What is Child Dedication?
Infant to 5th Grade
At Local Christian Church, we firmly believe that children are a precious gift from God. As parents, we are responsible for caring for this gift with joy and diligence. It's crucial to keep God at the center of our lives as parents and our children's lives to build a healthy and strong home.
"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain”
(Psalm 127:1).
We believe it is the responsibility of parents who follow Christ to raise their children in a way that pleases the Lord.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
In 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28, scripture presents an example of a mother dedicating her child to the Lord. Hannah, the mother, vowed to dedicate her child to the Lord if He would grant her one. The Lord granted her request, and she kept her vow by dedicating Samuel to the Lord.
“…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
As a Christian parent, dedicating your child to the Lord is an act of acknowledging your family's dependency on God. It involves inviting God to play an active role in your family life, surrendering your own desires for your child to God's plans, and committing to raising your child according to God's teachings.
We believe that children are gifts from God, and we are entrusted with their care.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).
One of the responsibilities that the Lord has entrusted to parents is to pray for their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) continuously. Additionally, parents are instructed to teach their children the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6), set a godly example (Deuteronomy 11:19), and discipline them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 29:15, 17; 13:24).
It is important to remember that as parents, we can only fulfill these duties through Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13).
What Child Dedication is not:
This is not the day of salvation for your child.
Salvation is the free gift of God, received when someone grasps their need for Christ and makes the conscious decision to enter into a relationship with God. Once a child is old enough to decide to accept Christ as their personal Savior, they decide to be baptized as their first step toward faith in Him. Would you like to learn more about salvation and baptism? Please visit our website's baptism page for more teachings on baptism.
How do we celebrate Child Dedication?
In Community
At Local, we believe that families need encouragement, accountability, and support within a true community and lasting relationship. That's why we encourage child dedications to take place within our community. This intentional experience of dedication allows parents and the church to come together around a commitment to pray for, support, and encourage the family as they raise their children with Jesus.
On March 22, 2026
Local is excited to acknowledge each dedicated child before our whole community. Each family would have the chance to share a photo of their child’s dedication and an opportunity to stand and be recognized and prayed for during our Sunday Morning. Photos may sent to office@localchristian.church
We find great joy in blessing children and believe that child dedication is a significant commitment that parents and the church can undertake as stewards in a child's life. We are thrilled about families and excited for you to experience the transformative power of God in your family's life.
"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain”
(Psalm 127:1).
We believe it is the responsibility of parents who follow Christ to raise their children in a way that pleases the Lord.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
In 1 Samuel 1:11, 26-28, scripture presents an example of a mother dedicating her child to the Lord. Hannah, the mother, vowed to dedicate her child to the Lord if He would grant her one. The Lord granted her request, and she kept her vow by dedicating Samuel to the Lord.
“…then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11).
As a Christian parent, dedicating your child to the Lord is an act of acknowledging your family's dependency on God. It involves inviting God to play an active role in your family life, surrendering your own desires for your child to God's plans, and committing to raising your child according to God's teachings.
We believe that children are gifts from God, and we are entrusted with their care.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).
One of the responsibilities that the Lord has entrusted to parents is to pray for their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) continuously. Additionally, parents are instructed to teach their children the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6), set a godly example (Deuteronomy 11:19), and discipline them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 29:15, 17; 13:24).
It is important to remember that as parents, we can only fulfill these duties through Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13).
What Child Dedication is not:
This is not the day of salvation for your child.
Salvation is the free gift of God, received when someone grasps their need for Christ and makes the conscious decision to enter into a relationship with God. Once a child is old enough to decide to accept Christ as their personal Savior, they decide to be baptized as their first step toward faith in Him. Would you like to learn more about salvation and baptism? Please visit our website's baptism page for more teachings on baptism.
How do we celebrate Child Dedication?
In Community
At Local, we believe that families need encouragement, accountability, and support within a true community and lasting relationship. That's why we encourage child dedications to take place within our community. This intentional experience of dedication allows parents and the church to come together around a commitment to pray for, support, and encourage the family as they raise their children with Jesus.
On March 22, 2026
Local is excited to acknowledge each dedicated child before our whole community. Each family would have the chance to share a photo of their child’s dedication and an opportunity to stand and be recognized and prayed for during our Sunday Morning. Photos may sent to office@localchristian.church
We find great joy in blessing children and believe that child dedication is a significant commitment that parents and the church can undertake as stewards in a child's life. We are thrilled about families and excited for you to experience the transformative power of God in your family's life.