When you think about your church, do you feel like you are truly being engaged as a grandparent? Do you feel like you are really being equipped and encouraged to disiciple your grandchildren? Do you feel like the opportunities for you at your church are primarily focused on Bible study classes, get-togethers, luncheons and hymn sings — more of a “Senior Saints” ministry — rather than a ministry to grandparents that engages, equips and encourages you to pass your faith to your grandchildren?
A senior saints ministry primarily functions for those who are retired (over the age of 65) and is mostly focused on fellowship. A grandparenting ministry focuses on equipping, engaging and encouraging grandparents (the average age of a first-time grandparent is 47) to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. Do you see the difference? Does your church truly have a grandparenting ministry?
Most churches have ministries to young parents, parents of elementry age children, parents of teesn and even possibly parents of college-age children, but once they become grandparents, there is very little for them until they are old enough to retire – a gap of twenty years or more. When something is offered, it is often focused on fellowship, not passing on a heritage of faith to another generation.
However; this is all about to change!
For the last year I have been writing about the Legacy Coalition – Grandparenting Matters. I am honored and delighted to be part of this new movement where we are working to help churches engage the grandparents in their ministries and equip and encourage grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith.
This past November we held our first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit featuring Chuck Swindoll, Josh McDowell, Gary Chapman, Valerie Bell, Tim Kimmel, John Trent, and Crawford Lorrits. These speakers challenged more than 800 grandparents from five countries – yes five countries!
Crawford Loritts said this: “This is history in the making.” Josh McDowell declared, “This could be bigger than Promise Keepers.” Gary Chapman said he was committed to go back to his own church and begin a grandparenting ministry!
Plans are underway for our second Legacy Grandparenting Summit November 2-4, 2017 at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwell, Texas – click here for details. Mark your calendar now; talk with the leaders in your church. Ask them to make plans to go, and plan to join us yourself – you will not want to miss it!
God is up to something exciting and amazing when it comes to engaging, equipping and encouraging grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. This is something big! Join us and ask your church to be part of this as well!
Click here for information about this year’s speakers at the November 2017 Legacy Grandparenting Summit. If you would like to talk with someone about the Summit, contact us at support@legacycoalition.com.
