Baby Dedication

Many of you have heard us speak of our beloved church in Alaska. We were very fortunate to find an amazing church here, one that we are both going to struggle to leave. Like us, our church believes in dedicating its children to the church, not baptizing them, as that is a personal decision, one that cannot be made for a person no matter how big or small.

Tyler and I dedicated Caroline to the church last Sunday. We were thrilled that we got to do this in a church that we both love, a place that believes in its body of believers and serving the community around it. Anchorage is a better place because of the people of this church and their heart for the community.

We are so incredibly thankful that we were here, healthy and able to participate in dedicating Caroline. When Rod, the senior pastor pictured with us below, made the cross on her forehead, she held his fingers. As Rod began to pray for us and Caroline specifically, it was bittersweet for us all. The deep joy and thankfulness for Caroline's health, the reality of our move and the realization of what a blessing this church has been to us and vice-versa drummed up many emotions for us all.

 
Although we cannot make the decision for her, we pray that Caroline will find Jesus and ask Him into her heart. We pray that she will be a servant to others and kind to everyone she meets. I pray that she finds her own faith and reasons to believe in Jesus instead of just taking mine and Tyler's word for it.

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
(Luke 18:15-17 ESV)