Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14
At Westwood, child dedication is a precious family moment because it unites us all as children in need of our heavenly Father. By dedicating children to God, we are simply acknowledging that they are gifts from God. As a Church family, we then commit to doing our part in helping to prepare our children to know and serve God.
When children are dedicated to God, we trust that early in life the child will hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Let the little children come to me." Our hope is that our children will respond by believing in Christ as their personal Savior and serving Him.
The Old Testament story of Hannah illustrates God's love for our children. Having struggled for years with infertility, the birth of Hannah's child, Samuel, gave her great pleasure. This, in turn, prompted Hannah to offer Samuel back to God (1 Samuel 1). God intends for each child's life to echo praises back to Him.
Child dedication places priority on receiving the precious gift of a child and, with sincere hearts, helping to prepare that child to be used mightily to communicate God's love to others. Parents are reminded to depend on God and His resources - including the church family and friends - to help nurture their children. The church family joins in the dedication of a child, not as observers but as participants. As God's people, we unite to extend our faith in Jesus Christ to the next generation.
Contact: Teri Braun, 952-224-7330.