About Parent Dedication Ceremony
Parent Dedication is a ceremony that invites parents to stand before the church and publicly declare their intent to raise their child in a Christ-centered home. It is not baptism, nor does it provide salvation for a child. It is a public declaration by the parents of their intent to be the primary faith trainers in their child’s life, in the way God intended and presents to us in Deuteronomy 6:4–9, which reads:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”
Although Parent Dedication is a one-time event, it marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship in the home—one that we don’t want you to travel alone. That is why we in Family Life Ministries begin that journey with you prior to the ceremony at a mandatory Parent Dedication Class.
There, our Early Childhood Director Heather Zweifel will walk you through the important logistics leading up to and through the day of the ceremony, and our Family Life Minister Kristi McElheney will share some biblical parenting advice along with tips and truths that we hope will help as you begin this discipleship journey with your child.
As previously mentioned, Parent Dedication is not a baptism ceremony for your child. If your child has trusted Christ as his or her Lord and Savior and would like to be baptized, visit our baptism information page.
Parent Dedication is available to…
- parents who have already placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. If you have more questions about what this means, e-mail us.
- legally married couples, or single parents. If you are a grandparent, other relative, or legal guardian, contact us first.
- parents of infants, toddlers, or older children. You may participate regardless of the age of your child.
Parent Dedication Sunday
If you would like dedicate your parenting and child to the Lord at Stonebriar, you must attend a parent class that is held two weeks prior to the ceremony. Parent Dedication is available in both our English and Spanish worship services on select dates throughout the year, and the parent preparation class is available in both languages. To participate, simply sign up for an upcoming class below and choose which language you prefer. Further details will be provided via email.
Early Childhood Ministry Team
Emily Harmon
Children’s Minister
emilyh@stonebriar.org
Heather Zweifel
Early Childhood Director
heatherz@stonebriar.org
Stacy Kosydar
Early Childhood Ministry Coordinator
stacyk@stonebriar.org
Mya Desjardins
Early Childhood Ministry Assistant
myad@stonebriar.org
If you have not found what you’re looking for or would like guidance on where to start, please reach out to Heather Zweifel at heatherz@stonebriar.org or by calling 469-252-5240.
¿Preguntas en español? Manda un email a stonebriarenespanol@stonebriar.org.