Child
Dedication

Children are a gift from God, and raising them is a precious responsibility. At Summerland Baptist, we believe in the importance of families and are committed to partnering with and equipping parents as the primary influencers in their children’s lives.

One of the first ways we come alongside families on this journey is through child dedication—a special opportunity to seek God’s blessing and commit to raising children in a way that points them to Jesus.

What is child dedication?

It’s a Blessing
An outward expression of a parent’s desire to seek God’s blessing on their little one—recognizing that every child is a precious gift from God.

It’s a Response
A heartfelt commitment from parents to embrace both the gift and responsibility of raising their child to know and love God from the very beginning.

It’s a Declaration
A proclamation that parents will keep the end in mind—intentionally inviting Jesus into every step of raising, guiding, and nurturing their child as they grow toward having their own relationship with Him.

It’s a Celebration
A beautiful opportunity to gather friends and family to celebrate this child’s life and God’s faithfulness together—building a circle of love and support.

It’s a Commitment
A public declaration from parents to make faith an everyday rhythm, no matter the circumstance. It’s also a commitment from the SBC church family to come alongside them—equipping, resourcing, and encouraging them as they walk this journey of faith together.

Child Dedication Is Not:
An act of salvation for a child, nor is it the same as infant baptism. Salvation and baptism are personal decisions made by an individual out of their own conviction and conscience. Child dedication is a commitment by parents to raise their child in a way that points them to Jesus, trusting that one day the child will make their own decision to follow Him.

What does child dedication look like?

Child Dedication is a special moment during our Sunday morning gathering, usually as part of a Celebrate Big Service. Families are invited to come forward and respond to questions of commitment while the whole church family joins together in support and affirmation. We close this meaningful time in prayer, dedicating both the children and their families to God.

We know parents may have questions about the event or wonder who should be involved, and we’d love the opportunity to connect with you beforehand. Reach out to set up a time to chat—we’re here to support you and your family every step of the way.

Please complete our Child Dedication Form to begin the process, and Pastor Bree will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.

“Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength. The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Commonly Asked Questions

  • No. Your baby can be brand new or ready to graduate. We suggest that if your child is old enough to weigh in on the decision, you make this choice with them.

  • Typically these events are a part of our Celebrate Big Sunday morning gatherings.

  • Not necessarily. We love to include this in a Sunday morning gathering because of the element of partnership with church family and because it is a beautiful and encouraging thing for everyone to experience together. However, if, for any reason, this does not work for your family, we will come into your home for child dedication and with your permission, use pictures in our Sunday morning gathering for the church family to participate in the event.

  • Not at all. Come as you are. Often people choose to dress up for the occasion but that is a matter of personal preference.

  • Great question! Because child dedication is a commitment to teach a child to follow Jesus, we believe it’s important for both parents to be united in making this commitment.

    If parents are not on the same page regarding faith, we offer a Christian blessing in the home as an alternative. This allows us to honor the role of parents as the primary influencers of their children while also being sensitive to family dynamics. We don’t want to put anyone in a position where they feel uncomfortable or pressured to make a public commitment they aren’t ready for.

    With permission, we would love to share pictures and highlights from the blessing ceremony during a Sunday morning gathering, allowing our church family to celebrate and support you. As a church, we make the same commitment to come alongside your family, offering encouragement and resources just as we do through child dedication.

  • You can sign up for a child dedication by reaching out to us directly, filling out the Child Dedication registration form, or you can connect with us by calling the church office. We’d love to chat with you, answer any questions you have, and help you get started on this meaningful step.