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Saturday, October 6th – SAVE THE DATE

We often receive “SAVE THE DATE” announcements for important events such as weddings, birthday parties, or anniversaries.  Well, here is an important “Save the Date” announcement for Saturday, October 6, 2018—Biblical Grandparenting Conference from 9 am to 4 pm at First Baptist Church Wentzville.

Biblical Grandparenting……What does that mean?  What does that look like?   How can we do it?  Where can I go for assistance?

There are many verses in the Bible that instruct us what we should do as Grandparents.  Not a single verse tells us to spoil them, fill them full of sugar and send them home.  I admit that is sometimes tempting since it is so easy to do and besides maybe have a little fun (or pay back) with their parents!

Deuteronomy 4:9 in the NIV reads; “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them

We are to tell always and show when possible what God has done in our lives as long as He allows us to live in this world……no retirement from teaching our Grandkids and Great Grandkids about God, if He allows us to live that long.

I had an elderly Grandmother that I only got to see a couple of times a year since we lived on a dairy farm and she lived in another state—no cell phones, no Skype, no Facetime back then. She seemed to be a nice lady, but I did not have the Grandparent/Grandchild relationship with her.  I had no idea what I was missing until I met my girlfriend’s (now my wife) Grandparents.  They were always kind to me but more importantly, they were such a godly influence on my wife their entire life.  They shared not only the fun times with her but always, always shared not only what God was doing in their lives but also what God could do in hers.  I WANT TO BE THAT TYPE OF GRANDPARENT!  What about you?  We retired a few years ago, and I hate the HOT summers in Missouri, and I hate the COLD winters as well.  So, I thought about moving to the mountains for 6 months then moving to the south for the other 6 months.  Guess what?  We moved to Wentzville so we could be an active part of our Grandchildren’s lives.

The Grandparent Ministry at FBC Wentzville is less than 24 months old but many individuals and couples have had the opportunity to learn how and what we can do to be Biblical Grandparents and to be intentional about sharing Christ with our Grandkids no matter their ages.

This year on Saturday, October 6 from 9:00 – 4:00, we will have a one-day conference with guest speaker Josh Mulvihill, Ph.D.  Josh is a pastor and author of numerous books including: “Biblical Grandparenting.” Josh is a short and to the point type of speaker.  His teaching is very easy to follow and understand.  He will cause you to think, as well as give you practical lessons on how to apply the various topics to your life situations.  Not all have Grandparents like my wife did, sometimes life throws us a curve.  Josh calls that “Messy Grandparenting.”

Some of the topics Josh will cover are:

Understanding the Biblical Role of Grandparents. Every grandparent is given a God-ordained role that is not interchangeable with any other member of the family. Come to this seminar to gain a laser-like focus on what a grandparent’s role is as well as learn the responsibilities grandparents are given by God from the Bible.

Discipling Grandchildren: 8 Spiritual Practices Every Grandparent Can Do. Do you want to help your grandchildren grow in their walk with the Lord? The eight practices presented in this seminar are a synthesis of Josh’s Ph.D. research regarding the best practices that grandparents from across the country utilize to help grandchildren grow in spiritual maturity. You will walk away with practical tools and specific ways that you can invest in the spiritual growth of grandchildren.

Gospel Shaped Grandparenting: 5 Statements that Can Transform Your Family. What difference does the gospel make to grandparenting? For many people, an understanding of the gospel is muddy and it does not translate into everyday living. In this seminar, you will learn how to apply the gospel to the everyday problems you face as grandparents. The gospel provides relational guidance, answers to difficult family situations, and priorities with grandchildren. If you find yourself wondering how you should navigate a family situation, then this seminar may prove helpful. 

Those who attended last year’s conference with Larry Fowler walked away with several tools on becoming an intentional Biblical Grandparent.  This year will be another great opportunity to learn how we can teach our Grandchildren what God has done in our lives as the Bible instructs us to do.

Come and meet Josh on Saturday, October 6.  The $10 conference fee even includes lunch and snacks.  Join us at 9:00 am.  You can go to our website www.fbcwentzville.com to purchase tickets or stop by the Ministry Table in the foyer on Sunday mornings to learn more and get your tickets.

By Chuck Mason

Posted by Chuck & Barb Mason with