Child Dedication Interest
Dedicating your child is an important milestone! By choosing to have your child dedicated, you are making a public declaration that your child belongs to God and that you are committed to teaching biblical values to your family. You are also inviting your church family to be a part of your child’s faith journey and spiritual development. Child dedication makes no claim of salvation for the child. Instead, it represents the parent(s) commitment to provide a Christ-centered foundation.
What is child dedication?
Child dedication is an important milestone and an outward expression of your desire to follow God by raising your child to love Jesus. It is a public declaration that your child belongs to God, and you are committed to teaching biblical values within your family. It also invites your church family to be a part of your child’s faith journey and spiritual development.
What happens during the child dedication ceremony?
On the day of dedication, you and your child will be invited up on stage where your intentions will be presented to those in attendance. It’s an informal ceremony where you will receive a personalized certificate and a small gift for your child.
What is the purpose of child dedication?
During a Child Dedication Service, parents are asking for God’s help, strength, guidance, and provision in raising their children in a faith-based home. The hope is that one day the child will make the personal decision to dedicate their life to Jesus through baptism.
When are child dedication services held?
These services are typically offered on a Saturday morning in May each year. Registration links will be made available when the date is announced.
Baptism Interest
One of the biggest conversations to have with your child revolves around baptism and following Jesus. Let’s face it, it can feel a little intimidating to talk to kids about faith. The Journey Kids team would love to partner with you as you talk through these important topics with your child. We have a baptism workbook called Taking The Plunge designed for parents and elementary age children to work through together. At the end, you will be able to gauge whether your child is ready to take this important next step.
You can find a copy of Taking the Plunge on the Parent Resource Wall in the downstair’s lobby of the church. After completing this book, if you believe your child has a good understanding about the commitment they are making by pursuing baptism, please notify a Journey Kids staff member. We can help you set up a time for your child to be baptized. Baptisms can take place during one of the Sunday morning worship services or afterwards. Parents, if you have been baptized by immersion, we’d love for you to be the one to baptize your child! A staff member is also available to help with this if preferred.
What’s the difference between Child Dedication and Baptism?
As kids grow in their faith and knowledge, we pray that they will make the decision to be baptized. Through baptism, we identify with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and publicly declare our intention to follow Him. Jesus’ followers in the New Testament and throughout all generations have participated in this beautiful celebration of the life-changing relationship we can have with Jesus.
