PURSUING HOLINESS

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PETER AND DEBBIE HERBECK live in Ann Arbor and have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Peter is the vice president and director of missions for Renewal Ministries, the co-host for the weekly television show “The Choices we Face” and host of the radio show “Fire on the Earth.” Debbie is the founder and executive director of Pine Hills Girls’ Camp and the founder of the Be Love Revolution. HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE YOUR ROLE AS GRANDPARENTS AS YOU WATCH YOUR CHILDREN BEGIN TO RAISE THEIR OWN FAMILIES?

We are extremely proud of all four of our children. Three of the four are married, and we have eight young grandchildren and another on the way. First of all, we try to be as engaged as possible in their lives. We do what many grandparents do to practically support our adult children in their role as parents. Although our schedules are still quite full, we make it a priority to spend weekly time with our young grandkids, to develop personal and individual relationships with each one of them. It’s fun and beautiful to watch our own kids send their young children to us for answers to their budding theological questions like, “Grandpa, what happened to all those people who died before Jesus rose from the dead? Are they still dead?” or, “Grandma, is the devil real?”

WHAT BEST PRACTICES DO YOU TAKE TO MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR ADULT CHILDREN?

When we were raising our own children, we often had regular, daily conversations that centered on the person and reality of Jesus. It helped our kids understand that Jesus is real and that he wants to be in every part of our lives. Now as adults, those conversations still happen, and we are able to help them (and their spouses) navigate the challenges of the culture, the concerns in the church, prayer and growing in faith as adults.

It has been a special pleasure and delight to have our youngest daughter, Rachel, working in ministry with us, and this gives us many opportunities to engage in our evangelistic mission together and to have deeper discussions centered on faith.

Our home always had an open door, with guests coming from all over the world to share in our life. Although our children are grown up, they still bring friends over for dinner, conversation and prayer. We have seen the fruit of this hospitality as they now open their own homes to others.

Overall, the best practice we know is to just be present to them — in their joys and sorrows, to be available to help in practical ways and to ask the Holy Spirit how we can best love each one of them.