Why Dedication Instead of Baptism?
We believe that baptism is a personal and powerful declaration of faith—one that an individual makes when they are ready to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Since young children are not yet able to make that decision
for themselves, baby/child dedication offers families a special opportunity to pledge that they will raise their children in an environment grounded in Christ’s love and values until they can make their own choice. Psalm
127:3 (NIV) reminds us, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him”
offspring a reward from him. underscoring
the precious gift that each child represents.
What Is Baby/Child Dedication?
At New Haven Ministries, a baby or child dedication is a meaningful ceremony where parents publicly commit to nurturing their child in the ways of the Lord. This sacred moment is a declaration of your promise to raise your
child with a love for God’s truth, much like Hannah dedicated Samuel (1 Samuel 1:27-28) and Mary and Joseph presented baby Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:22-24). In both examples, parents entrusted their most precious gift
to God, affirming their commitment to a Christ-centered life. As Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) encourages us, “Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Who Is Invited to stand up front?
To preserve the personal significance of this commitment, we invite only the parent(s) of the child to join the Pastor during the dedication ceremony. This focused moment highlights the unique responsibility and blessing of raising a child in a loving, faith-filled home. Additionally, following the ceremony, you will receive a certificate of dedication as a lasting reminder of your promise.
This dedication ceremony is a heartfelt celebration of your family’s journey in faith—a promise to guide your child with God’s love until they are ready to embrace baptism on their own. As Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 (NIV), “Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” so we commit to nurturing your child in His everlasting love, with a firm foundation in His Word Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV). 6. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.