We are excited that you are interested in dedicating your child to the Lord. The purpose of Child dedication is for parents to present their child before God and the church, committing to seek after His grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities.
We believe Psalm 127:3, which says “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Child Dedication is a time for us to celebrate and thank God for the gift of your children. It’s also a time for you, as parents, to commit to model what following Jesus looks like and to raise your children to understand that they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, to believe that the Bible is absolute Truth, and to know the importance of committing to a community of faith through the local church.
Parent Commitments
During the dedication service, parents promise before God, their family, and the church to raise their child in a God-honoring way. Because parents are the key role models for their children, we ask that they commit to the following before dedicating their child:
Parent(s) have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Parent(s) are regular attenders of Oceans weekend services and are following Christ in their own life.
Parent(s) agree with our church’s beliefs and values, which can be found in our beliefs page. Parent(s) commit to modeling personal purity and to lead by example in matters of faith and conduct. That means living a life of sexual purity according to God's standards.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do I need to be a member to dedicate my child?
You do not need to be a member of Oceans Church to dedicate your child. We do ask that families call Oceans home, because in dedicating your child to God, you are stating that you are willing to partner with God and the Church to raise your child in cooperation with God’s intentions. As your church family, we are here to partner with you as the body of Christ and support you as a family unit.
Can a single parent participate in a child dedication service?
Yes! Child dedication signifies the commitment of parents, including single parents, to do their best to raise their child to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We encourage single parents to include any important figures in their child’s life to be a part of the dedication. As a church, Oceans is committed to supporting single parents in providing a Christian foundation for their child’s upbringing.
Is Dedication the same as Baptism?
Oceans Church believes baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Jesus alone for their salvation, once they have the maturity and ability to understand what that means.
Dedication is not a sacrament; nor does it impart grace or salvation to a child. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as each person recognizes their sinfulness and receives forgiveness and eternal life through him and his work on the cross.
Rather than baptizing infants or children, we encourage a dedication ceremony, where parents formally call upon God’s blessing for their child and publicly commit to raise him or her in accordance with Scripture.
What should I expect for Child Dedication?
Child Dedication is celebrated during our weekend services. During the ceremony, parent(s) publicly commit to help their child grow in their faith and to raise them in a home centered on Jesus. Our team welcomes the child and parent(s), prays over each family, and presents a Bible to each child.
When is Child Dedication?
Child Dedications are scheduled quarterly. We encourage you to invite friends and family to attend, so that they can join you in praying and celebrating this special time with you. If you are interested in participating in child dedication, please fill out the form below.