Written by Deb del Villar, Director of Communications
“An authentic faith is one of the most important things to get right as a grandparent.” This powerful statement causes us to stop and ponder as well as evaluate how we are living out our godly lives before our grandchildren. We desire to leave an enduring legacy – a permanent, lasting legacy.
Josh Mulvihill shared that statement at the 2026 Legacy Grandparenting Summit and expounded on it through the life of Timothy. Let’s take a few minutes and look at Lois, grandmother to Timothy, and see that grandparenting is ministry. This ministry of passing on a rich heritage of faith can come through living out an authentic faith. Don’t underestimate the impact of this calling.
A Personal Story: When Faith Is Not Passed Down
Allow me to share a story with you. Following the death of my father, we came across a treasure while cleaning out his home. We discovered records of our family going back generations.
One of the most startling unearthings did not include earth at all but the moon. There is a crater on the moon named after my grandfather (add several greats), George Willis Ritchey. It was a unique honor bestowed on him because he built the first large, successful American reflecting telescope using the Ritchey-Chretien system. One of his other major accomplishments was his many excellent photos of the moon. That is an amazing story all its own, yet there was still another discovery on the horizon.
Discovering a Forgotten Spiritual Heritage
There was a book written in 1993 that traces the history of the big American telescopes. George Willis Ritchey is featured prominently, tracing his heritage all the way back to his ancestors in Ireland. His grandfather brought the family to the United States from Ireland in 1841. I learned he was Scottish and Presbyterian, like most of his friends and family, from the Protestant region of Ulster.
It was so fascinating to uncover this, but one sentence still stops me: “They spoke with strong Scottish accents throughout their lives and worshipped a mighty, avenging Presbyterian God.” [Pauper & Prince, p. 2]
Up until reading that sentence, I believed, as did my four sisters, that we were first-generation Christians. Now, as adults, this was the first time we knew we had any religious heritage at all. Never had our father or grandparents had any interest in religious things. Saying we were surprised would be an understatement. But the story does not end there.
A Cautionary Tale for Today’s Grandparents
The book goes on to share how the George Ritchey family immigrated to the United States and settled in the Ohio Valley. Their farm was located in Olive Township, with its border Orange Township, the name and color symbols for the Protestant domination of Northern Ireland. Reading that sentence brought a childhood memory into sharp focus. My dad taught us to wear orange for St. Patrick’s Day, although green would be ok too.
Upon further reading, their love and devotion to the Lord was very evident. They sold a parcel of land “six rods square” for a dollar so an Orthodox Presbyterian Church could be erected and the worship of Almighty God could take place. Their children attended Marietta College, a Presbyterian institution, where one of the children learned to play organ. Upon graduation, he became the church organist and its choir director.
Again and again, the stories were recorded in this book – yet never shared with my generation that followed. They were lost until we found this book. We don’t know when the faith legacy stopped being passed on or why. May my story act as a cautionary tale for you – share those stories!
Meet Lois: A Grandmother Who Changed Generations
Now, back to looking at Lois, a grandmother who passed on her faith to her daughter or daughter-in-law Eunice, and to her grandson, Timothy. Lois fulfilled her calling, her purpose that propelled her to share her faith. A calling usually centers around destiny, drive, duty, dedication, and delight. Lois had all of these. With only one mention of Lois in Scripture, it may seem like there is not much to glean, but that would be incorrect.
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” – 2 Timothy 1:5
This passage speaks of Timothy’s sincere faith and points us to 2 Timothy 3:14-15 for more information. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
What Is a “Sincere Faith”?
Sincere faith is an authentic faith. A faith that is genuine, wholehearted, and earnest. It is a faith that lasts and continues because it is a convinced faith.
Lois gives a picture of that kind of faith. A faith that was devoted and resilient, that transformed her life as well as Eunice’s and Timothy’s. Timothy learned about sincere faith as he watched his grandmother and mother. He experienced firsthand that sincere faith continues. It continues because it has proven to be real, authentic. What Timothy saw in his grandmother and mother caused him to be convinced – to be completely certain. May our faith be so sincere that our grandchildren are completely certain and consistently continue in it.
Start Early: The Power of Influence from Infancy
When did this sincere faith begin to affect Timothy? From infancy. Lois’s deep faith and devotion to God helped cultivate Timothy’s character and faith journey. Spiritual values were instilled and built upon as Timothy’s faith grew. Supporting Timothy from infancy shows the importance of grandparents’ involvement in the younger generation.
Timothy became Paul’s companion and partner in the mission field. Timothy’s confidence as a leader in the early church blossomed from this sincere faith shown by his grandmother and mother. A robust faith developed over the years that could withstand hardship and trials.
Prioritize a Godly Upbringing
Paul references in 2 Timothy 3:14-15 that he knows what Timothy learned as well as who he learned the Scriptures from. This is probably referring to Lois and Eunice in 2 Timothy 1:5. Timothy had been taught the Jewish scriptures from infancy by his grandmother and mother. This passage says that Timothy knew the scriptures. This teaching laid a foundation for his later faith. Further training came when he learned, along with Lois and Eunice, about the Messiah through Paul’s teachings.
Grandma, how are you fulfilling your responsibility to raise your descendants to know God’s Word? How are you sharing your spiritual journey with family members? Consider family traditions that highlight faith while deepening connections. Need some ideas to get you started? Check out the new Grand Ideas page here.
This grandma and mother’s spiritual impact on Timothy caused them to be mentioned by name in Scripture. This is unusual in a time when women were rarely recognized. Their legacy reached further than they probably considered. Timothy became the pastor of the church at Ephesus. His godly influence left an eternal impact on the lives and futures of many children and grandchildren.
Grandma, how are you laying the spiritual groundwork in your grandchildren’s lives so a sincere faith can be developed? How are you involved in prioritizing a godly upbringing in your grandchildren? Who knows what God will do with your faithfulness!
Cultivate Faith That Leads to Salvation
Doing the vital groundwork of bringing up your grandchildren to know God’s word and ways allows the ground to be fertile for cultivating faith. How do we cultivate sincere faith? What are those practices that will help faith grow stronger and deeper? Allow your grandchildren to see you pray, read your Bible, and worship. Each of these can nurture their faith, especially as you share with them.
Be a godly example of cultivating your own faith before your family. Live out your beliefs boldly and actively. As we enrich our own spiritual lives, may it encourage a faith-filled legacy for future generations. Glimpses of your devotion will fan the flame of their devotion. Dr. Josh Mulvihill challenged us to think if our lives speak that Jesus is the most important thing.
Partnering with Your Adult Children
“God has given your children the job of stewardship, and he has given you the job of being the servant to assist your children.” Dr. Josh Mulvihill
Supporting Without Overstepping
Remember, you are a partner with your adult children. Lois AND Eunice are mentioned together. Scripture seems to speak of them as a team working toward the salvation of Timothy. Lois being mentioned first gives the impression that she may have come to faith first and mentored Eunice’s faith. For certain, Lois was a devoted matriarch who loved her family and sought to promote spiritual growth across generations.
Locking Arms for the Next Generation
Lois means “more desirable” and symbolizes a strong, nurturing figure in faith. She plays a critical role in demonstrating the importance of faith practices generated through the home. This practice led to a generational faith that impacted her descendants but also the larger community.
How can you support your adult children as they seek to raise their children in God’s ways? How can you lock arms so the generations to come will be impacted for God’s glory and their good?
Conclusion
Whether you are the only spiritual influence in the lives of your grandchildren, the next name in a long line of faithful generations, or a new name after a break in the spiritual influence of generations, carry forth the faith with nurture and devotion through modeling a sincere faith, prioritizing godly upbringing, and cultivating faith as you partner with your adult children. Let’s seek to be a Lois to this next generation. May your family not have a break in the spiritual line of descendants who knew, loved, and served the Lord.
