FAMILY DEDICATION
We are so excited that you’re interested in Family Dedication! Here are a few things you should know:
WHAT IS FAMILY DEDICATION?
Family Dedication is two things: 1) It’s a public commitment you are making to love and guide your child toward a relationship with Jesus. 2) It’s an opportunity for the church to pray, listen, and support you where we can.
WHY DO WE DO FAMILY DEDICATION?
Because this family stuff can be messy, and parenting is really hard! Family Dedication isn’t about saying, “Here is the key to perfect parenting.” It’s about acknowledging, “There is no perfect way to parent, but we’re all in this together, and we need one another.” Family Dedication reminds us that of all the people God could’ve chosen to parent your child, He chose you! So as a church family, we want to pray for and support one another.
WHO SHOULD SIGN UP FOR FAMILY DEDICATION?
If you love Jesus, and you’ve trusted him as your Lord and Savior, and you are committed to raising your child in a way that lovingly points them toward a relationship with Jesus Christ, Family Dedication is for you. You don’t have to be the perfect parent (because you’re not!) and your family doesn’t have to be perfect (because it’s not!). Family Dedication is just about standing with your church family and saying, “Support me and pray with me, that I would have the strength to be the parent my child needs.”
WHY FAMILY DEDICATION INSTEAD OF BAPTISM?
We practice a believer’s baptism, meaning we baptize those who have personally chosen to follow Jesus. We find a great example for Family Dedication in 1 Samuel 1:27-28. A godly woman named Hannah prayed year after year for God to give her a child. He answered her prayer, and she gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel. When Samuel was born, Hannah prayed these words: “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord,” Similarly, we commit our kids and families to the Lord’s ways.
WHAT IS FAMILY DEDICATION LIKE?
On the Sunday of Family Dedication, our families will come on the stage during a worship service – don’t worry, it’s not scary – and we pray over you. And it’s awesome! And you don’t have to talk or anything, we just get to pray for you.
If you have any questions about Family Dedication or whether it’s right for you, please contact our Children’s Director, Katie Garrett – katie@fusiondurant.com.
