Scripture provides evidence that Baptism follows an individual’s decision to trust Christ alone for salvation (Acts 2:41, 8:12, and 10:47–48). And the New Testament records the baptisms of adult believers only.

In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them, prayed for them, and told us to welcome them. But He did not baptize them, nor did He tell anyone else to baptize them.

Baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation once they have the maturity and ability to understand what that means. As a general rule, leadership has set a minimum age of seven years for a believer to be baptized.

Dedication is not a sacrament, nor does it impart grace or salvation to a child. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, as each person recognizes sinfulness and receives forgiveness and eternal life through Christ and His work on the cross.

Rather than baptizing infants or children, House of Prayer encourages Christian parents to dedicate their children. Dedicating a child to God is a ceremony in which parents formally call upon God’s blessing and publicly commit to raising them as Scripture teaches.