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) 2020
• What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry (Flatiron Books) 2021
• The Velveteen Rabbit by Marjorie Williams (George H. Doran, New York) 1922
• Everyone Poops by Tarō Gomi (Fukuinkan Shoten, Tokyo) 1977
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (HarperCollins) 1964
• Wherever 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.org
Books referenced:

• Raising Passionate Jesus-Followers by Phil and Diane Comer
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• Live No Lies by John Mark Comer