One of the joys of church membership is seeing the children of our congregation being brought by their parents for baptism. As a covenant community, we delight to participate in the responsibilities of nurturing these precious young lives in the knowledge of the Lord. Being Presbyterians, children are usually baptized in the first weeks or months after they’re born. But on occasion, children who were not baptized as infants are baptized after confessing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
A couple of weeks ago we were blessed to see the children of our youth minister baptized as confessing believers in Christ. Afterwards, their grandfather, Rev. Seth Adjei Mohenu, who is visiting from his home in Ghana, prayed for his grandchildren. His prayer expresses my own hopes for my children and grandchildren. With his permission, I’ve transcribed it to share here.
Our great God and Master, Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that are therein, we bless you, we honor you, we adore you. It pleases us that the grandchildren you have given to us, by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, have confessed him as their personal Savior, Lord, and King, and therefore this morning they have fulfilled one of the covenants you gave to the church—that when we believe we should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
This day we have seen our grandchildren baptized in your name because they have taken you as their God. We pray you preserve them, lead them, guide them, and direct them in this sinful world. And may they walk in the light and not in darkness. May their deeds please thee. And may you walk with them from this day forth and even forevermore. May they never forget your Word. May they meditate on your Word day and night. And may they observe to do all that is written therein, so your name would be magnified.
Our Lord, now, Father, give them long life and prosperity, understanding, knowledge, and wisdom, and guide them through this world. May the Holy Spirit lead them as he indwells them, so they do your will and not the will of man. Our Father, we thank you for what you have done for the family this morning, and we believe and trust the family will continue to teach them the way of the Lord and they will walk according to your will. We believe and trust that with you in control, they will be able to walk accordingly. May they realize today that they are no longer in the world but they are in the kingdom of God. And therefore they need to live as kingdom people. May they never forsake the assembling of themselves in thy house. May they always be here to serve you and to honor you. May they grow true so that when they are old they will never depart from your path.
Continue to bless them, and may their parents also do their best. May they know that their children will be learning from them and from today onwards may everything they do lead to the kingdom of God. And we as grandparents, help us also to live before them that which you have taught us, and that which we have preached. We thank you and bless you for this church, and we believe and trust all will join together to see them grow in the light of the Lord.
Blessings, and honor, and glory we ascribe to you this day and even forevermore. Amen
Grateful 