Real Family Ministry Which Engages, Equips & Encourages Grandparents - Grandparent Conference

When you think about "Family Ministry" at your church, what do you think about? Children and parents? Yes, Family Ministry absolutely involves ministry to and with children and parents, but it also needs to include ministry to and with grandparents, because they are second only to parents in their ability to influence and impact the lives of their grandchildren. Since they have this great influence, why wouldn't we want to include them in our ministry to and with families?

There is a new movement taking place across our country where churches are being called upon to engage, equip and encourage grandparents to take seriously God's call upon them to impact and influence their children's children. Most churches have ministry to parents and to senior saints, but the group between these two groups is mostly ignored and left to themselves. Consider the following information about grandparents . . . 

• The average age a person becomes a grandparent for the first time is at age 47 . . . yes, 47! This means many grandparents in your church are not  participants in your Senior Saint's ministry.
• When we do not engage, equip and encourage grandparents to actively focus on passing on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren, they often end up "buying into" the philosophy of the world which says people should retire and indulge themselves rather than invest in their grandchildren.
• Grandparents have the great potential to make a significant impact on their grandchildren as they are able to influence them like no other.
• The way a grandparent sees their grandchild is often the way the child will see themselves.

Grandparents matter and God knows this. He planned for grandparents to be active in passing faith on to their children's children. He does not plan for them to retire to their rocking chairs . . . or to indulge in fulfilling a "bucket list". It makes a difference if they are focused and intentional in passing faith on to their grandchildren.

So, since they have such an important role to play, it makes sense for Children's and Family Ministries to be intentional about engaging, equipping and encouraging grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their children's children. To help you know how to do this, the Legacy Coalition will be holding regional conferences . . . the first one is at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, MN on May 9 & 10, 2016! You'll find all the specifics at this link.

And, if you would like to go for a reduced cost - or even for free and are willing to help with some simple Tech needs, email me - lyndaf@legacycoalition.net!