At Kendall Park Baptist Church, we believe that baptism is an act of obedience for those who have personally placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In the New Testament, baptism is always connected to a believer’s confession of faith—it’s a public declaration that one has trusted in Christ and embraced the hope of the gospel.

For that reason, we reserve baptism for those who have already believed in Jesus, not for infants who have not yet made that decision.

Child dedication, on the other hand, is not a sacrament or ordinance found in Scripture, but a meaningful opportunity for parents who know Christ to commit themselves and their children to the Lord’s care and purpose. It’s a time of prayer, commitment, and the church's comittment to families as they seek to raise their children to follow Jesus.

While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention a formal “child dedication” service, the heart behind it is deeply biblical. Throughout Scripture, we see parents praying for their children and committing them to the Lord’s care.

Hannah’s dedication of her son Samuel (1 Samuel 1) is one example—she recognized that her child was a gift from God and offered him back to the Lord in gratitude and trust.

In the same way, child dedication is an opportunity for parents to express their dependence on God’s grace and to commit to raising their children to know and love Christ.

While child dedication is not a sacrament or ordinance, it is far more than a sentimental moment to admire cute babies or celebrate growing families. 

At Kendall Park, we see it as a covenant moment—a time to remember the sacred responsibility God has given parents and the church family.

We don’t love our children because they’ve earned it; we love them because of the relationship God has entrusted to us. In the same way, our church commits to love, support, and care for these families—not out of duty or consumeristic obligation, but because we are bound together in covenant as members of the body of Christ.

Child dedication reminds us that our love for one another flows from Christ’s love for us—and that raising children in the Lord is a shared calling within the family of faith.

At Kendall Park, we ask that parents honor the Lord by making a marriage commitment before participating in a child dedication if they are unmarried. This ensures that the public commitment of raising a child in Christ aligns with God’s Word and reflects the covenant He intends for families.

We would love to walk alongside you in this process—offering encouragement, support, and guidance as you take this important step.

At Kendall Park, we typically dedicate children who are three years old or younger.

At Kendall Park, child dedication is more than a  ceremony—it’s a shared commitment between parents and the church family. Parents dedicate  their children before God, acknowledging that all they have—including their children—belongs  to Him, and committing to raise them to know, love, and follow Jesus.

The church pledges to support, pray for, and walk alongside these parents. Because our local church membership is the context to which the church has the clearest obligation to support families, child dedication is normally limited to members. 

However, we do make exceptions for families who are actively pursuing membership and share in the faith and commitments of our church. Child dedication is a beautiful picture of covenant fellowship—parents and church united in love and purpose, pointing the next generation to Christ.

During a child dedication service at Kendall Park, parents are invited to come forward with their children during the morning worship gathering. The pastor explains the purpose of child dedication - what it is and what it is not - and reminds both parents and the congregation of their shared comittment before God.

Parents then make a series of commitments before the Lord and the church—affirming their desire to raise their children in the knowledge and love of Christ's gospel, to model godly living, and to lead their family in faith and obedience to God's Word. 

The church family, in turn, stands and commits to support, pray for, and encourage these parents as they fulfill their biblicl  responsibility.

Finally, the pastor prays over the children and families, asking for God’s grace, wisdom, and blessing.

This time celebrates the gift of new life and reminds our church family that we walk together in helping the next generation know and follow our Lord Jesus.

After you register, a pastor or deacon will reach out to you to ensure you have all the details you need. 

They will go over when to arrive, what to bring, and answer any questions you may have about the child dedication service. We want to make sure your experience is clear, joyful, and meaningful.