Written by Deb del Villar, Director of Communications
As the summer marches on, many of our churches are planning out their church calendar year starting with Fall.
This is a great time for churches to think about incorporating, into their current senior saint ministries, a grandparenting focus. More and more older adults are catching the vision of proactive, purposeful involvement in their grandchildren’s lives!
I remember back when parenting became the frontline in our church. Our church showed the Focus on the Family videos followed by teaching and discussion times. It is as if this is happening again but this time with grandparenting. That should come as no surprise as we are the generation that experienced that phenomenon.
Regular Events
Many church ministries to seniors consist of gatherings where food, fellowship, and fun are the major components. Our church J.O.Y. group [just older youth] meets once a month and it is a wonderful time.
A recurring thought that comes after each time, is why don’t we add one more element – one more “F” so to speak. This new “F” could stand for Focus. A focus on grandparenting. It could just be a moment where a thought or challenge about being intentional as a grandparent is shared, followed by prayer.
A great place to start is looking at the Grandparenting Planner – there are activities/ideas, prayer, and a key thought for each month.
Here are two additional examples of thoughts or challenges:
1. Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.”
Thought: Grandparents, Watch Yourself
Prayer: Pray that you would fight zealously for your soul so you never forget all God has done for you.
2. Scripture: Psalm 71:18
“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
Thought: Grandparents, Teach Two generations
Prayer: Pray that God will give you strength as well as opportunities to teach His word to your grandchildren.
The hope is that adding this simple, short focus would increase the interest and passion of the grandparents in your church to intentionally influence their grandchildren. It may lead to more things aimed at the grandparents helping to encourage and equip them in their calling to impact this generation and beyond.
Grandparents Day
Maybe your church is already doing some things such as adding a time of praying for the grandchildren at the end of weekly adult Bible fellowship times or prayer gatherings.
In recent years, your church may have used the Grandparents Day resources to celebrate Grandparents Day. This year, there will be two different kits with resources for the local church as well as for the individual grandparent.
*Stay tuned for the kit release date.
Small Group Studies
Your church may be ready to hold a grandparenting Bible class at church or in homes. Legacy Coalition has excellent resources to help you!
We suggest starting with Grandparenting Matters, a 6-session seminar that helps grandparents understand and embrace the impact of their biblical role.
Also on our website, you can find free resources from blogs, radio spots, to podcasts. All could be used with your grandparenting group as discussion starters.
You can also use Grand Monday Nights, our free weekly webinar. It covers topics of interest to grandparents from pain points in relationships to tools to equip us to share our faith with our grandchildren.
Your church may be doing all those things and is ready for the next step. Our newest curriculum designed for small groups is Equipping Intentional Grandparents. The materials include session videos, discussion questions, and physical workbooks. (Volume 1 has six two-part sessions and is available now. Volumes 2 and 3 are currently being worked on with release dates in the future.)
Host Site for Summit
Our ministry also holds an annual Legacy Grandparenting Summit each year. The goal is to provide two inspiring days of top Christian influencers to help encourage, challenge, and equip you to leave a legacy for Christ.
A wonderful opportunity exists for churches to become host sites so the grandparents in their community do not need to travel to the live site to benefit from the excellent teaching.
If this is of interest to you, get more info about hosting Summit here!
Conclusion
So, as you look and plan your new church calendar, won’t you stop and see where you can focus on intentionally growing your grandparents in their biblical role? It can start small and build over time.
Legacy Coalition has Champions and Ambassadors that are ready and able to help you start well and build a sustaining ministry to your grandparents. Contact this division via email.
We pray that this new focus will impact not only this generation but those who are not yet born.
