God Parents

These are individuals (often a couple) asked by the parents of a child to take a special interest in, and responsibility to help raise their child in the Christian faith, also caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. These auxiliary guardians are often chosen because of their godly character and their compatible values to those of the parents of the child. While god parenting is not mentioned in the Bible, Mordecai took this ‘spiritual mentor in lieu of a parent’ role. “Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah [also known as Esther], whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother” (Est 2:7). When Esther was chosen to become Queen by King Xerxes, Mordecai encouraged her and guided her through the huge decisions concerning her people.

The god parent role assists helping raise up someone else’s child to know, love, and serve God well – it is supporting the parents to teach the child the way in which they should go and is associated with a baptism or christening ceremony in some Christian denominations (Prov 22:6). The fundamental role of a god parent should be

A supportive role

the intentional ‘being present and involved’ in the life of the god child so they can have input into both the spiritual dimension but also in the everyday affairs of life which presents many challenges for those finding their way growing up. For those who are god parents pray much for the child and remember that your lifestyle has a major influence on their impressionable minds for much of a child’s perspective of Christianity will come from how they see other Christians living.