Change the Lives of Children & Families

Did you know Children's Ministry is a great fit for equipping grandparents? Did you know studies show most children go to church every other week? This means out of 336 hours (the number of hours in two weeks) children are at church for just one to three hours (depending on if they also go to the mid-week Children's Ministry - read the book, The Question Nobody Asks About Our Children for more info on this.). 

Even in a best case scenario where a child is at church every time the doors are open, they are only there for six out of 336 hours. How is a Children's Ministry possibly able to hand down faith if a child is only at church for one to three hours out of 336? Which also leaves us with the question; "Is it the 'job' of the Children's Ministry to hand down the faith? And, "If it is not the Children's Ministry's 'job', then whose job is it?"

God gives us the answer! It is not the "job" of the church. It is the job of grandparents and parents - look in Deuteronomy 4 and 6. God doesn't want faith to be something children get from just a few hours every couple weeks. No! His plan is for faith to be something which is part of every moment of our day-in-day-out lives. Clearly this is not something the Children's Ministry/church is able to do. This is the "job" - and great joy - of the grandparents and parents!

However; this does not mean there is not a "job" for the Children's Ministry and church. If the church - Children's Ministry were to equip and engage grandparents (and parents) to hand down faith, can you imagine the difference it would make in impacting children! And how amazing would it be for Children's Ministries to be able to come alongside grandparents/parents and build on what was happening at home! If they see the impact they could make in the lives of the children in their ministries by equipping and engaging grandparents, I believe the impact would be significant!

It is for this reason two of our Grandmas with Heart are now available to consult with Children's Ministry/church leaders and help them develop a strong ministry which equips, encourages, empowers and engages grandparents (and parents) in handing down the faith to the children they love. Lynda has 43 years experience in Children's Ministry, is a charter member of the Legacy Coalition and the founder of Grandmas with Heart. She worked for five years for Gospel Light, five years for Group Publishing and thirteen years for Kregel helping churches train volunteers, has a passion for equipping grandparents and parents - the generations - to hand down the faith, has been writing about this for nine years and taught workshops on the topic at conferences for grandparents and for Children's Ministry leaders. You are able to connect with Lynda at - lyndagcj@gmail.com 

Cathy is also a charter member of the Legacy Coalition and was the first grandma to join Lynda as a Grandma with Heart. She served on the staff at her parish for 14 years as the full-time Director of Children and Family Ministry. As part of this team, she transformed the Children’s Ministry into a center for training parents and grandparents who encourage their children to become life long followers of Jesus.  This passion for increasing the impact of a parent and grandparent’s impact on their child’s heart led to the creation of Pass the Legacy. You are able to connect with Cathy at - cathy@passthelegacy.com

Both Lynda and Cathy would be delighted to help you and the leaders in your church understand and begin a ministry to equip grandparents to hand down the faith. Please share our info with the leaders in your church and lets see how we are able to engage, equip, empower and encourage the generations to hand down the faith!