Connect with a Group You May Not Think Of . . .

In your church there is a group of people you may not be aware of who care very much about the things you do in your Children's Ministry. These people are likely some of your most faithful prayer warriors and many even serve as volunteers as well.

Who is this group of people? Grandparents. Yes, grandparents. Grandparents are the second most influential people in the lives of the children in your ministry - second only to parents. In many cases it is the grandparents who bring their grandchildren to church. In many cases it is the grandparents to focus upon handing down the faith at home. In many cases it is the grandparents who encourage their grandchildren to love, know and walk with God.

Yes, an effective Children's Ministry must also engage and equip parents, but do not forget the grandparents. They need to be engaged, equipped and encouraged as well, because it truly does matter what they do.

Did you know . . . 

• The average age a person first become a grandparent is 48 - yes, just 48!
• 72% think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life
• 63% say they can do a better job caring for grandchildren than they did with their own
• 68% think being a grandparent brings them closer to their adult children
• 90% enjoy talking about their grandchildren to just about everyone
• More than 60% of grandparents are babyboomers
• 75% are online
• 70% use search engines to find information
• 63% shop online
• 30% instant message
• 56% share photos online
• 46% bank online
• 45% are on social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Yahoo! Groups
• 60% still have a full-time or part-time job
• They make 45% of the nation’s cash contributions to nonprofit organizations.
• They account for 42% of all consumer spending on gifts.
• They spend $52 billion every year on their grandchildren alone.

• They spend $32 billion on education-related costs.

• 62% have provided financial support to their adult children and grandchildren in the last 12 months:

• 23% on daycare

• 40% on housing (mortgage or rent)

• 21% on education

• 70% on cash for day-to-day expenses

• 24% on health care

• 60% live close to their grandchildren
• 46% wish they could live even closer
• 70% see their grandchildren at least once a week
• 66% travel with their grandchildren
• 81% have their grandchildren for part or all of their summer vacation
• 72% take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis
• 13% are primary caregivers
• 92% have changed their grandchild's diaper
• 64% accompany their adult children or grandchildren to the doctor
• 86% bake cookies for their family
• 6.2 million — or 5.3% of all U.S. households — are now multigenerational — up from 5 million in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey.

(From grandparents.com)

In the coming week, we will look at ways to engage, equip and encourage grandparents - what they do matters.