Last week I posted about hooks in ministry.  Read it here to catch up.

Hooks are important in ministry b/c most people know what they want, but don’t know what they need.  I need a good hook to gain parents’ attention in order to expand their vision for their family.  The best hook in my tackle box for a young family is Child Dedications.

Child Dedications is a natural draw because:

• It’s the ‘shiny’ moment where the parents showcase their child/family.
• Parents want to express their sincere intent to do what is best for their child.
• Parents are hungry for direction.

How do we know parents are hungry?

• They’ll pay $25 for the book, “What to Expect When Expecting”
• They study the origins of names searching for the perfect one
• They’ll tour the hospital BEFORE giving birth to their first-born

For the record… once you reach child #3… things change a little:

• That $25 book becomes a booster seat for the toddler
• Your kindergartner chooses the name based upon his favorite movie character.  And that’s how you have a child named Jack-Jack
• The hospital tour occurs while you’re pacing the halls in the midst of labor

But I digress.  Back to my point… Parents are willing to jump through a few hoops to participate in an event like Child Dedications.  So it should be more than just an isolated event.  Child Dedications should be a  process that lead mom and dad to embrace a God-sized vision for their family.  I’ll unpack my process for Child Dedications, but I’d like to hear your thoughts first.  No lurking. What’s the most important thing you want parents to know when they walk away from your Child Dedication event?