While it is likely none of us would say a ministry which engaged grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith was a "bad" thing, few churches actually engage this group of people in their church. They typically have a "senior saints" ministry which provides opportunities for the older generation to fellowship, but typically offers anything else. We in the church, sadly, have followed the mind-set in our culture, described by Cavin Harper as one which contributes to an unbiblical and distorted view of grandparents - all they do is fill the grandchildren with sugar and send them home, so the grandparents are able to take trips or retire to a community where they may relax and enjoy life.
We do not see this in the Bible. God's Word tells us grandparents have a very important, and essential, role in passing on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. God has a purpose for grandparents, and since the average age of a first-time grandparent is 47, the church can not afford to continue to ignore this group of people in it's community.
I have been talking about what a Grandparenting Ministry; a Future Generations Ministry looks like for some time, and will continue to do so. It impacts both the children in our ministries and our ministries in a very positive way when we in the Children's Ministry decide to be intentional about engaging, equipping ad encouraging grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren.
What do you think? Do you have a Grandparenting Ministry at your church? Are you interested in starting a Grandparenting Ministry at your church?
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