Grandparents are "View-Givers"!

For the past two days I've been in Chicago meeting with a group of people to see what we can do to encourage and equip churches to engage, equip and encourage grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. If the average child in your ministry only attends church, at best, every other week, then they are only receiving about 20 hours a year of your programming. Yes, I said 20 hour a year! Even the children who are there every week, still only receive about 80 hours a year.  I'm sure you can agree it is insufficient in either case.

You can not be with the children in your ministry all the time - this is why God gave the primary responsibility for reaching and discipling children to their parents and grandparents. So, today I want to write about something important. Something we in ministry must focus on. Something we need to make a central part of our plan to reach and disciple children; engaging, equipping and encouraging grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. 

At the meeting I was blessed to be part of, Steve Bell (Willow Creek Church) said something which got my attention: "How we feel about our grandchildren is how they will feel about themselves."

Did this get your attention? It sure got my attention! Happily, my grandsons know I love them like crazy and absolutely believe they are gifts from the hand of God! Why do they know this? Because I've said them a time or two . . . or pretty much every time I see them!

Please know grandparents do make a huge impact upon our grandchildren. It does matter what we say and do around these sweet blessings from God - more than you may even know!

So, lets join together to engage, equip and encourage grandparents in our ministries. Let's encourage them with the truth they have much to do; God has a plan for them no matter their age! They can and do make a tremendous impact on the lives of their grandchildren! They can pass on a heritage of faith! Encourage the grandparents in your church to take time to give their grandchildren a view of themselves which will build them up and help them see themselves as God does - ever so very loved and cherished!