Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/85

Contributor - Mary Verhoog

Title - A Mother's Faith

Topic - Family

My Faith

My parents immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in the 1920's. Language and cultural barriers caused them to depart from the church, and consequently I did not know what it was to have a Christian faith. My contact with the Reformed Church was due to chauffeuring an immigrant family to the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Whitby for church services in the Dutch language.

At the age of eighteen I made a joyful confession that I believed in Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. I promised to form my life by that faith. As I knelt before the baptismal font and the pastor sprinkled water on my head in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I knew it was a sign that sealed the gospel promise of forgiveness and became a divine pledge that the blood and Spirit of Christ washed away my sin. My baptism made believable to me that the forgiveness of God through the death of Christ sealed me as belonging to the Triune God.

My Faith and My Children

My confession in Christ and baptism marked a turning point in my life and for my future family. I married a young man from the Emmanuel congregation and as our children were born I accepted the Lord's covenant promise and had them baptized. Our children have been taught about their heavenly Father even before they could read, because I believe in the unity of the household. I speak to them as Christian children and not as heathen children. I am grateful for the high privilege that they belong to God and I teach them to live up to God's expectations and callings.

My Children and Their Faith

As the years have passed, one of the most blessed ceremonies as a parent has been when my children have made profession of faith. As they stood before the congregation they confirmed that they personally accepted the gracious promise extended by God in their baptism, that God will always be their God and affirmed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

In confessing their faith, they are telling God that they claim these promises and are now ready to take complete responsibility as members of the church. The congregation responds that they will promise their love and encouragement and prayers to my children. As a congregation, we recite the Apostle's Creed and we show our oneness with those who made profession of faith and a oneness with the Church throughout the world. It leads to the most public sign of active church membership, the Lord's Supper.

My Joy Made Complete

I became a believer as an adult and confessed my faith and was baptized as an adult. I am grateful to my God that I could raise my children in a Christian home and bring them to the Lord in holy baptism, because of God's covenant promise to me that "He is my God and will be the God of my children." I eagerly anticipate my children claiming the promises I vowed at their baptism.

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