Grandparenthood: sowing seeds of faith

**Attention Christian grandparents! Join us in Erina or online for the National Grandparent Conference coming up on Saturday August 29, 2026. Find out more on our website.**

We are living in a time when it seems that people everywhere feel overwhelmed by the pressures and uncertainties of life. Added to this is a growing concern for the future of our children and grandchildren.

Yet there is hope.

A way of life

The opportunity for Christian grandparents to leave a lasting legacy of faith has never been greater. For those of us who have walked with Christ for many years and are navigating this season of life, the Apostle Paul gives us a simple yet profound picture of the life that leaves an enduring impact:

‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ (Romans 12:12)

These three qualities are more than attitudes to admire—they are a way of life that our grandchildren can see and remember.

I believe that in many families today, Christian grandparents are uniquely placed to be a source of hope. Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the significant role older generations play in passing on faith. Passages such as Psalm 78:5–8 and 2 Timothy 1:3–5 reveal God's heart for one generation declaring his works to the next.

Perhaps I am a little biased. In 2017, I founded the National Grandparent Movement to encourage and equip grandparents to become intentional in passing on their faith in Jesus to their grandchildren. 

Since then, I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of grandparents across Australia and overseas. While each family has its own story, one common thread unites them all—Christian grandparents have a deep love for their children and grandchildren and an earnest desire that they, too, will come to know the hope of Christ and the promise of eternal life.

Perhaps you are asking yourself, ‘Can this really happen?’

I believe it can.

The answer is found, in part, in Paul's words in Romans 12. Our greatest influence is not simply in what we say, but in the way we live.

Larry McCall, author of Grandparenting with Grace, writes:

‘My fellow grandparents, our lives—the way we live everyday life—is what will leave a lasting impact on our grandchildren. That's what they will remember: not just our words, but the way we lived everyday life. That's what they'll talk about at our funerals.’

I believe he is right.

When we remain joyful in hope despite life's disappointments, we demonstrate a faith worth following. When we show patience as age brings its own challenges, we reveal the quiet strength that comes from trusting God. These qualities become living testimonies to God's faithfulness through every season of life.

And then there is prayer.

Far too often I hear grandparents say, ‘But what can I do?’, ‘They won't listen to me’, or ‘I'm too old’.

Don't believe the lie that God has finished with you (Philippians 1:6). If there is one ministry every grandparent can embrace, it is prayer. While you may not always be able to speak to your children or grandchildren about God, you can always speak to God about your children and grandchildren. Never underestimate what God can accomplish through the faithful prayers of a grandparent.

Lives that tell a story

Over the years, we have all heard the saying, ‘Actions speak louder than words’. Whatever we may think of that expression, it captures an important truth about grandparenting. Our example, our presence, and our consistent love often speak more powerfully than our words.

If we long to see our grandchildren follow Christ, then our own lives must continually point them to him. Our journey with Jesus should tell the story of his faithfulness—how he has guided us, forgiven us, strengthened us and sustained us through every season. Long before our grandchildren remember what we said, they will remember how we lived.

Passing on the baton of faith is a lifelong journey. It is rarely accomplished through one conversation or one significant event, but through years of faithful, everyday living. Like the Shepherd of Psalm 23, God leads us through green pastures, quiet waters, dark valleys, and overflowing blessings. 

As we continue to walk with him, our lives sow seeds of faith that, in God's perfect timing, can take root in the hearts of our grandchildren. Often it is in our later years that we begin to see the fruit of decades of faithful prayer, patient perseverance, and Christlike example.

The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the influence his own life had made:

‘You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance ...’ (2 Timothy 3:10)

What a wonderful testimony it would be if our own grandchildren came to know the same things about us. They may not remember every conversation we had, but they will remember the kind of people we were. They will remember whether our faith was genuine, whether our love was consistent, and whether we remained faithful through both joy and hardship.

As you reflect on the ways God has shaped your life, remember that your journey is not simply your story—it is part of the spiritual inheritance you are passing on to the generations that follow. The legacy we leave is built day by day through lives that are joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

If you would like to be encouraged and equipped in this calling, I warmly invite you to join us at the 9th National Grandparent Conference to be held on 29 August 2026 at EV Church, Erina. Together we will celebrate God's faithfulness and explore practical ways to leave a living legacy of faith for the generations to come.

For more information, visit the National Grandparent Movement website.

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Ian Barnett and his wife Rhonda have three children and seven grandchildren. Ian is the CEO and founder of the National Grandparent Movement and the editor of Footsteps for Future Generations: The Faith Legacy Grandparents Leave.

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