Dear Parents,
We would love to “inoculate” our children from wrong, sinful behavior to ensure their spiritual health, right? Imagine a vaccine for morality and righteousness! Unfortunately, one doesn’t exist.
Though you can’t give your children a, “moral vaccine” to ensure freedom from de-habilitating spiritual diseases, you can give them, “daily doses of spiritual vitamins” as you model for the them an active, life-giving relationship with God. This happens through your time with God in the Bible, worship, daily lifestyle and choices and your ability to receive from God through the Holy Spirit, among other things.
We encourage you, therefore, to see your child as an apprentice Christian—one who will someday decide whether to begin their own journey of relationship with God. Until then, you can follow the biblical model of dedicating your children to the Lord. By doing this you commit to cooperate with God’s purposes for their life, model what it means to follow Jesus and engage in biblical community that will love and support you as parents. As your child grows, your life provides a foundation from which he or she will be better prepared to hear the gospel and follow Jesus as an adult.
We look forward to dedicating your child and coming alongside your family on your spiritual journey
Kindly,
— Your MHV Vineyard Kid’s Team
We have created the following easy-to-follow steps for you to take in order to prepare you to dedicate your child to the Lord. These steps include some videos to watch and a few reflection questions to complete.
Listen to Imagine the End
After you finish, use this card to write a description of the kind of person you hope your child will become over the next 18 years. Every year on their birthday, pull out the card.
Listen to Make it Personal and Widen the Circle.
On the provided card, Make it Personal:
Write down two things that you are going to do to invest in yourself and the significant relationships in your life. These kinds of practical decisions can make a huge impact on your relationships over the long haul.
Write down two things you are going to do to invest in your relationship with God. It is through our love, received from the Father, that we can best love our children and show them what God is like. The best investment you can make in your kids is investing in your own spiritual life.
After taking the time to listen to the above talks and reflect on dedicating your child, please:
Email your church’s Vineyard Kids Coordinator to indicate your intent for your child to be dedicated, including their full name and birthdate if you have not already done so.
Please email several pictures of your child, as well as some favorite family pictures. We will display them for the church, so make sure they are ones you don’t mind showing lots of people (5-7 pictures maximum please)
Send your church’s Vineyard Kids Coordinator a copy of your completed homework reflections.
Also send your child’s written blessing that you are prepared to impart during the ceremony. (Here are some sample blessings to help craft yours)
A family of Jesus-centered neighborhood churches around Denver.