Child Dedications

Child Dedication is a public declaration by parents to raise their child in a way that honors God. It’s also a commitment by the church to support and pray for the family.

Child Dedication is not the same as baptism. Dedication is a commitment by parents and the church, while baptism is a personal decision made by an individual to publicly declare their faith in Jesus.

Yes, membership at Five Lakes Church is required to dedicate your child. This ensures that you are fully engaged in the life of the church and supported by the community.

Child Dedications take place during our regular worship services. Dates are announced periodically, so keep an eye on our event listings on this page or contact the church office for more information.

On the day of dedication, your family will be introduced during the service, and you’ll affirm your commitment before the congregation. The church will also affirm its commitment to support you. It’s a joyful and meaningful celebration for everyone involved.

No, there is no cost to participate. This is our way of partnering with and supporting your family as you take this important step.

• Baptism signifies a spiritual union between the follower and Jesus, in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:1-4)
• Baptism is symbolic of the believer’s death to the old life. At conversion, our past is buried and we are raised with Christ to live a new and better life under the Spirit’s control. It also symbolizes being cleansed from the guilt and power of sin.
• Baptism is “in the name of” the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So it carries the idea of “ownership” – the baptized person is declaring before others that he/she is “owned” by God.

Since it is necessary to make a decision to follow Christ prior to baptism, Five Lakes Church does not practice infant baptisms.

Here are a couple of additional reasons we choose not to baptize infants:

• All biblical examples of baptism demonstrate a pattern of belief and then baptism. There is no mention of infants.
• The early record of church history supports believer baptism.
• Infant baptism emerges much later – about the middle of the third century.

While we do not practice infant baptism, we also choose not to discriminate against those who were baptized as infants. We encourage all believers to consider being baptized after receiving Christ but respect those who decide not to because they were baptized at an earlier age.

Other churches believe that baptism is an ordinance. They view baptism as a sign of God’s grace; an outward expression of an inward reality. Faith comes prior to being baptized, so baptism becomes a symbolic affirmation and an act of obedience.

We view baptism as an ordinance. Though we believe there is a great spiritual benefit to believers who obey the commandment of scripture and the example of Jesus to be baptized, we stand firmly in the truth that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (not by faith and works, but by a faith that works).

In Hebrews 9 and 10, we are reminded that Christ’s death on the cross fulfills all of the Old Testament sacrifices, including sins committed in ignorance or unwittingly (Leviticus 4:2). Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:1-10 about the place of children in the Kingdom lends support to the protection of children until they reach an age of understanding.

David’s response to the loss of his baby in 2 Samuel 12 is also pertinent to this discussion. After the child’s death, he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David’s response and demeanor reflect a confidence in the child’s safety.