Baby Dedication at GENESIS is a moment when parents publicly commit themselves to abiding by biblical principles and raising their children according to God's standards. Not only are you dedicating your child to God, but you are also dedicating yourselves as parents to God in partnership with your church community. You are committing yourselves to maintaining a Christian home in which Christ is honored and the Word of God is held in reverence. This begins the partnership between your family and your church family at GENESIS. This partnership recognizes you as the primary discipler of your child, and the church as the source of support for you and your family.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US AS PARENTS?
Set Apart
Christian parents are to do all they can to “set apart” their child to God until that child can make his or her own choice regarding a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The responsibilities God has entrusted to Christian parents include: ● Petition. Continuously praying for their children (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17) ● Direction. Instructing them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6) ● Demonstration. Setting a Godly example (Proverbs 20:7) ● Guidance. Disciplining them as the Lord would discipline us (Proverbs 13:24; 29:15,17)
Committed
Fully surrendered to Jesus and devoted to your family and His church.
Married or Single Only a couple committed to Christ and married, as biblically defined between one biological man and one biological woman, or a single parent committed to Christ and not living with someone out of wedlock may participate in Baby Dedication. Single parents who dedicate their children may not have boyfriends or girlfriends present with them on the platform.
We don’t believe yet. Parents who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be unable to submit their children to God’s will and His ways because they themselves do not know the ways of the Lord. As a result, we must decline any requests to involve an unbelieving parent in the dedication of a child. As a parent, your devotion to God—or lack of it—will make a resounding impression on your child
I believe, but my spouse does not. A believing parent may dedicate a child independently of an unbelieving spouse so long as they have consent.
Unmarried. We believe that unmarried parents living together do not set an example of God’s best. Therefore, unmarried parents will be advised to separate (if living together out of wedlock) and/or wait until they are married to dedicate their child.