Ffrom the ounder’ s Pen
Ffrom the ounder’ s Pen
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of The RenewaNation Review magazine. We have once again filled it with articles that will inspire and equip you to give the children in your care a biblical worldview. If you appreciate this magazine, please pass it along to others. You can also order it in bulk for your church or school for only the cost of shipping.
Not long ago, I was at our camp and farm in Tennessee, and my six-year-old grandson Marshall asked me to take him on a four-wheeler ride to the top of our mountain. The two-mile trail to the top is an incredible and beautiful ride through the woods. Marshall has a tremendous sense of beauty, and as we are riding, he will often talk about how beautiful the scenery is. I’ m always amazed that a six-year-old is so aesthetically aware.
As we reached what we call the pinnacle of the mountain, we shut off the four-wheeler and were just standing and enjoying God’ s amazing creation. It was at this moment when Marshall turned theological and philosophical on me. He looked up at me and asked,“ Papaw, only Christians go to heaven, right?” I said,“ That’ s right.” He then said,“ Mommy and Daddy are Christians, aren’ t they?” I said,“ Oh, yes!” He then tore my heart out when he said,“ Papaw, I don’ t want you to die before I die.” I assured him that I would likely be alive for a long time, and then he amused me by adding,“ But if you live till I get married, you’ re going to be really old.”
We rode back down the mountain, and I told my wife Michele about my conversation with Marshall. He was standing close to us, quietly listening, when he suddenly piped up and asked,“ Papaw, what do you have to do to go to heaven?” Wow! For the first time, I shared the gospel directly with my grandson. I didn’ t twist his arm and try to get him to pray the sinner’ s prayer, but I know the Holy Spirit is preparing his heart and mind to fully accept Christ someday.
Michele and I are taking our role as grandparent influencers very seriously. Our grandkids can’ t wait for us to arrive, and they hate it when we leave. At this point in their young lives, we are working diligently to win their hearts so that later, they will give us full access to their minds.
Giving children a biblical worldview is not just the mission of RenewaNation; it has been the passion of my heart for the last 32 years since our first daughter was born. By God’ s grace, our daughters embraced Christ and a biblical worldview, and now, in the closing 25-30 years of our lives, we are on a mission to see our grandchildren and your children and grandchildren do the same. There is no greater joy than knowing that our children and grandchildren are walking with Christ and impacting this world for His glory!
Sincerely,
Jeff Keaton RenewaNation Founder & CEO
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