At Crossroads Bible Church, we wholeheartedly believe that children are a gift from God and as parents, the stewardship of that gift carries great joy and responsibility. God’s central role in the lives of parents and children is essential to growing and establishing a healthy and wholistic home. “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
We believe that parents’ actions in raising their child are of great importance to God. There is a responsibility as followers of Christ to raise children in a way that will please the Lord. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
Scripture offers an example of dedicating children to the Lord in 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28, where Hannah vowed to dedicate her child to the Lord if He would grant her one. The Lord honored her request and she kept her vow, dedicating Samuel to the Lord. “…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
As a Christian parent, by dedicating a child to the Lord, you are acknowledging your need for God in your family; inviting God to be active in your family life; submitting your own desires for your child to God’s desires for him/her; making a commitment to raise your child in God’s way.
We believe that your child is not only yours, but truly a gift from God. We are earthly stewards of the life God has placed in our home. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).
Some of the responsibilities the Lord has entrusted to parents include continuously praying for their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9); instructing them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6); setting a godly example (Deuteronomy 11:19); and disciplining them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 29:15, 17; 13:24). As parents, you are only able to do these things through Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13).
This is not the day of salvation for your child. Salvation is the free gift of God, received when someone grasps their need for Christ and makes the conscious decision to enter into a relationship with God. Not only is it not salvation, it isn’t baptism either. Baptism is the public profession of faith as described above. Once a child is old enough to make a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior, then they can make the choice to be baptized.
In Community
Because we believe that encouragement, accountability, and support for families happen best in the context of true community and lasting relationship, Crossroads seeks to foster child dedications within the relational circles of each family in our fellowship. This intentional experience of dedication offers both the parent(s) and their community the opportunity to unify around a commitment to pray for, support, and encourage the family in the journey of raising Godly children. There is freedom to design this experience in unique ways that offer the best means for the parent(s) and child to truly be known, loved, and cared for now and into the future. Rather than a collective and impersonal experience on a Sunday morning, child dedications are encouraged to happen in a smaller and more intentional context.
What this can look like:
- A house church gathered around new parents in their community.
- Extended family assembled for an intentional moment of dedication for a new child.
- Mentor couples surrounding a young family with continued commitment and love
Such an event is intended to give the greatest degree of participation, responsibility, and support for both the parent(s) and those who have committed to walk alongside them as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
In the Gathering
In partnership with these unique and tailored dedications, Crossroads Bible Church is excited to acknowledge each dedicated child before our whole community on two occasions every year. Every Fall and the Spring, we invite and encourage those families who celebrated a dedication within the past six months to join us on a scheduled Sunday so that we might celebrate together. Each family would have the chance to share a photo of their child’s dedication as well as an opportunity to stand and be recognized and prayed for in the gathering space.
We rejoice in the gift of children and celebrate child dedication as a powerful act of commitment that parents and the Church can make as stewards in a child’s life. If you would like a pastor to be present when you are dedicating your child or to submit a photo of your child please fill one of the forms below.
Request a pastor Submit a photo
