by Lito Roldan
“Kairos” moments, which amaze us no end about God’s plans happening in the least expected of, but in the most precise time, continue to establish historic firsts since GSCC moved in to its own temple of worship. It is said that first experiences get to be the base against which related experiences are measured. Ira Hyman writes in “Mental Mishaps” that first experiences are used as judgment anchors. Among the first historic events that have caught the GSCC congregation in awe was Maddie’s dedication service days before this priceless little gift God has sent her parents and her doting first-time grandparents Joyce and Oyette Fernando will celebrate her first birthday. As Maddie begins her walk in the abundant life that awaits her through Christ, so does GSCC begin a new life to carry out the responsibility indelibly linked to the privilege of owning “The Boat.”
Publicly professing their Christian faith, Domingo and Janine , have committed their child to the Lord, vowing to raise her in a godly and prayerful way. They have accepted the responsibility to teach and train Maddie in God’s Word as well as raise her in the ways of God – not in the ways of the world. Proverbs 22:6 states: “Train a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Ephesians 6:4 corroborates: “Father, do not provoke your children to wrath, instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Domingo and Janine have experienced the grace of God at that awesome moment they acknowledged that Maddie is His most precious gift to them. Perhaps there can be no more fitting and joyful moment of thanksgiving than that occasion when they dedicated her to the Lord. Pastor Oyette, who earlier impressed upon the congregation that the baby dedication service is not a ritual, captured the divine essence of the ceremony as he entrusted Maddie’s parents with the magnificent responsibility of nurturing God’s gift of life. Addressing the godparents and the members of the congregation, the pastor exhorted them to pray for the child and for her parents that the Lord give them the wisdom and grace to faithfully carry out their responsibility. More than mere passive witnesses, both the godparents and the members of the congregation are tasked to support the parents in bringing her up according to God’s ways- a sacred privilege to get involved in God’s nurturing love for the little ones.
As Domingo and Janine perform this act of faith acknowledging the Lord’s sovereignty over the child, we are reminded of Mary and Joseph, who at the time their purification was completed, took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.(Luke 2:22). And once more at the “kairos” moment, the GSCC Children’s Choir performed for the first time like angels whose innocent voices lent sublime meaning and joy to the occasion:
”I am a promise, I am a possibility…I am list’nin to hear God’s voice and I am tryin’ just to make the right choice. I am a promise to be anything He wants me to be…”
