th, 2010/Seneca Valley High School, Time and Room location TBD
• April 18th, 2010/Seneca Valley High School,  Time and Room location TBD
• Child Dedication Celebration/April 25th, 2010/ Seneca Valley High School, 9:15 & 11:00 Services

 For more information, please contact the PowerHouse staff at 301.355.6550 extensions 206 or 215.