We Believe
Grandparents are incredibly important to their grandkids.
Grandparents are uniquely positioned to spiritually influence their grandkids.
Grandparents have a Biblical mandate to do so.
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV
Small words are important. The word “and” in this passage (and there are many more) makes it clear that grandparents are to be involved in the discipleship of more than just one generation.
Most Christians agree with these statements about grandparents, but so little is being done to challenge and equip this huge group — 30 million strong — of potential influencers.
Yes, the grandparenting relationship has incredible potential for discipleship, but it is unrecognized and under-resourced. For example, many churches have a family ministry, which focuses on parenting, but nothing on grandparenting. And grandparenting is too often associated with a seniors ministry, which results in younger grandparents being overlooked and ignored. Resource providers, like speakers, authors, and Christian ministry organizations, largely neglect this audience as well. Finally, Christian grandparents themselves get caught up in a “retirement culture” that pushes them to pursue their own pleasure rather than invest in their grandchildren.
The Gap Between What is and What Ought to be is Enormous
Yes, the grandparenting relationship has incredible potential for discipleship, but it is unrecognized and under-resourced. For example, many churches have a family ministry, which focuses on parenting, but nothing on grandparenting. And grandparenting is too often associated with a seniors ministry, which results in younger grandparents being overlooked and ignored. Resource providers, like speakers, authors, and Christian ministry organizations, largely neglect this audience as well. Finally, Christian grandparents themselves get caught up in a “retirement culture” that pushes them to pursue their own pleasure rather than invest in their grandchildren.
Why We Exist
Incredible Potential
Grandparents with incredible potential to influence the next generation — and a Biblical mandate to do it — are generally overlooked, under-resourced, ignored, and mislabeled.
A Biblical Pattern
Christian grandparents are to influence multiple generations for Christ.
A Great Need
Grandparents themselves often lack vision, need support and community, or don’t know of tools which can help.
A New Course
We believe it is time to chart a new course — to engage this incredible potential by envisioning, encouraging, and equipping grandparents — through ministries in the local church.
WHAT WE DO
1: We encourage authors, speakers,and organizations to create resources on grandparenting.
2: We encourage local churches to have a focus on the vital grandparent-grandchild relationship.
THE DREAM
To know that our legacy of faith in Jesus Christ will outlive us in our grandchildren and the generations that follow.
THE VISION
To build a coalition of ministries that champion intentional, Christ-like grandparenting.
THE MISSION
To be a platform for coalition ministries to engage the Church in the task of envisioning and equipping grandparents to impact future generations who know, love and serve Christ.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Legacy Coalition and encourage grandparents to be intentional disciple-makers who pass a rich heritage in Christ to future generations.”
Josh Mulvihill
Pastor to Children and Families
Grace Church
Eden Prairie, MN
Launch
Starting a Legacy Grandparenting Ministry in Your Church
1
Step 1: Core group.
A team of key leaders in the congregation is established that will be committed to launching a grandparenting ministry in the church.
A team of key leaders in the congregation is established that will be committed to launching a grandparenting ministry in the church.
2
Step 2: Pastor owner.
A pastor will take responsibility for this ministry launch; in other words, it becomes part of his job description.
A pastor will take responsibility for this ministry launch; in other words, it becomes part of his job description.
When these two are in place, we ask churches to register with us, but with the registration, we expect them to commit to four more steps. These steps can be resourced through materials that the Legacy Coalition’s resource providers make available:
3
Step 3: Vision event.
The church will schedule and hold a seminar, class, small group, or whatever fits the culture of the local church—whose purpose is to cast vision for spiritually intentional grandparenting.
The church will schedule and hold a seminar, class, small group, or whatever fits the culture of the local church—whose purpose is to cast vision for spiritually intentional grandparenting.
4
Step 4: Habit change.
A regular focus on grandparenting is infused into the life of the church (habit change): maybe through a prayer time in the adult classes, maybe through a newsletter, or some other practical method.
A regular focus on grandparenting is infused into the life of the church (habit change): maybe through a prayer time in the adult classes, maybe through a newsletter, or some other practical method.
5
Step 5: Equipping opportunities.
On a repeating basis – from once a quarter to once a year, fellowship and learning opportunities will be created that will practically equip grandparents and remind them of the vision.
On a repeating basis – from once a quarter to once a year, fellowship and learning opportunities will be created that will practically equip grandparents and remind them of the vision.
6
Step 6: a grand activity.
The church will hold a special event for grandparents and grandchildren—maybe a fun day of activities, maybe a weekend camp.
The church will hold a special event for grandparents and grandchildren—maybe a fun day of activities, maybe a weekend camp.