After nine months in waiting and another three months after, Engr & Mrs Emiko Alfred felt relieved as they dedicated their infant son, Master Emiko Godstime Ebike-bowei, in the Christian way at the Word of Salvation Bible Life Ministries International Incorporated situated at Umugben Road off Oru Standard, Jakpa Road, Effurun, Delta State, on Sunday, August 25, 2024.

For Master Ebike-bowei, it was his first trip to church, and probably his first time to be held in the hands of the General Overseer, Apst. and Rev. (Mrs. Newman Bebenimibo, who officiated the child dedication ceremony.

Major highpoints of the child dedication ceremony include the pouring of olive oil  (anointing) on the infant's head and prayers of blessings on the parents who informed the congregation of an entertainment party to celebrate their son's dedication to God.

The brief session of the child dedication ceremony was witnessed by family members and friends of the parents of Ebike-bowei as well as worshippers in attendance in their huge numbers.

Speaking to PENGlobal Social, Engr. Emiko, who hails from Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area, said his family are happy over the success of the child dedication having waited patiently.

He thanked the ministers, other members of the church and guests who honoured his invitation to join his family in dedicating their son to God.

As the church service of the day winds down, families, friends and other well-wishers gathered for a group photograph with the parents and their infant son, within the outdoor premises of the church.

According to the website 'Compelling Truth', "The historical reason behind baby or child dedication in many Protestant churches emerges from the Protestant Reformation's break from the Catholic Church..  Parents desire to dedicate their children to the Lord when they were born. But instead of a christening service, which might be inappropriately perceived as effecting salvation for a child, baby dedications became common.

"The idea of dedicating a child to God can certainly be found in the Bible. For example, Hannah was a woman unable to bear a child. She prayed for a child and promised to dedicate him to the Lord if He would give her a son (1 Samuel 1:11). Also, Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple for a dedication (Luke 2:22), a common practice under the Jewish law."

We at PENGlobal congratulate Engr & Mrs Emiko Alfred for the success of their son's dedication to the Almighty God. We pray for God's wisdom and his resourceful provisions to “Train up a child in the way that he should go; when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

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