Damion Hayden holds his god-daughter Makaylia, while young mother Lucille Bartley listens attentively to instructions from the Reverend Dr Roy Owens.

Lucille Bartley and the god-father of her baby daughter, Damion Hayden, were in wonderful spirits recently when Bartley brought little Makaylia Nickeisha Peck to the Reverend Dr Roy Owens to be dedicated at the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in Clarendon.

It was an occasion they will long remember as Makaylia is Bartley's first and only child and it is said that a mother's first child is special to her. She told THE STAR's Life and Times that she was uncomfortable not having her daughter christened before January 6 this year, as she like other parents believe that all children should be dedicated to God as is suggested by Christ in the Bible.

"I feel relieved knowing that she is dedicated to the Lord because all children should be. Now that she is christened I am happy because the presence of the Lord is now ever present with her. He will give her the protection she always needs and no demon can ever come near her because she is covered by the Holy Ghost," admonished the young mother.

Bartley noted that she heard all the words of encouragement given by Reverend Owens prior to her daughter being prayed for by the executive council of the church; and pledged to have her beautiful little daughter follow the teachings of the Bible to ensure that she is brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

In his utterances before the little lass was prayed for, Owens told Bartley and the godfather that the family is a divine institution. He pointed out that the first nurse and teacher her baby will know happens to be them, and so they should try their best to ensure that the right things are taught to her.

"Parents start to teach their babies from they are inside their mother's womb. All of you are now teachers for this little infant that we are about to present to the Lord. If a child lives with praises, he learns to appreciate," said Owens.

Owens reminded the parents that they will need to teach the baby girl how to praise and to say thanks; and also reminded them that they have a responsibility to ensure that she is brought up in the fear of the Lord.

In blessing the baby girl, Owens called on God to send angels from Heaven to protect Makaylia from evil; and for God to provide for Bartley so that she will have the necessities needed to cater for the child in every aspect of her development, so that she will grow up to be a blessing.

Little Makaylia, who was five pounds when she was born at the May Pen Hospital on August 17, 2012, was among the first set of babies to be christened at the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in January. Only three babies were christened at the church for 2012.

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