"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'" (Matt. 19:14).
Delta Junction Adventist Church in Alaska once found itself missing the joyful sounds of children and prayed for God's blessing. Despite not having a pastor for two years, the congregation's faith remains strong and the church continues to grow. Each member understands that all are called to play a part in the Great Commission. God has blessed the church as they share the good news that He is trustworthy and is doing great work in their town.
With the arrival of new families to the church — along with two new babies — the time had come for a baby dedication. However, the families wanted their older children who had not been dedicated to be included as well. This brought together other parents with older children who also wished to present their children as a gift to the Lord. In all, 16 children were ready for dedication.
On March 28, 2025, the church was filled with joy to invite previous pastors to be a part of the Sabbath celebration. Zack and Celesta Babb, Fairbanks and North Pole district pastors, were happy to accept the invitation.
Zack delivered the sermon and Celesta led the dedication ceremony. Celesta did a wonderful job commissioning the parents. She challenged the fathers to heed Eph. 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” She encouraged mothers to “follow the example of the mothers who brought their children to Jesus” (Mark 10:13–16). She also called parents to show their children how to pursue Jesus and to pursue Jesus with them.
The ceremony ended with an invitation to anyone willing to support the parents in their journey to surround the families as Celesta offered a prayer of dedication. The church is filled with gratitude for the children God has blessed them with.
Marshal and Jessica Brown dedicate their three children.
Celesta Babb, pastor, commissions parents during the children’s dedication.
Families are embraced with prayer and support.
