Family Dedication (August 2025)
We held a Family Dedication at our 31 August service!
In Psalm 127, we read of how children are a heritage from the Lord. Children are a blessing and we rejoice for the many children in our midst. Unlike baptism or the Lord’s Supper, Family Dedication is not an ordinance. But it is a good opportunity for parents and the church to come together to commit to raising the next generation in the ways of the Lord. Family Dedication expresses commitments found in both the Old and the New Testaments, in Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6. Today, these families come to commit to teaching the next generation about our wondrous Lord and Saviour.
We had three families participate in this Dedication:
the Ngs — Marcus, Audrey, Joni and baby Luke
the Tans – Ryan, Jillian and baby Lionel
the Oois – Gideon, Gloria, Naomi, Noah, Miriam and baby Anna
Pastor Jeremy gave these families time to introduce themselves and also why they chose these names for their children. The families were then invited to make their commitments before the church to raise and disciple their children.
As a church, we were invited to respond by pledging to help them – to share our lives with them, encourage them and partner them in their endeavours to raise these children.
Pastor Jeremy led the church in prayer. He thanked God for making us in His image and though we have rebelled, God continued to pursue us and revealed to us the wonderful good news of Jesus Christ. He thanked God for Jesus’ example throughout His ministry – how He loved and cared for all regardless of age and even the little children. He led us to pray that the children will hear the truths of Jesus from a young age, and the Spirit will enable their hearts to understand and respond with faith.
Pastor Jeremy also prayed for the parents, that God will use them to demonstrate His love in practical ways. The path of parenting is not easy and presents many challenges daily, even hourly. But God’s grace is sufficient, and he prayed that God will continue to sustain these parents. He prayed that these parents, and also the other parents in our church will be guided not by the world and its pressures, but by Scripture and the truths in God’s word. He also prayed that parents will persevere in instructing their children in God’s ways, be patient and kind to shepherd them towards His truths for His glory and our joy.
Church, one practical way to serve and love our families is to help out in the Children’s Ministry! Our Children’s Ministry is currently looking for more Sunday School Teachers and Nursery Volunteers. If you are keen to find out more, feel free to contact the Pastor Jeremy or Siew Ting or the Children’s Ministry team at kidsmin@gracebaptistchurch.sg or stop by the check-in table outside the Sanctuary before Service.