Emmalyn's Dedication

This past Sunday we dedicated Emmalyn to the Lord.  As with Marc, we were able to dedicate Emmalyn at the Dogok campus of Onnuri English Ministry, our church here in Seoul.  For Marc's dedication, we were the only ones being dedicated that day.  This time with Emmalyn, we shared our joy with several good friends - including our former married couples small group leader and our senior pastor, Eddie Byun, who also officiated the dedication.

Here  is some of what was shared during the service:

Children are a gift from God.  Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." 
As believers, we realize that children are a reward from Him!  Parents receive this gift from God totally by grace. They are to enjoy this gift, but also they are given a responsibility for this gift.  Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord. In Luke 2:22 we read that Mary and Joseph brought their baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him to before the Lord. In the same way, Jarrod and Stephanie Puffenbarger (and the other families) today bring their daughter - Emmalyn Elizabeth Puffenbarger (and the other babies) - presenting first themselves and then their daughter before the Lord our God. 

Parents, I call your attention to the commands of God recorded in Holy Scripture.  Deuteronomy 6:4-7 tells us: "Hear O Isreal: The Lord our God is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Ephesians 6:4 says: "fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." God's instructions are plain.
Parents, love God with every ounce and fiber of your being and teach your child to do the same.

And then Pastor Eddie asked that all the men hold their babies (him taking his own son in his arms) and repeat these vows after him:

"I promise before God and His people, as the spiritual leader in this family to raise up my child in the ways of the Lord. I promise to lead by example in trusting God first, each day of my life. I promise to lead my family into His presence with prayer and Scripture. I promise to love and cherish my wife. 
We promise before God and His people to train our child in the instruction and discipline of the Lord and to encourage our child to one day trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We dedicate and SURRENDER our child to the Lord today."

Pastor Eddie continued, addressing both parents:

Having come freely, I ask now that you enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people. So that EMMALYN may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help and in partnership with the church, to provide EMMALYN a Christian home of love and peace, to raise him in the truth of our Lord's instruction and discipline, and to encourage him to one day trust Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord? Please respond with: "We do."

"We do."

And now, I ask that the church make a vow as well. It has been said that "it takes a village to raise a child." Parents have first responsibility. But parents need the help and support of the community. So I direct my questions now to the church. By being present in God's house today, do you hereby declare yourselves to be the children of God because you trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life? If this is true, please respond by saying "we do." ("We do.")

Having come freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment to those who stand before you: So that EMMALYN (and the other babies) may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God's help, to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help JARROD and STEPHANIE (and the other parents) be faithful to God, and to help teach and train EMMALYN in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust him as Savior and Lord? If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying "we do." ("We do.")

And then Pastor Eddie called each family forward, one by one, to pray a prayer of dedication over the babies.

Our sweet friends, Ron and Sheretta King, with their daughter Janet, shared this day with us. 

The church game Emmalyn a Beginner's Bible. 

We are so blessed and praise God for giving us this sweet baby girl.  We pray that she comes to know her Savior at a young age, that the love the Lord her God with all of her heart, mind, soul, and strength, and that she desire to live a life that bring her Heavenly Father all glory, honor, and praise! Please join us in praying for Emmalyn.