The Importance of Child Dedication

Have you ever wondered what the importance of a Child Dedication is? Psalm 127:3 says ^“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Children are truly a gift from God, so one reason for a child dedication is to recognize, honor and celebrate their lives. Children are worth getting excited about!

However, Child Dedication isn’t only for the child – it’s for the parents too! This is an opportunity for parents to step out in faith and publically acknowledge their intention to care for and raise their child in a Christian home according to Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Essentially, parents are stating they will train up their child, but in doing so, are also asking for the support of their church family.

This is another reason why we have Child Dedication, so that we, as a church family, can pledge our support and willingness to actively take a role in the caring, nurturing and training of the child. At VFC, we don’t just provide childcare for kids of all ages; we minister to kids so that their life may be transformed. Therefore, we make sure that our Child Dedication services are conducted with excellence because we recognize the importance of this moment for families. After all, we are Valley Family Church and our focus is on the family!

There are many ways to host a Child Dedication, but at VFC, we hold a special ceremony following our last Sunday morning service for families to invite their friends and extended family to. During Child Dedication, families are welcomed and Pastors Jeff and Beth share a word of encouragement about raising kids in Christian homes. Then each family is individually prayed over by Pastors Jeff and Beth and a photograph is taken for families to remember this special moment. Each family also receives a certificate that announces their child’s dedication to the Lord. Afterwards, Pastors offer closing remarks and pray for the children collectively. Directly following the ceremony, we hold a small reception with cookies and punch to celebrate what has taken place and to give families the opportunity to connect with one another!

There’s nothing like seeing a family attending church and growing in faith together! Therefore, we provide as many opportunities as possible for parents and kids alike to develop a healthy and vibrant relationship with the Lord and to get plugged in to our church family. While Child Dedication is only one of the many opportunities we have available, there’s something so special about this time for families to make a public declaration about their dedication to raise their children in a Christian home!

Shon