Three years ago this Summer I was invited to join a group of people to see what we
could do help churches engage, equip and encourage grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. This group became the Legacy Coalition - Grandparenting Matters!
Larry Fowler, the founder of Legacy Coalition, wrote about how 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 will agree it is insufficient in either case.
You are not able to 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."