Legacy Coalition - Josh McDowell - Make the Time We Have Count!

When it came to the quality of speakers the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit had for grandparents to hear from, they certainly, "hit it out of the park"! Chuck Swindoll (and his wife and grandchildren - a first-ever event in itself!), Crawford Loritts, Larry Fowler, Gary Chapman, John Trent, Valerie Bell, Josh Mulvihill . . . just these speakers would have made for an amazing opportunity to hear from people who had much wisdom to share, but they were not all the general session speakers! No, there were two more and today I'm very happy to share with you what Josh McDowell had to say to us about making the time we have count . . . yes, Josh McDowell! Did I mention how the Legacy Coalition "hit it out of the park" when it came to lining up general session speakers?!

Josh McDowell has ten grandchildren ages 12 and under. He said in the 55 years and the more than 34,000 times he has he has been speaking to people, he had never before spoken to a conference on grandparenting, but he was very happy to be able to do so, as after Jesus, his family was his greatest motivation.

Josh shared two things for us to be aware of as grandparents -

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - John Trent - Be a Blessing Giver!

Over the past couple weeks, I've shared with you about how to set up and engage the grandparents in your ministry in participating in a Prayer Stations where they are able to pray for their grandchildren and themselves, shared with you how Larry Fowler challenged us with the truth of how intentional Christian grandparents make a significant difference in the lives of their grandchildren and led us in the Intentional Christian Grandparent Declaration. I shared with you how Chuck Swindoll, his wife and grandchildren blessed those at the summit by sharing what they do, how and why they do it and the difference it made and continues to make in the lives of their grandchildren, wrote about how Michelle Anthony challenged us with how grandparents can make a significant difference in the lives of their grandchildren because we have the perspective and wisdom of time and how Crawford Loritts challenged us with the truth of how grandparents are here for a time we can not see - for future generations not yet born!

If these men and women had been all of the general session speakers, everyone at the summit would have left blessed, challenged and excited about all they heard and learned; but they were not all! We heard from Gary Chapman about the greatest gift we can give our grandchildren, from Josh Mulvihill about the Biblical role of grandparents and from Valerie Bell about how being an intentional Christian grandparent makes a big difference. And yet, this was still not all!

We also heard from John Trent and I am very happy to share with you today what he had to tell us about being a blessing giver to our grandchildren! He challenged us to be grandparents who choose to give, not withhold, our blessing and led us in how to write out and give each child a blessing which is tailored to them, how you see God working in their lives and which gives them a view into what He may have for their future. We were able to watch as he had some grandparents give an actual blessing, which they wrote out, to their grandson.

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Valerie Bell - Be Intentional & Make a Difference!

Two weeks ago we were getting ready for the start of the first-ever grandparenting conference, the Legacy Grandparenting Summit. More than 800 people participated with speakers such as Chuck Swindoll, Josh McDowell, Gary Chapman, John Trent, Larry Fowler and many more. It was an amazing opportunity for grandparents an church leaders to learn about the Biblical role of grandparents and how they can make a true and lasting difference in the lives of the children they love by being intentional Christian Grandparents.

This matters for you who serve in Children's Ministry, because when grandparents are intentional about passing on a heritage of faith, the children are much more likely to grow to be people who love, know and follow God. Just imagine how your impact on the children can be multiplied when you are focused upon engaging and equipping grandparents to pass on their faith!

One of the general session speakers was Valerie Bell. Many of you may know her as the CEO of AWANA, but she is also a grandma! Valerie shared with us a powerful account of one of her grandsons and how at his birth he experienced serious medical complications. The doctors did not expect him to survive, but as Valerie said, "We may not always be on the same page with our adult children, but when the big things come along we are together! We pray together. We support one another." Happily, God did a miracle in her grandson's life and he survived - and has thrived in the ensuing five years!

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Biblical Role of Grandparents

Do you know what the Bible says about the biblical role of grandparents? Did you know the Bible even says anything about it? Well, it actually has quite a bit to say about the biblical role of grandparents. At the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit, we had the opportunity to listen to Josh Mulvihill share what the Bible says about the role of grandparents.

Josh is not yet a grandpa, but he has spent considerable time researching the Bible to find out what it has to say about the role of grandparents. He interviewed hundreds of grandparents across the country and learned by and large, grandparents do not know what God's Word has to say about their role as grandparents. They have accepted society's view of grandparents which pretty much boils down to, "closeness at a distance" . . . they are a playmate or companion, but they need to be careful not to interfere in their adult children's lives. This leaves grandparents confused and in most cases, not in a position to influence their grandchildren for Jesus.

So, what is the Biblical role of grandparents? Josh shared how there is one word we find over and over again in the Bible and how it refers to grandparenting. This word is, "Heritage" . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Gary Chapman & The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Grandchildren

When you think about conferences, you typically get to hear from one or two or three key  note, general session speakers; but this was not the case for the Legacy Grandparenting Summit! By the middle of the second day we had already heard from Larry Fowler, Josh Mulvihill, Valerie Bell, Chuck Swindoll & family, Michelle Anthony and Crawford Loritts; a full slate for sure, but this was not the end. Not at all!

Today I'm very, very happy for the opportunity to share with you what Gary Chapman had to tell us about the greatest gift grandparents can give their grandchildren. This message is one every grandparent needs to hear and will absolutely benefit from, because it will make a significant difference in the lives of their grandchildren.

So, what is this, "greatest gift", you wonder? Gary Chapman told us the greatest gift we can give our grandchildren is to model what it looks like to be grandparents who love, care for and support one another. Yes, it is the gift of showing them what it looks like to have a strong, solid marriage. He then shared with us the characteristics of marriages which are thriving in the "second half" . . . 

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Crawford Loritts - For a Time We Cannot See

As the church, and Children's Ministries in particular, come to understand the significant impact and difference engaged and intentional grandparents can and will make in the lives of their grandchildren, certainly they will want to focus upon developing strong and effective Grandparenting Ministries. Intentional Christian Grandparenting needs to be a part of every church's ministry plan,. because Grandparenting Matters.

Last week at the Legacy Grandparenting Summit, I had the privilege and great joy of listening to Crawford Loritts speak to this very thing and today I'm so happy to share with you what he had to say.

First of all, Crawford Loritts has traveled throughout the US, Caribbean, Asia, Canada, South America, Africa and parts of Europe preaching in churches, evangelistic outreaches, conferences, in colleges and seminaries. He has been the featured speaker at Super Bowls, NCAA Final Four Chapel, and the Pentagon with senior military officers. He and his wife Karen are featured speakers at Family Life marriage conferences and are co-authors of, Developing Character in Your Child. Crawford has written eight books including the newly released, Unshaken. Presently, Crawford serves as Senior Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA.

He shared with us from Psalm 78:5-7 and challenged us by saying we are here for a time we cannot see; what we do impacts future generations. He asked us, "What are we going to do with our moments?", then went on to share how family exists to steward God's purpose from one generation to the next. Think about this. What we do is not just for "now". It is for generations we will not even meet!

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Michelle Anthony

If Chuck Swindoll, his family and Larry Fowler were the only speakers at the Legacy Coalition, it would have been well worth the time to go and listen to them. However; they were not the only speakers! Over the next few days, I'm very happy to share with you more of what the general session speakers had to say to the nearly 800 grandparents who participated in the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit. Today let's take a look at what Michelle Anthony had to say about encouraging and equipping spiritual grandparents.

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - Key Note Speaker, Chuck Swindoll with His Wife & Grandchildren!

The Legacy Grandparenting Summit was a opportunity filled with "firsts" . . . 

• It was the first-ever conference focused upon Intentional Christian Grandparenting. 
• It was the first-ever opportunity for grandparents from across the country (and even from a couple other countries) to gather to be encouraged and equipped to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. 
• It was the first-ever time resource providers gathered to showcase the resources they offered for grandparents. (And there was an exhibit hall filled with resource providers and resources!) 
• It was the first-ever time when a large slate of general session speakers and breakout speakers provided time for grandparents to be encouraged and challenged as they learned to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. 

Yes, it was an opportunity filled with "firsts" for sure!

One more of these "firsts" was experienced on Tuesday night when Chuck Swindoll took the stage to speak. Yes, he has been the speaker many, many times before at conferences across the country for sure, but this time he did something he has never done before. He invited his wife and three of his grandchildren to join him on the stage to speak to us about who he and his wife are as grandparents, how they are passing on their faith, what they are doing and why.

Legacy Grandparenting Summit - The Grandparent's Declaration

I have much yet to share with you from the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit, but one essential thing I must share is the Christian Grandparenting Declaration. Larry Fowler challenged us with this in his general session this past Tuesday evening (November 15, 2016) - is it not how you want the grandparents in your church to see their roles? Watch this video . . . 

Legacy Grandparenting Summit . . . the Most Effective Thing Your Children's Ministry Could Do

When you think about your Children's Ministry, consider the following information about children and grandparents . . . 

Intentional Christian Grandparenting Because Grandparenting Matters - Prayer Stations

Today is a significant day. It is the day those of us with the Legacy Coalition have been waiting, working and praying for . . . the first day of the Legacy Grandparenting Summit!

I'll be sharing much with you over the coming days about the amazing things which happen here at the summit, but today, before everything begins, I want to invite you to join me in our Prayer Stations Room. This room was put together by Sherry Schumann and is a very important part of the summit; look at what will happen here . . . 

What Inspired You to Become Involved in Children's Ministry? What Inspires You to Continue in Children's Ministry?

On CM Connect I saw a question posted by a man named David  - he said he was being given the opportunity in an upcoming service to speak on behalf of the Children's Ministry. He asked fellow kidmins to "inspire" him. This got me to thinking about what inspired me to be involved in Childrens' Ministry in the first place and what inspires me to continue to do so.

More than 30 years ago when I was in high school I was involved in my church's bus ministry. My senior year in high school I was the captain of one of our bus routes - my senior year I also worked as a teacher's aide in a 1st grade class. One of the boys from my class rode my bus with his five brothers - they never missed a Sunday! His name was Juan. When he smiled his eyes twinkled! On our bus I told Bible stories on the way to church and on the way home. We sang songs, learned verses and had fun contests! The Sunday School Bus was "THE" place to be! The last Sunday of my senior year I was thinking about graduation later in the afternoon and wasn't going to tell a Bible story on the way home, but God really laid it on my heart to do so. After the story Juan prayed and asked Jesus into his heart!

Intentional Christian Grandparenting, Because Grandparenting Matters

Yesterday when I wrote about an important question you need to regularly ask yourself, I asked; "What about the Grandparents?" Grandparents have the potential to make a significant impact on their grandchildren if they are intentional Christian grandparents, because grandparenting matters. With this being true, how do you engage the grandparents in your church so they are intentional Christian grandparents?

The Legacy Coalition is focused upon helping churches develop solid Grandparenting Ministries, but you may wonder what are we talking about when we say; “Grandparenting Ministry”. We want you to know, Grandparenting Ministry is not necessarily ministry serving grandparents, but rather ministry which engages, equips and encourages grandparents to be intentional about passing on a heritage of faith. Cavin Harper describes this ministry as a; "Future Generations Ministry", because it is about future generations and helping them remember all God does, so they are able to faithfully and obediently follow Him.

Ask the Question - What About the Grandparents?

As I've been writing about for the past few days, when we think about the questions we need to ask on a regular basis about our Children's Ministry, there are definitely several important questions to keep in mind. One you may not think about, but need to, is; what about the grandparents? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reasons . . . 

Ask the Question - Are the Parents Equipped?

When we think about the questions we need to ask on a regular basis about our Children's Ministry, there are several important questions to keep in mind. One of them is; are the parents equipped? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reasons . . . 

An Election Day Prayer

I am so glad the day to vote is finally here. All these months of negative, rude and outright horrible things being said by both parties; I'm so ready for it to be over. As a grandma I'm disappointed I can not vote for a presidential candidate who I can point to for my grandchildren as a person who shows grace and character. Someone who is a good example in word and deed.

However; I believe God is bigger than our political system and do not put my hope or trust in anything or anyone other than Him. So, as I get ready to vote, the following is my prayer -

Dear God, please give wisdom to people today as they vote here in the USA. Regardless of the outcome, please use the result to draw people to You, deepen our trust in You and help us know and walk with You more closely. I pray in the coming days, weeks, months and years those of us who love You, will show ourselves to be people who reflect Your grace, mercy and love so people who do not know You will be drawn to You. Whoever is elected, in each office throughout our country, please give them wisdom and the desire to truly uphold the office to which they are elected with character and integrity. Thank You, Amen.

Ask the Question - Are Your Children Living?

Yesterday I asked if we are asking ourselves if the children in our ministries are learning God's Word. We need to regularly ask questions to stay on top of where we are with our Children's Ministries, what is working and what is not, and without doing this we will not know if we are really hitting the mark. 

When we think about the questions we need to ask, there is another important question to ask, which goes along with the question from yesterday . . . are the children living? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reason . . . 

Ask the Question - Are Your Children Learning?

When you think about regularly asking questions to stay on top of where you are with your Children's Ministry, what is working and what is not, you definitely have to ask if your volunteers enjoy serving. This is an important question to ask, and continue to ask, but there is another important question . . . are the children learning? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reason . . . 

Ask the Question . . . Do Your Volunteers Enjoy Serving?

Yesterday I wrote about regularly asking questions to stay on top of where you are with your Children's Ministry, what is working and what is not. Today I want to think about a specific question and how the answer impacts your Children's Ministry. 

What is this question? Here it is . . . Do your volunteers enjoy serving? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reasons . . . 

Ask the Questions

So, it is November and you are a couple months into the start of the new school year of ministry. How are things going? What is working? What is not working? What do you need? Are there any changes you need to make?

Part of what you need to do every couple months, or even on a monthly basis, is to evaluate where you are in ministry, how things are going and if you need to make any changes. If you do not, how will you know if you have gotten, "off track" or if you are, "hitting the mark"?

As you move forward this year, be committed to asking the questions you need to ask to be sure the Children's Ministry is where it needs to be. 

The "Most Exciting Thing" to Happen in Your Family Ministry & Church!

In just two weeks, the most exciting thing to happen in Family Ministry will be taking place in Frisco, Texas! What is this, "most exciting thing", you ask? Well, it is the first-ever grandparenting conference . . . the Legacy Grandparenting Summit! 

You may be wondering how a grandparenting summit is the, "most exciting thing" to ever happen in Family Ministry, well, consider the following . . .