We need grandparents in children’s ministry

When I served in the children’s ministry in my home church as a young adult, one of our faithful volunteers was Grandpa Ed. Grandpa Ed showed up nearly every week and was what we called a “listener”—he wasn’t in a classroom or teaching a Bible lesson, but as kids worked through their memory verses in their classroom, he was available in another area to work one-on-one with kids to memorize or recite their verse. And they loved him.

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Julie (not her real name) was a young girl in our midweek children’s ministry program. Her leaders were pretty sure she came from a rough home, and she clearly struggled with her self-image. But when she walked through the door, she found another grandparent-ly couple that loved her. They became a special part of her life, loving her and her family in and outside the church building.

I didn’t get to know Harvey, but when I started attending Blumenort Community Church, it was clear that he was a beloved “grandparent” to many, even though he had no kids of his own. He was an integral part of our church’s camp and made a positive impact on many.

I remember conversations with the ministry’s leadership team at my childhood church asking why this was —why the grandparents in our ministry were so loved by the kids. And while we tossed around many ideas—some don’t have grandparents nearby, or maybe they are ill or have passed away—in the end, it boiled down to the fact that grandparents are just special, and not every kid has a grandparent in their life.

As one of my more impactful Sunday school teachers liked to say (a grandparent-aged one, now that I think about it)—so what? What can we do to encourage natural and intentional relationships with the young families or the seniors we worship with?

Keeping kids in the sanctuary for at least part of the worship service is a great start. Learning the names of the kids (or grandparents!) in the pew next to you and getting to know them, even if that means moving out of the ‘young families’ safe zone, is another step in crossing generations. A potluck with the whole church, not just young families or seniors can help us mix better (though focused potlucks have their place too!)

And for the churches with a formal children’s ministry, making sure your volunteers cover every generation is a great idea. If kids don’t have grandparents around, chances are you also have grandparents in your church without their grandkids close. Invite them to be grandparents to the kids in your ministry. Can they serve snacks? Help with greeting and check-in? Lead a small group time? Memorize verses? Pull out the flannelgraph to teach a lesson like they used to? (Side note: if you haven’t used flannelgraph in a while, that means it's something new!) Help with a craft night? Colour or do a puzzle with the kid who can’t participate in physical activity or just needs a break?

Grandparents—the kids in your church need you! Even if they have grandparents of their own, you have the opportunity to love, connect, and be kept young and “in the know” by the kid in the chair in front of you!