WHY CHILD DEDICATION?
As a parent, you are the most important influence in your child’s life, but you’re not the only influence they need. That’s where your church family comes in. Child Dedication is a special opportunity to invite others to walk alongside you and your child as they grow in faith. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to carry the weight of parenting alone. You get to partner with people who will love, support, and guide your child well.
When you dedicate your child, you’re deciding that you’ll raise your children knowing who Jesus is. Scripture describes this in Deuteronomy 6:4–7 (NLT):
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
- We love God with everything in us, and we model that for our children, because our example speaks louder than words. Leading kids to follow Jesus isn’t a one-time checkbox; it’s an ongoing, intentional way of life that shapes who they are now and who they’re becoming.
If you would like a reminder when the first Child Dedication in 2026 is scheduled, click the REMINDER link above.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Child Dedication is a meaningful step for your family, but it’s important to understand that it is not the same as salvation. Salvation happens when your child personally decides to begin a relationship with God, and baptism is when they choose to go public with their faith.
Child Dedication is less about your child’s decision in this moment and more about preparing them for those decisions in the future. By dedicating your child, you are committing to raise them in an environment where they consistently hear about Jesus and have the opportunity to believe in Him.
It’s a beautiful practice—but it’s also optional.
Child Dedication is a meaningful next step for your whole family. When you dedicate your child, you’re choosing to make parenting decisions that honor God—like building trusted relationships through a small group, modeling what it means to serve, and showing your children what a generous life looks like.
And while it might sound like you’re adding more to your plate, Child Dedication actually lightens the load—because you’re committing to walk this journey in partnership with your church family.
That’s your decision. You can dedicate your child whether they’re three days old or 13 years old—the age isn’t as important as the principle behind it.
Child Dedication is an important step in your family’s faith journey because it helps set a foundation for a life known for following Christ. Consider choosing a family verse, defining family values, or surrounding your family with friends who will help you grow in these values and become the people God has called you to be.
Parenting doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By partnering together, trusting in multiple voices and collective influence, we can guide our children to be trained in the ways they should go.