Early Family Life
We support families from pregnancy through the first 18 months of a child’s life through our Care Team, New to Parenting classes, and Baby Dedications. We recognise that every child is a good gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3) and as a church, we desire to see every child, parent and family unit flourish in the Lord together. This is done as we come together as a body of Christ to pray for and encourage parents in their faith.
Care Team
Each congregation has a care team of volunteers who seek to help those who are going through pregnancy and parenting in the early stages, which can feel isolating at times. The teams connect with young mums and dads to check in on their well-being, pray, and find out how the church can care for them in this difficult season. The team also organises meals or activities together for new parents to get to know each other so that the body of Christ builds itself up in love.
We have many young families in our midst, and if you have a heart for them as they transition into a new season of expecting a child or caring for a newborn, we would love to have you on the team!
Are you expecting or a new parent?
Please let us know how we can support you.
Join our New to Parenting Class
We run a “New to Parenting” class twice a year for parents-to-be as they prepare themselves spiritually to be fathers and mothers who disciple and love their children for God’s glory. Please check our Events page for upcoming classes.
Baby Dedications
As members of the same body, it is our privilege and duty to love and care for each other’s children through praying for, teaching and setting a godly example for them. To signify our commitment to this, baby dedication is a time for the congregation to know our members’ children as we pledge to come alongside and contribute to the growth and faith of these children.
Baby dedication involves three groups of people:
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Baby dedication is primarily for parents to commit before the Lord and their congregation, to raise up their children to know and love Jesus. Parents are given the weighty task to prepare and nurture their children to be launched into the world for the purposes of God. Parents need much grace and help from the Holy Spirit and the community.
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Jesus told his disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:14). Baby dedications is a space we set apart in services to pray for and bless newborns. However, baby dedications are not salvific, they are not essential, and neither are baby dedications infant baptism. Baptism is for believers, and we pray that these children will one day respond to the Gospel through faith and baptism as believers.
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Being part of a church community also includes helping one another raise our children in the ways of the Lord as we are a spiritual family. As a church family, we have the privilege to speak into the lives of these children while discipling and praying for them.