What Is The Parent Dedication Track?
The first "stop" on the Faith Tracks is Parent Dedication (geared for parents of newborns to 2-year-olds). This is a special time where you – the primary faith trainer of your child – make a formal commitment to raise them in a Christ-centered home. We see examples of this in Scripture, such as when Hannah dedicated Samuel at the temple (1 Samuel 1:24–2:10) and when Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus (Luke 2:22). Ideally, you want to make this commitment in front of your family or community group as a public pledge that you will raise your child to know, love, and follow Jesus.
Overall, Parent Dedication is your commitment to model, teach, and reinforce the Christian faith by intentionally raising your child in a Christ-centered home. It should not be confused with your child’s personal choice to follow Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that each person must decide for themselves to trust in Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10). The age a child is ready to make this personal decision will vary depending on the child.
Put It Into Practice
Below are some ideas for making your dedication a special time…
- Schedule a public expression of your dedication (At The Station, we schedule Parent Dedications twice a year...Mother's Day and the Sunday before Thanksgiving)
- Have a dinner or celebration time with family and friends before/after the time of dedication.
- Invite family members and special family friends to write blessings to your child as a keepsake. Make sure that you write one too!
- Record a video message for your child to view in the future. Speak words of affirmation, sharing how you are praying for their spiritual journey and how you desire to point them toward Christ. You can also write a letter if that works better for you.
