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Kids Dedication & Baptism

You want big things for the child you just welcomed into your family. What could be bigger than helping them grow up in the love of God?

Helping Families Make Jesus First

Welcoming a child into your family is a big step for any parent. Heartland’s Dedication and Baptism Ceremonies help parents celebrate this special milestone. If you have recently welcomed a child into your family, we invite you to either dedicate or baptize your child in an upcoming ceremony. Dedication and Baptism of a child are two different traditions that reflect the same things. First, the parents are publicly thanking God for the gift of their child. Second, the parents are making a commitment to raise their child in the love of God. Finally, our church is committing to be a family for your family and to support you in the years ahead.

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Frequent questions

In a practical sense, baptism involves the sprinkling of water upon the head of a child, and dedication does not. In both cases, the child is presented and prayed for. Heartland considers infant baptism and dedication as two different traditions that achieve the same end. Common to each tradition is a focus on the parents’ intention to raise and nurture the child in the love of Jesus. The choice between baptizing and dedicating a child should be made to reflect a parent’s personal conviction and heritage in faith. Neither dedication nor baptism of an infant guarantees salvation for the child; salvation happens when a person willingly chooses to accept the forgiveness of Jesus. Our hope for all the children of Heartland is that one day each will personally believe in Jesus as their savior and lord. Then, to symbolize that decision, each will choose to be baptized as a picture of that decision. As parents, you determine which tradition best fits your family and your thinking.

No, you do not need to be a member. We’d be honored to help you celebrate this significant occasion in the life of your family. However, we hope you’ll also consider allowing Heartland to be a family for your family so we can support you in the years ahead.

The Family Baptism and Dedication Service is a special service led by one of our Heartland pastors with 3-8 families typically participating. It typically lasts about 30 minutes in the Garage venue of Heartland’s campus a few times a year. The pastor explains the biblical basis for the ceremony. He or she then introduces each family and the child they are baptizing or dedicating, then asks each family a couple questions to publicly affirm their desire to raise their child in the love of Jesus to the best of their ability. The family is then prayed for by one of Heartland’s pastors or pastoral elders as an expression of our commitment to support this family in the year’s ahead.

Absolutely. Inviting family and friends not only allows them to celebrate this special occasion with you, it also invites them to support the decision you are making to raise your child in the love of God. It lets these individuals know that of all the things you want for your child, what you desire most is for them to know, love and follow Jesus.

Dedication of young children is seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the New Testament, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to “present him to the Lord” when he was a baby (Luke 2:22). In the Old Testament, Hannah brought her long-awaited son, Samuel, to a priest when the child was three years old (I Samuel 1:11, 24, 28). In both cases, the parents present their children to God as an expression of thanks and their desire for the children to live according to the purposes of God. To learn what the Bible teaches about baptism, please refer to our Baptism page.

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Shibu Mathew

Family Movements Pastor