Child Dedication

Next Dedication: April 22, 2012

Click HERE to register for Child Dedication
Click HERE to send a photo of your child to be displayed during dedication

Mountainview Christian Church Child Dedication

At Mountainview Christian Church we set aside two weekends each year for Child Dedication.

FAQ:

What is Child Dedication?

Child Dedication is a time set apart for parents to:

Thank and praise God for the precious gift they’ve been entrusted with.
Commit to maintain a Christian home, where Christ is honored.
Pledge that in life, with love and prayer, they will lead their child toward a personal belief, acceptance and confession in Jesus as Lord and Savior of their own free will.

What age should my child be?

We don’t set an age limit, although, Child Dedication is geared for children birth through 36 months old.

Why is this different from baptism?

At MVCC we believe baptism is meant for a person who makes a personal decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and is old enough to confess Him publicly and understand God’s plan for salvation.

Infant Baptism (Catholic): The Catholic Church teaches that infant baptism cleanses a child from his or her original sin. Original sin is the religious term to describe the reality that we are all born with an internal desire to disobey God. Catholics believe that at the time of baptism a child is washed from their sin and attached to the Catholic Church.

Infant Baptism (Reformed, Presbyterian, Lutheran): Churches in the reformed tradition believe that infant baptism points to God’s amazing power to redeem anyone. The reformed tradition teaches that through baptism a child is placed under God’s covenant relationship with his people. A baptized baby is committed to God’s grace.

Child Dedication (Restoration): The Restoration tradition holds that only individuals who are able to consciously choose to follow God should be baptized. Instead, we dedicate our children to God. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah wrestled with barrenness and promised to give the child to God if He gave her a child. In our dedication service, parents acknowledge that their child belongs to God; they are promising to raise their child to know, love and serve Jesus.

What are my responsibilities as a parent?

Prayer (Job 1:5)
Setting an example (Proverbs 20:7)
Discipline (Proverbs 29:15, 17)
Leading in the child’s spiritual development (Deuteronomy 6:5-6)
Asking God to be a part of the process (Philippians 4:13)

What are Mountainview’s responsibilities?

To provide pastoral support as needed.
To help guide and equip families with parenting skills.
To provide Biblical training for family members of all ages and make it easier to have spiritual conversations at home.
To love and support families through life's journeys.

I’m a single parent; can I still dedicate my child?

Yes! We believe every family needs God’s help in raising children. We also believe MVCC can be a great help to single parent families as they raise their children. If you are a single parent we’d love to support and encourage you. For more information about our Single Parent Ministries, click here to email Pastor Craig Ziese.

Do I have to be a member at MVCC to dedicate my child?

We believe “it takes a village to raise a child” and think it is important for all parents to be the spiritual leaders of their children. With this said, it is crucial for parents to be involved by growing, serving, worshiping and building strong relationships with other believers. While membership is not required at MVCC, we encourage families to participate in Mountainview Connect in order to be aware of growth and service opportunities available to them. Click here for more information about Mountainview Connect.

Can I dedicate my child on a date other than the scheduled one?

If possible, we make every effort to accommodate special dedication requests outside of our scheduled dates.

Please contact Tom Santillanes at 503-492-1200 or click here to email him with your request.