Parents who would like to dedicate their children to the Lord should make advance arrangements with the pastor. Baby dedications are incorporated into the 10:30am Sunday service. This is not a baptism service.

Yet, baby dedication is more than simply dedicating a child to the Lord… it is also a dedication of the parents and the whole church family to the task of raising a child to know Jesus Christ as Savior. Here at New Life Assembly of God, we don’t merely conduct a religious ritual, but it’s a real dedication of child, parents and church to the Lord. For this reason, it is important that:

• as parents, you love God and attend church regularly.
• as parents, you are prepared to train your child to love and serve the Lord.

The Dedication Ceremony

The following is a sample of the child dedication ceremony that our pastor usually uses.

To the Parents

When parents wish to dedicate their children to the Lord, they are encouraged to make it known to us. It is the desire of this father and mother, to bring their child, to dedicate to the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

Do you earnestly desire that your children shall grow up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord?…. Do you commit yourself to dependence on the Lord to fulfill your parental duties?…. Do you promise to pray for your children every day?…. Do you recognize that it is primarily your responsibility to teach them the scriptures and to train them in the ways of the Lord?…. Do you promise to so conduct your own life that your children may learn of Jesus and Christ like character by your example?….  Do you promise to bring your child to the house of the Lord on a regular basis?….  As a child’s greatest need is to know Jesus, do you promise to speak of Him, to speak of personal faith in Him, and when child reaches an age of spiritual understanding, to introduce him to your Lord and Savior?
If this is your intention, please answer: “We do.”

To the Godparents

In the course of living, families experience crises situations as well as may joyous occasions. And children go through various stages of growth, maturity and development. At such times, parents and children may need the extra under girding of godparents to strengthen them. These parents have asked that you be available to share the joy of seeing their children grow up and to be there for strength in times of concern.

Do you promise to maintain close ties with the family and to lend a compassionate and listening heart to the parents and be present for the turning points and mile stones in the lives of these children? Do you promise to pray for this family, and without interfering, encourage this child to excel socially, academically and spiritually?
If this is your intention, answer: “I do.”

(Godparents are optional.  These are relatives or close friends that you anticipate will have great influence in the life of your child.)

To the Church

An African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” As the church family of these parents, you have heard the promises that they have made. But you may also be aware how difficult it will be to keep these promises. They will not be able to achieve all their hopes and dreams for their child alone. They will need our help. Raising children must be a community effort. If our children are to grow up to be everything God has planned, we will need to be kind of an extended family.

Do you church, promise to pray for these parents and their children? Do you further promise to extend practical, emotional and spiritual support to these parents and in the years to come, also to their child?
If you will make this promise, please answer: “We do.”

As we dedicate this child to our Lord today, it is also necessary, as well as our desire to dedicate ourselves to our Lord Jesus. Having heard these promises, I do solemnly and joyfully commend these children into the care and protection of our Heavenly Father.