“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, oh God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” Ps.71:18
I love this scripture. It proclaims 3 of the most important principles that all men should embrace. World changing principles. Principles that make our roles as fathers and grandfathers indispensable.
1. VISION – King David recognized the “next generation” needed to know God themselves and that their own personal experience and revelation of Almighty God would determine their future hope.
2. LEADERSHIP – “Till I declare your power”. David assumed responsibility for the next generation. He believed he played a significant role as a patriarch in passing on Gods love and power to “those who are to come.”
3. DEPENDENCE – In spite of his authority, courage and abilities as king, David acknowledged his need of Gods enablement. “…do not forsake me oh God…”.
These three principles provide the framework for the GRAMPA’S TIME mandate. We believe that the next generation needs their own revelation and experience with Jesus. We believe that as grandfathers and fathers we have a responsibility and call to function as Godly, engaged, spiritual leaders and patriarchs in our families, communities and churches. We believe that as we engage in this manner the Holy Spirit will impact the next generation in a profound way because of our faithfulness and obedience.
The kingdom of darkness is aggressively endeavouring to emasculate the human race and specifically the Body of Christ. The social, political, moral and spiritual attacks that have come against believers on a global scale are strong indicators that the spiritual enemies we face are working to usurp God’s place as the foundation of every institution on earth. At the center of those attacks is the intentional dismantling of the family.
For decades there has been the constant undermining of the home. Marital breakdown, aborted babies, sexual confusion, sexual immorality, parental disengagement from children, materialism over relationships, etc. etc. Many would say that these are just the consequences of a modern society and the results of a progressive world. They may have an argument to a degree however each of these issues have served to erode the strength of the home and the home is the foundation of every successful civilization.
God loves people. Not with an “I think these creatures are cool” kind of love but an Agape Love, a God Love. A love that cost our Saviour His life in order to redeem the human race.
Maybe the most subtle but tactful scheme our enemy has employed is the displacement of men as the heads of their family structures. There has been an intentional strategy to emasculate and feminize our society by telling the men of society that they are too dominant and too influential. Men have been under attack for decades and told they need to surrender their role as leaders. Without entering into a debate of the human weaknesses that many of us men display, it must be stated that Gods order has always and will always function under the principle of “Headship”. God our Father is the Head of all things. Just as satan’s ploys operate in a hierarchy and authoritative structure so does the Kingdom of Light. God is a God of order and not confusion. The structure is broken and must be restored. God’s spirit flows from generation to generation through an orderly manner. Obviously God is never without a plan but when the man’s role is displaced it creates a disconnect for the optimal fulfillment of the generational experience and understanding of Gods best.
It is with this challenge in mind that GRAMPA’S TIME was born.
Our campaign is to respond to this disconnect by enlisting, equipping, encouraging and empowering 1,000,000 grandfathers to acknowledge their role as the family patriarch and to impart the blessing of God to the youngest generation alive today.
We are enlisting men by calling them out and challenging them to make a commitment to take the necessary steps and to stand strong as men of God over their families. We are the PATRIARCHS and God is calling us to effectively function in that capacity.
The Plan!!
We are equipping men, through workshops, men’s breakfasts, Sunday services, one on one, small group study resources, social media, national media, men’s relational networks and any other means available. The GRAMPA’S TIME mission is to educate and mobilize men in the following 5 areas:
– In their role as PATRIARCHS
– Understanding the BLESSING:
1. Knowledge of God
2. Power of God
3. Favour of God
4. Purpose of God
5. Design of God
– The principle of LAYING ON OF HANDS
– The power of the SPOKEN WORD
– The journey of FAITH
If you’ve read this far, you are interested and are at least semi motivated to take your place in this very critical campaign. The kingdom needs you, your family needs you and other men need you. Join us now. Discover and embrace what you are being called to.
Remember. It’s GRAMPA’S TIME!!!
Cal Ellerby