Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

Throughout Scripture, God’s design for spiritual legacy is straightforward: each generation is called to pass on its faith to the next. This divine mandate extends beyond parents to grandparents, who play a vital role in teaching future generations about God’s faithfulness, power, and love. With wisdom gained through years of walking with the Lord, grandparents are uniquely equipped to share the transformative truths of God’s Word and demonstrate what a life of faith looks like.

This biblical calling for grandparents has never been more crucial in today’s increasingly secular culture. While society may view retirement as a time to step back, Scripture presents a different vision — where grandparents actively invest in their grandchildren’s spiritual development. With approximately 30 million grandparents in the United States, their potential to impact young lives for Christ is immense. Rather than embracing a leisure culture, grandparents are called to be spiritual warriors, mentors, and living testimonies of   God’s faithfulness for the next generation.

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

These verses are an excellent generational reminder of the importance of passing on the faith to the next generation. The Bible makes it clear that parents and grandparents are primarily responsible for teaching children about God and His great love for them. The role of godly parents and grandparents is to communicate their faith in Jesus Christ and pray diligently.

Linda Schlueter, a beloved grandparent, is doing just that. She taught at Maranatha for several years and now spends three days a week volunteering to assist kids one-on-one. “I love teaching. I love the kids. I love it here.” Although Linda has a long drive to Maranatha, she does it because it feels like home.

Linda believes wholeheartedly in Christian education. “I taught in the public schools for several years, and I was so thankful that my daughter decided to send her children here to a Christian school.” Linda didn’t plan on teaching at Maranatha, as she had just recently semi-retired, but with her grandchildren attending, she started teaching music for three years before volunteering.  We are so grateful to the many grandparents, like Linda, who partner with Maranatha in prayer, volunteering, and financial support as they aim to pass on a godly legacy to the next generation. We invite you to join our grandparent community and pray for the next generation’s faith.

A true legacy is not what we leave behind but what we instill in others. God calls parents and grandparents to pass on their faith to future generations. The most significant and lasting gift grandparents can give is to be their grandchildren’s prayer warriors, affecting and imprinting their generation with God’s faithfulness. These prayers can make a significant impact for a lifetime.