Prayer Upon Prayer Answered – An Interview With Our New CEO

Legacy Coalition is heading toward its 10th anniversary in 2026 — a milestone that marks a decade of God’s faithfulness and answered prayers. When Larry Fowler, Founder of Legacy Coalition, followed God’s call to start this ministry, his vision was clear: to envision, encourage, and equip grandparents to intentionally disciple their grandchildren.

Now, after years of growing the movement of intentional Christian grandparenting, Larry is once again responding to God’s direction — this time, in a new way. Wanting Legacy Coalition to thrive long after his leadership, Larry and the board began a thoughtful, prayer-filled succession plan several years ago. Their focus? Finding God’s person to carry the mission forward into the next decade.

And God answered. Abundantly. More than they could have imagined!

Board Chairman Scott shared, “He’s godly, gifted, well-qualified, and has both the professional and spiritual leadership experience we prayed for — plus a deep passion for grandparenting.”

That man is Dan Hellige, and alongside his wife Janet, the two are stepping into this new season with excitement and humility.

Let’s get to know Dan and Janet a little better.

Q: Tell us a little about yourselves.

Dan: First, let me say how thrilled we are to be part of this ministry. We are humbly excited — truly blessed — to be here. Janet, you should tell them about our family.

Janet: We’ve actually known each other since high school, but didn’t start dating until after graduation. We’ve been married 39 years and have 5 children and three “bonus” children through marriage. Our two youngest are adopted from China, which has been a real blessing.  

We’ve been parenting for 36 straight years — and still learning! God has also blessed us with seven grandchildren — or as we like to call them, our “sugar babies.” It’s the desire of my heart come true. And we believe God’s not finished with us yet.

Q: “Sugar babies”? That’s adorable! Tell us more.

Janet: Yes! We love nicknames. Dan’s grandparent name is “Spicy,” and I’m “Suga.” There’s a story behind those names — but we’ll save that for another day!

Q: Dan, tell us a bit about your background and what led you here.

Dan: We’ve always felt called to give back and serve wherever we could. Over the years, we’ve been involved in various roles in our church, especially in marriage and family ministry. Recently, I’ve also been working as a retirement coach — helping people discover purpose in this new stage of life.

That same passion for helping others live intentionally has naturally led us to Legacy Coalition.

Q: How did your connection with Legacy Coalition come about?

Dan:  Janet and I were Christian parents, and when we adopted the younger girls, we wanted to do things better. We focused on being intentional Christian parents. When we learned we were going to be grandparents, Janet started reading everything she could, as we wanted to be intentional Christian grandparents. That’s when she discovered Legacy Coalition.

We attended our first Legacy Grandparenting Summit at a host site on March 8th, and it lit a spark in both of us. The excitement was contagious! At the time, we were developing a family ministry strategy for our church with another couple and realized we had only one box labeled “grandparents.” After that event, we rebuilt the strategy — putting grandparents right in the center where they belong.

Then one day, I saw the CEO position posted on the Legacy Coalition website, and I kept setting the search packet off to the side. I felt the Lord saying, “Open it.” So, I obeyed. We prayed about it, and I applied. And God opened the door.

Here we are.

Q: Do you have a favorite Scripture that has anchored you both?

Janet: Mine is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 — “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…” It’s amazing to see how God continually works His will in our lives through prayer and gratitude.

Dan: For me, it’s Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord.” And also Proverbs 17:6 — “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged…” That verse reminds me that being a grandparent is both an honor and a responsibility. We’re called to disciple our grandkids — and to speak life into our children as they parent.

Q: You both mention mentors often. How have they shaped your faith journey?

Dan: I owe so much to a Young Life leader named Rob. I lost my father when I was 10, and Rob became a spiritual father to me. Studying the Gospel of John with him transformed my head knowledge into heart knowledge. Over the past 40+ years, pastors and mentors have continued to pour into me — teaching accountability, healthy relationships, and spiritual maturity.

Janet: I’ve also been blessed with mentors — especially women just a season ahead of me, like my current one, Diane. She and others have taught me humility, how to apologize, and how to seek God’s wisdom rather than my own. It’s made a world of difference both as a parent and now as a grandparent.

Q: As you step into this new role, what excites you most about the future of intentional Christian grandparenting?

Dan: There’s an urgency right now — a need for mature adults to impact the next generation. I want to help the church engage its grandparents to embrace their purpose and ignite that passion for discipleship.

I’d also love to see Legacy Coalition expand globally, through proper partnerships. I’ve traveled extensively and seen that the need for godly grandparenting is universal.

Q: What brings you joy outside of ministry?

Janet: We’re a simple family that loves having fun together. Whatever our kids and grandkids are into — we’re right there with them! Sports, dancing, goats, chickens — you name it.

Dan: Baseball is a big one lately! Our goal is to make memories that naturally open doors to share the joy of the gospel. If you want to hear more about our fun adventures, check out our interview with Larry Fowler on our Grand Monday Nights webinar (October 20, 2025 episode).

Q: How can readers be praying for you and your family?

Dan: Please pray for a smooth and Spirit-led partnership in this transition. This isn’t a handoff — it’s a team effort.

Larry isn’t leaving; he’s shifting his focus to what he does best — serving as an ambassador, speaker, content developer, and influencer for the movement. I’ll be developing strategy and outreach to help more grandparents get involved. Pray for wisdom, unity, and a fresh wave of God-inspired ideas.

We are so excited to see what God will do next!

Q: Any final words for our readers?

Dan: We know some of you may be walking through difficult seasons. Be encouraged — be the gospel. Live it authentically in front of your families. Pray persistently and trust God’s timing. His hands are more than capable.

And please — reach out! We’d love to meet you in person at our Legacy Grandparenting Summit 2026 in Frisco, Texas. You can email me anytime at danh@legacycoalition.com.

Let’s get grandparents off the sidelines and into the game. The best is yet to come.