A child dedication is a public promise before God and his church where parents recognize that their children are God’s good gifts and where the parents commit to raising their children so that they may grow in the knowledge of God chiefly revealed in Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the universe and Savior of his people.

It is important to state that a child dedication is not a picture of the salvation of the child—dedication is not baptism. A child dedication also does not bring about the salvation of the child—dedication does not save them.
Nevertheless, a dedication is an important moment in the life of the child, parents, and church where we publicly recognize the responsibility that God gives to parents to cherish their children and raise them so that they might grow in the knowledge of God and, by God’s grace, know Jesus as Savior and Lord.

A dedication is a first step, not a final product. It is a commitment to undertake the long but rewarding journey to raise a child in a home governed by the truths of the gospel so that God may be glorified.
We see the example of child dedications in Scripture. Hannah dedicated the prophet Samuel when she released all worldly claims on her son and committed him to God (1 Samuel 1:21–28). Likewise, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem as a dedicatory action (Luke 2:22–23) which was commanded in the Old Testament for all firstborn males (Exodus 13:2, 12).

So we also follow these examples as we undertake the practice of child dedications.

A child dedication at Heartland consists of five parts.

1.  Recognize that children are a gift from God. In Genesis 1–2 we see that children were a good part of God’s plan for his creation so that they should be cherished as a gift from God. As a result, parents should be grateful for their children as they recognize their role as stewards and not masters over their children (Ps 24:1; Ps 127:3–5; 1 Cor 10:26).
2. Release children to God. God has directed the paths of each child as he already knows them before they were born (Psalm 139:1–24; Jer 1:5; Isa 44:2; Luke 1:41; Eph 1:4). As followers of Jesus, we acknowledge that our children belong to God. We will accept God’s purposes for their lives.
3. Request their salvation through prayer. We believe in the power of prayer so that God uses prayer as a means to accomplish his purposes (Mk 11:24; Lk 11:5–12; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14–15). Therefore, as parents we commit to praying for the salvation of our children, that they may follow Jesus as Savior and Lord (Matt 6:9–10; Rom 10:1; Eph 1:3–6).
4. Raise children so that they may grow in godly character. Before God and his church, parents commit to raising children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord so that the children may grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, the joy of the Lord, and the character of Christ. (Deut 6:5–9; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:1–4)
5. Receive the support of the congregation. Parents are not alone in this task. The local church commits to joining with the parents in their God-given work to build up their children in the knowledge of Jesus (Rom 14:19; Eph 4:11–16; 1 Thess 5:11).

Heartland does two dedication services each year: one on Mother’s Day and one in the Fall (usually around October). You can dedicate your child at either service. It is not uncommon to have older children dedicated as well. There is no age limit.

Make sure that you have registered for the dedication service by using the button below. 

Once you have indicated your interest in dedication through registering online, Pastor Cooper will reach out to confirm your desire and availability for the Child Dedication Service.

Heartland provides many resources to parents as we seek to equip and encourage parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children.

• Preaching: The single most important way we help parents disciple their children is through faithfully preaching God’s Word as we seek to understand what it teaches us about God and his world. This assists parents by teaching them the truth so that they may teach it to their children and teaches children directly the truths of Scripture.
• Sunday School: Many of these classes are designed to support parents in their God-given task of raising children so that they may know God.
• Small Groups: Heartland has many small groups that meet throughout the week. Several of these are family-based small groups where families meet for community, encouragement, prayer, and training.
• Resource Creation: There are several resources designed by Pastor Cooper to help parents disciple their children. These include a short guide on how to do “Family Devotions” entitled Family Faith Talks: An Introduction. There also is a list of “Recommended Resources” broken down by age that parents can use in their homes. Finally, there is a 4 part guide through the book of Jonah that parents can use to study the Bible with their children—this guide has different versions based on the age of the children.
• Family Resource Area: Outside of the Heartland Kid’s hallway downstairs there is a Family Resource area with books available for you to browse and borrow (1-2 week limit) that can provide age-appropriate resources for children as well as volumes that help deepen a parents’ understanding of their God-given role as the primary disciple-maker of their children.
• Recommendations: Two books are especially useful for parents seeking to raise their children in a home governed by the truths of Jesus. First, Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin offers a thoughtful framework and practical advice for how parents can go about the work of discipling their children. Second, Parenting by Paul David Tripp is a thoughtful presentation of 14 principles that provide a biblical, gospel-saturated vision for how to parent in a way that recognizes our dependency on Jesus that leads our children to follow in the ways of Jesus. Many other excellent resources exist, but these are two good ones to get you started!