What is Child Dedication?
At Crosswinds, 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 dedication is an important step in committing to lead your child into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Samuel 1:26-28 is a great example of Child Dedication. God answered Hannah’s prayer by giving her a son and she remembered her vow: “As surely as you live, my Lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I rayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his while life, he will be given over to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.”
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.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
What Child Dedication is NOT:
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.
How do we celebrate Child Dedication?
In Fellowship
Because we believe in encouragement, accountability, and support for families, Crosswinds offers a Child Dedication Workshop. This intentional experience allows parents to unify around a commitment to pray for, support, and encourage in raising Godly children. We offer these Workshops semi quarterly. Our next workshop is on February 9th. You can get more information and register online by clicking here or visiting our events page.
In Community
In partnership with the workshop, Crosswinds is excited to dedicate each child before our whole community during our Sunday morning services. Quarterly, we will offer Child Dedication where families can pick one service to publicly dedicate their Child. Each family will have the chance to share a photo of their child as well as an opportunity to be prayed over. A charge will be given to both the families and the congregation as we partner together in committing to the spiritual development of your child. We encourage you to invite your friends and family to be a part of this service, and we will reserve seating for you all accordingly. In addition to the dedication, we will offer a professional picture be taken of your family in between services along with light refreshments and some gifts.
Are you ready to sign up for Child Dedication?
Click the button below and get registered. We will be in contact with you after that.