Because the child is a gift from God, the parents promise, as God's stewards, to bring up the child entrusted to them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord [Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21]

In dedicating their child in the presence of fellow believers, parents are publicly dedicating themselves to the faithful fulfillment of their parental responsibilities [Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6] and are acknowledging their need of the prayerful support and encouragement of those fellow believer [Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 10:24-25].

The act of child dedication becomes meaningful only as the parents explain to the child the meaning of this act and consistently carry out the promises made before God and the brethren at the time of dedication.

The dedication is more than a service. It's a commitment of parents to honor the will and the Word of God. As a part of this dedication, you as parents are asked to:

1. Publicly affirm your personal faith in Christ, and renew your dedication to Him and His Word.
2. Pray daily for God's direction in your lives and in the lives of your children.
3. Faithfully participate in Sunday Worship with your children.
4. Teach your children the truths of God's Word in your home.
5. Anticipate and seek to lead your children to a personal faith in Christ as soon as they are ready.
6. Recognize that your children belong to God and have been born to experience His love and to serve Him.

1. Jesus Christ's Example - Luke 2:22
2. Jesus Christ's Teaching - Mark 10:13-16
3. The Example of Hannah and Samuel - 1 Sam.1:10f; 26-28
4. The Responsibility of Godly Parents - Deut.6:6f; Eph.6:4

It is obvious that in order for a child to be dedicated, the dedicating Parents must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If only one parent is a true believer in Jesus Christ or only one parent is living for the Lord, the Parent-Baby Dedication can still take place. However, only the believing parent, or the one living for the Lord, should dedicate the child(ren).

Water baptism, the immersion of the believer, is a visible testimony to the work of regeneration and a mark of identification and union with Christ. It has no saving or cleansing power, but it is the answer of a good conscience before God; hence, it should be administered only to those who have, by faith in Jesus Christ, realized the forgiveness of sins and possess the assurance of acceptance with God.

1. The Greek word "bapto" means "to dip" or "to immerse" or "to wash". Water baptism is an external symbol of the internal washing and renewal that takes place when one believes in Christ [Titus 3:5]
2.  Baptism is also the symbol of one's union by faith and identification with Christ in death, burial and resurrection. [Rom. 6:3,4]
3. Baptism is a public confession of our new life in Christ and a sign of our obedience to His Word.

1.  Jesus clearly taught..."He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved..." [Mark 16:16]
2.  The people who heard Peter's sermon on Pentecost asked: "Brethren, what shall we do?" [Acts 2:38] Their response: "So then, those who had received His word were baptized..."
3.  "But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike." [Acts 8:12]

In the records of baptism, it is indicated that the person first "repented" of sin and "believed" in Christ and then was baptized. One must be a believer in Christ to be eligible for baptism.

1. A Christian who is a "follower of Christ" should follow His example. "Jesus...was baptized by John in the Jordan." [Mark 1:9]
2. Jesus Christ commanded it of His disciples. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." [Matthew 28:19]
3. It is the pattern followed by the New Testament believers. "...many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized." [Acts 18:8]
4. Believer's baptism shows one's loyalty and obedience to Jesus Christ and to His Word. "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." [1 John 2:3]

The most detailed example of baptism is found in Acts 8 where Philip told the Ethiopian about Christ: "Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. [Acts 8:35,36,38]

There is no reason for delay. When one declares his or her faith in Christ, he should be baptized.

1. "And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water..." [Matthew 3:16]
2. "...they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water..." [Acts 8:38,39]
3. Historically, church leaders have agreed: Martin Luther: "I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies." John Calvin: "The word `baptize' signifies to immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church." John Wesley: "Buried with Him, alluding to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church."

The scriptures indicate, and it has been traditionally accepted, that early believers were immersed in water.

1. The Pastor will meet with all who would like to be baptized.
2. It is recommended that each person being baptized share their testimony during the baptismal service in one of the following ways: (a) A verbal testimony at the time of baptism. A written statement of one's testimony is encouraged. (b) A written testimony to be placed in the bulletin or read by the Pastor.
3. There are no age requirements concerning baptism. However, the Pastor is concerned that children truly understand this significant event. Therefore, for his family he has arbitrarily set the age of ten and a good understanding of the significance of baptism. Pastor Smock is willing to speak with any children interested in being baptized.