Our First Babies!

That isn't me and Robin, and those aren't our kids.
It's Rick and Cheri Harbarenko and their kids, Colten and Mikayla.
And they gave me permission to share the news they they are now the first official CCC babies.
Actually, we've had two couples have babies since we started this journey a few months ago. But Rick and Cheri's kids were the first to be dedicated in a worship service.

They were invited to CCC by Nathan and Paula (Nathan is one of our worship leaders and Paula one of our Family Ministry Team leaders). After Rick and Cheri started coming out to our services they approached me to ask about dedicating their children.

There has to be a first for everything I told them!

I actually said it would be great- they became my main sermon illustration as we were talking about being interconnected as the body of Christ. This was the perfect way to picture it- a living example of connection: Rick and Cheri coming together, finding love, finding each other in this world. From their love sprung up new life. Then as a family of young and old, male and female, connecting with the church.

Throughout the bible, from the prophet Samuel all the way to Jesus, we find parents dedicating their children to God. We see this great history in which God honors parents who dedicate their children to Him, and He honors these children as they grow up in the family of faith.

In fact, we have this wonderful story from the life of Jesus:

“People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16

This was the affirmation of faith and dedication we used in th service:

To the Parents:

Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and do you confess Jesus Christ, his only Son, as your savior and Lord, and affirm the truth of the Christian faith as revealed in the bible and professed in this church?

Do you promise, in reliance on the Holy Spirit, and with the help of this church, to love Colten and Makayla, pray for them, instruct them in the way of Jesus and involve them with the community of faith in the hope that they will each confess Christ as his and her own savior and Lord, and be baptized into the body of Christ?

Do you freely and wholeheartedly now dedicate Colten and Makayla that they belong, in body and soul, in life and in death, to Jesus Christ?

Then the blessing of the children:

“_________, you are part of the body of Christ- a child of God, marked by Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit. May the Lord bless you and keep you.“

After the service I was approached about baptism by a young woman...maybe there really is something to planting churches that changes lives!