The word dedication means to consecrate or the act of setting apart people or things for the purposes of serving God. In the Old Testament we see how Hannah prayed for a child and promised God that the child, Samuel, would be given to the Lord all the days of his life (1 Samuel 1:11, 28).  In the New Testament we see how Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22).

Like these parents, Louis and I also wanted to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives and in the life of our daughter, Alicia Leilani Randall, by committing her to God in a dedication ceremony on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at the 11 am worship service at our church, West Angeles Church of God in Christ. 

After the wonderful praise and worship portion of the service, Alicia’s godparents, Terri and Jerry Johnson; grandparents, Barbara Kelley Lindsey and Ray Lindsey, Jr.; and uncle, Darius Nathaniel Randall accompanied us to the altar for the dedication.  Our pastor, Bishop Charles E. Blake prayed over our child and asked God to bless her.  Two other beautiful children were also dedicated along with Alicia. 

Bishop Blake preached a dynamic message that moved the entire congregation to shouts, yells, and praises.  In fact, the spirit was so heavy that it moved the heart of Ray Lindsey, Jr., who answered to the call of salvation and walked down the aisle for prayer.  His son-in-law, Louis, supported him by escorting him to the altar.  Although Ray’s wife, Janice has been attending West Angeles for over a year, this is Ray’s first visit.  In the last year or so, he has been visiting different churches and eventually we pray that he find a good home. 

After church, we drove 3 minutes down Crenshaw Blvd. to the Sizzler in the Baldwin Hills Shopping Center.  Afterwards, we changed clothes and carpooled and caravaned to the Santa Monica Pier.  Louis took the baby for a bicycle ride while some of us enjoyed the beautiful sunset, ate cotten candy, and rode the ferris wheel. 

The weather was perfect, the fellowship was warm, and the event was topped off with my dad going to the altar for prayer and salvation.

It was a blessed day.

~Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Proverbs 22:6 

Pictured above from left to right (bottom row):  Barbara Carr, Marilyn, Janice Lindsey, Terri Johnson, Barbara Lindsey, Adora Roberson, Jon Randall holding granddaughter Alicia, Darius Randall, Doris Branscomb.  From right to left (top row):  Carlotta Tucker, Yolanda Randall, Chris Roberson, Ayesha Randall, Louis Randall, Ray Lindsey, Jr., Yanique Johnson, Jerri Johnson, Tiffany Lee, and Dorris Lee.