Legacy Grandparenting

In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe talk with James and Geoffrey Banks, co-authors of Hope Lies Ahead: Encouragement for Parents of Prodigals from a Family That’s Been There. James is the founding pastor of Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina and a speaker at this year’s Legacy Grandparenting Summit. Geoffrey Banks is the son of James Banks and is currently the youth pastor at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. But before Geoff became a youth pastor, he spent more than a decade as a “prodigal,” following the crowd rather than Jesus. Geoff shares openly how he became addicted to drugs and walked away from his faith while his parents prayed fervently for his return. James and Geoff share their remarkable story of redemption and offer hope and guidance for parents and grandparents who are currently praying for their prodigal children or grandchildren.For more information: https://jamesbanks.org/

What role do grandparents play in making disciples of grandchildren? How can grandparents support their children as they lead their children to follow Christ? In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe have a lively conversation with Barrett Johnson, founder of “INFO for Families” and author of Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading Your Kids the Way Christ Led the Twelve. Johnson describes a simple strategy for discipleship based upon the ministry Christ had with his disciples and he shares his personal story which has compelled him to leave a spiritual legacy for his children and grandchildren. John and Wayne also talk with Barrett about his online course “Smartphones 101” and the impact that technology is having on family life today. Learn more about Barrett Johnson's ministry at https://www.infoforfamilies.com/

There are lots of excellent resources available now for older adults who want to share their life stories with their children and grandchildren. In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe talk with Sheri Kohlmann, founder and director of More Than Words, Inc., an organization that helps adults of all ages to reflect on their lives in a more meaningful and in-depth way and to share their stories with guided autobiographies, ethical wills and other methods for preserving and passing on a legacy that can last for generations. During the podcast, Sheri demonstrates her interviewing skills by getting John Coulombe to open up about some of his formative early memories. For more information about More Than Words, visit www.morethanwordsinc.com.

In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, John Coulombe interviews his good friends Steve and Annie Chapman who have for some 50 years been performing and recording together, conducting parenting seminars and developing other resources focused on faith and family issues. You’ll learn how they got started with their ministry, what they have learned along the way, and what they are doing now to encourage their children and grandchildren to follow Christ faithfully. You will also hear some of their music as they tell the stories behind the songs. For more information about Steve and Annie Chapman, visit steveandanniechapman.com.Songs included in this episode:"Finish Well" words and music by Steve Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/BMI 2008"Love Was Spoken" words and music by Steve Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/BMI 1998"We Are Family" words and music by Steve Chapman/Times & Seasons Music/BMI 2018

Bill Parkinson is one of the founding pastors of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, a mega-church that has been serving grandparents for many years. In this conversation with John Coulombe and Wayne Rice, Bill explains how the ministry got started and how it has managed to remain sustainable over time. He shares key principles for not only getting a grandparenting ministry started, but how to help it grow into an important part of the church's overall discipleship strategy.

Kim Botto has worked with children and youth for several decades at Crossroads Church – a multi-site megachurch with locations in Ohio and Kentucky and she has been uniquely gifted with a heart for children who have been neglected, bullied, abused, traumatized or have had trouble just “fitting in.” In this podcast she talks with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe about how we as grandparents and church leaders can help create environments where children like these will feel safe, included and welcome. Kim is a certified trauma and resilience coach, a grandmother of ten and a popular speaker at conferences and training events nationwide. Resources mentioned in this podcast:The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Scallywag Press Ltd) 2020What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry (Flatiron Books) 2021The Velveteen Rabbit by Marjorie Williams (George H. Doran, New York) 1922Everyone Poops by Tarō Gomi (Fukuinkan Shoten, Tokyo) 1977The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins) 1964Wherever You Go I Want to Know by Isabel Lundy (Good Book Company) 2020. Available at LegacyCoalition.com bookstore.His Grace is Enough: How God Makes It Right When We’ve Got It Wrong by Isabel Lundy (Good Book Company) 2022. Available from the LegacyCoalition.com bookstore.My Wish Of All Wishes by Larry Fowler (Legacy Coalition) 2023. Available from the LegacyCoalition.com bookstore.

In this episode, podcast co-hosts Wayne Rice and John Coulombe have a conversation with Phil Comer, who—along with his wife Diane—started a ministry called Intentional Parents, teaching parents how to raise “passionate Jesus followers.” Phil shares his life journey, including his time as a drummer in a rock band, a worship leader for evangelist Luis Palau, and co-pastor (with his son John Mark Comer) of a thriving church in Portland, Oregon. He also offers advice to grandparents who want to come alongside their adult children as they intentionally parent their grandchildren to follow Christ. Phil's website: IntentionalParents.orgBooks referenced: Raising Passionate Jesus-Followers by Phil and Diane ComerThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerLive No Lies by John Mark Comer

Our special guest on this podcast is Peter Menconi, a former pastor and author of the book The Intergenerational Church. He joins Wayne Rice and John Coulombe for a very informative conversation about the various generations that populate not only our churches but our families. How are they different? How are they alike? And what can we do as grandparents to communicate Christ effectively to the generations coming up behind us? Peter encourages grandparents to leverage their wisdom and experience as mentors and influencers of the younger generations and he provides examples and good ideas that can be put into practice immediately.

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen is a professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and the author two recent books, Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation in Healthy Development and Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship (2nd Edition).  In this conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, Dr. Allen explains how spiritual formation can impact resilience in children, a much-needed trait in today's  world.  Their discussion then turns to the topic of the intergenerational church and why such churches are so beneficial for the healthy spiritual growth of children.

John Fischer is a pioneer of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) movement who has written some of the church's most familiar and beloved songs and choruses. He has also written dozens of books including Saint Ben, Fearless Faith and 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee. For years, he wrote daily devotions for Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life ministry and he continues to write and teach from his website and ministry called "The Catch." (catchjohnfischer.live). In this unscripted conversation, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe talk about music, the Jesus Movement and how to "think young" while growing old.

Gordon MacDonald is the former pastor of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts and author of numerous best-selling books on leadership, marriage and the spiritual life. He has also served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of World Relief, and Chancellor of Denver Theological Seminary. In this conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, Gordon reflects on his lifetime of ministry and offers advice to people of grandparenting age who want to remain relevant and influential during the last quarter of their lives.  He also discusses the power of mentoring relationships, the art of aging gracefully and the joy of looking forward to heaven.

Ben Patterson is a popular author, speaker and former Campus Pastor at Westmont College in Montecito, California. In this conversation with co-hosts Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, he discusses his new book When God Showed Up: A Memoir of the Surprising Work of God at Hope College 1994-2000.  A student revival broke out while Ben served as Dean of the Chapel at Hope College (Holland, Michigan), similar to recent revivals at other schools such as Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. Ben shares his experience with revivals and his thoughts on how God uses them to transform not only institutions but individual lives. In this episode, Ben also shares principles from his books Muscular Faith and God's Prayer Book, applying them to intentional Christian grandparenting.

“One of these days” is when most of us intend to write down (or video-record) our significant life stories and memories so that our grandchildren will have a permanent record of what God has done in our lives and what we’ve learned during our lifetimes. Now there are several high- and low-tech resources to help “one of these days” get here a lot sooner. In this podcast, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe interview two entrepreneurs who have created brand new ways to capture stories and memories from your life and share them with your children and grandchildren. Jeremy Bryant is the co-founder of No Story Lost, a company that can help you get your life story published in book form—from the writing to the publication. Eric Simons is the co-founder of the Novella app which can capture your story on video and make it available to family members online.  Also in this episode, Wayne shares how he went about getting his own autobiography written and published for his grandkids. If you are interested in leaving a written or recorded legacy of faith for your grandkids, this podcast can help get you started.Resources referenced during this podcast:No Story Lost is a great way to get a beautiful book written and published about your life. If you would like more information, contact Jeremy Bryant by e-mail: jeremy@nostorylost.com. The Novella app makes it easy to record meaningful and cherished family stories privately and securely. Visit the Novella website to download the app.  It’s free and it’s available now. If you would like to volunteer to provide feedback on their latest product – visit https://www.meetnovella.com/grandparentsStoryworth is another service that helps you write a keepsake book for your grandkids. They send you questions that you answer and then those answers are compiled into a published book. A Grandparents Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words: This is a book that you "fill in the blanks," answering questions and writing down stories from your life. The completed book can then be given to your grandchildren. Available from the Legacy Coalition bookstore and other booksellers.

Dr. Frank Turek and Hanna Sims recently co-authored a curriculum called "Yes, God is Real" which is designed to teach apologetics to children between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. Dr. Turek is the best-selling author of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Become an Atheist and Hanna Sims is a children's ministry specialist. They believe that today's children need to learn earlier than ever before that the Christian faith is not based on subjective opinions or personal choices but on truth, evidence and the solid foundation of God's Word. Dr. Turek and Ms. Sims discuss with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe such questions as "What is apologetics?" and "Aren't children too young for apologetics?" and they point grandparents to resources that can strengthen the faith of children and give them the tools they need to stand firm during their teen and young adult years. "This curriculum is not just for kids," says Coulombe. "We grandparents can learn a lot about apologetics from this material too."Websites referenced during this podcast include:https://www.networkerstec.com/https://crossexamined.org/https://412teens.org/https://www.gotquestions.org/https://gqkidz.org/

Denise Shick is the founder and CEO of “Help 4 Families,” a ministry which provides resources and encouragement for families dealing with gender confusion among one or more family members. In this candid conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, she tells the story of how her father transitioned to become a woman when she (Denise) was only nine years old. She talks about how this impacted her life and her family, and how her quest for the truth led her to faith in Christ and a biblical perspective on the topic. Since then, she has become well-known as an expert on gender/transgender confusion and has written numerous books on the subject, including several children’s books. In this podcast, she speaks directly to grandparents on how to navigate this difficult topic with their grandkids.Denise Shick books mentioned in this podcast:My Daddy’s Secret by Denise ShickUnderstanding Gender Confusion: A Faith-based Perspective by Denise ShickTransgender Confusion: A Biblical Q&A for Families by Denise ShickDangerous Affirmations by Denise ShickChildren’s Books:My Daddy’s Secret by Denise ShickThe Boy Who Liked Tea Parties by Denise ShickWhen Daddy Leaves to Become a Girl by Denise ShickAmazing Amanda by Denise Shick I’m Glad God Made Me a Girl by Denise ShickDo Superheroes Play the Piano by Denise Shick

When Steven Arms turned 13, his father and grandfather surprised him by taking him away for a weekend retreat which changed his life forever. He was welcomed into manhood by not only his father and Bobo, his grandfather, but by several other significant men in his life who taught him the true meaning of manhood. In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, Steven describes for Wayne Rice and John Coulombe his weekend “Rite of Passage” experience and why he believes it is especially important in today’s world of extended adolescence and gender confusion.

Tim Robertson is Director of Global Partnerships for the Legacy Coalition and in this lively conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe he shares some of his favorite books for reading with grandchildren. He also discusses his role with the Legacy Coalition and how intentional Christian grandparenting is spreading all around the world. You will enjoy Tim’s sense of humor, his love for baseball, classic rock, and his passion for next-generation discipleship.Here are links to the books and resources mentioned in this podcast:Go to WTSBooks.com for these books:66 Books, One Story by Paul Reynolds30 Prophecies, One Story by Paul ReynoldsThe Acrostic of Jesus by Jonathan Gibson and Timothy BrindleThe Awesome, Super Fantastic Forever Party by Joni Eareckson TadaThe Biggest Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoungDid God Learn His ABC’s by Amy GannettDoes God Sleep by Amy GannettDoes God Go on Vacation by Amy GannettFinding Jesus on Upside-Down Days by Jill A. MillerThe Garden, The Curtain and The Cross by Carl Laferton, Carl and Catalina EcheverriHis Grace is Enough by Melissa KrugerWherever You Go, I Want You to Know by Melissa KrugerHow Great Is Our God by Louie GiglioIndescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science by Louie GiglioThe Gospel Coalition for an article by Kathryn Butler “How to Wisely Choose Kids Books”Grandparenting Matters for information on the one-day seminar you can bring to your church.Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund is found on many shopping websites including Amazon.com

Dr. Kathy Koch discusses with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe some of the main ideas found in her books about how to raise capable, confident children in today's world. She talks about the "Eight Great Smarts" that every child needs to cultivate with the help of parents and grandparents. She talks about how to motivate children to become more compassionate, responsible and brave. She explains why it's detrimental when our children are "bubble-wrapped" so that they won't experience failure or hardship.  Resilient children need to learn from their mistakes and develop the life-skills that will help them become capable self-reliant adults, she says.  Dr. Koch will also be speaking this year at the 2023 Legacy Grandparenting Summit, so this podcast will give you a preview of what to expect.

John Trent and his daughter Kari are guests on the first podcast of Season Three. They talk with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe about The Blessing and how grandparents can include this simple but powerful act of love, kindness and generosity into their grandparenting toolbox. During the conversation, Kari describes the difference that The Blessing has made in her own life and how it can completely change a young person's life today. We guarantee that you will receive a blessing if you listen to this podcast all the way to the end.

If you have ever felt like you are far from being the perfect grandparent, this episode is for you. Our good friend and popular speaker and comedian Ken Davis talks with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe about how grandparents can overcome their imperfections by doing the little things that matter most to our grandkids.  Ken also gives grandparents some tips on how to use humor appropriately and even offers a few jokes that will make your grandkids laugh.  In addition, he discusses his latest book Fully Alive and shares his thoughts on how grandparents can stay fully alive for their grandchildren.