SPEAKER_00: 0:15

What's up, Life Talk family? Welcome back to the Life Talk Podcast. This is Nate coming to you today, and we are continuing our journey through the month of September, all about investing. And so uh prayerfully, you've been journeying with us this month. We've heard from Jason Kreidler. He started with generally uh biblical view of how we invest uh just multiple areas of our life. And Jonathan Bush came on. We talked about financial investing, and just last week we heard from a lot of great staff here: Tish, Danny, and Jarvis on really how we can invest in our youth. But today I am joined by two very special guests, a dynamic duo. I have Dave and Nancy Lacey. How are you all today? We're great.

SPEAKER_02: 1:02

We're good.

SPEAKER_00: 1:03

Awesome. Well, so excited to have you guys on the podcast. I think we were talking first time. So uh welcome to the podcast. So glad to have you guys. And uh, for those who don't know, you might recognize the last name. The Laishies are uh Dave and Nancy are our lead pastor, Mark. They're uh his parents. And so talk about investing, right? You guys investing in in the staff here. So I know you guys have an amazing story, still very active in church. And so uh today we want to hear a lot about uh the ways you are still investing, but before we get going, love to just get to know you a little bit. Want the people who don't know you, uh so Dave, I'm sure you'll be okay. We'll let ladies go first. So uh Nancy, just share a little bit about Nancy. What should we know about you, your walk, and uh just your heart for the Lord?

SPEAKER_02: 1:49

Well, thank you for having us today. Um, I you mentioned Mark um is our son, and we have Matt and we have Ben, and we love our boys so much. Um and the Lord just really had to grab our hearts when we were young parents, taught us a lot through people who invested in us. Um, and we're a military family, so we moved around a lot. I gave my life to the Lord when I was 12. Um, I had wonderful Christian parents um that invested in me, took me to church, um, and aunts and uncles that were Christians. I had some that were not. But pretty much at this point in my life, I look back and see how they invested in me. And I want to invest in my church, in my family, um, my nieces and nephews, even, you know, when I'm around them. So um, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren love them so much, but it it's just a blessing to be able to live close by because we lived far away for a long time. So we're just thankful to be here and be a part of Life House. It's we've just watched it, it's just been a miracle, really, and it's a miracle that we're here. Really, God opened the doors.

SPEAKER_00: 3:24

And like you said, I think all of our stories, there's somebody who did invest in us, and and it's a multi-generation thing. So I praise God you had a great family and age 12 and been able to do a lot of investing since then. So, Dave, tell us the the reader's digest version. I always say, as I get older, I you know, your story takes a long time to tell.

SPEAKER_03: 3:46

Especially when talking about our testimony.

SPEAKER_00: 3:47

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03: 3:49

Well, with that, I'll lead. I gave my life to the Lord in in 1988 in my 30s, uh late 30s. And so uh uh although my my parents took me to church and uh and I grew up in church, um, I was thinking as Nancy was talking and uh investing. I mean, uh I I I my mind goes to a grandparent that uh invested a lot in me and uh who I look to as a spiritual um uh image to me as I looked at him. And even to this day, I mean, I think that I call back on my memory of uh of really wanting to be like him and lead like him in a family, uh, although my dad and mom were uh were believers too. And so uh I I also am thankful for people who other people who do it did invest in me throughout my military career, because I, as Nancy mentioned, I uh spent 20 years in the United States Air Force um and then came home to a family farm and uh farm for 25 years. And then um by uh the sovereignty of God, both Nancy and I will claim that, is that it worked out that we could uh come and be with Mark here in Middletown, Delaware uh by the sale of the farm. So uh here we are, and we're so thankful. We count our blessings that we're here.

SPEAKER_00: 5:18

Amen. So maybe it's a little bit on the military, you know, how did that play out in your faith? I know we've heard from a few, like Jonathan Bush was in the Air Force. Uh, we are blessed to have uh veterans, people who have that experience. But um, maybe you could just, you know, especially from an investment standpoint, uh, how how were people able to invest in you? How were you able to invest in your faith, even when you're moving around a lot? You know, I think we've heard some other testimonies this year. That's a challenge when you can't settle somewhere. And so the investment becomes short-term, you know, both those into you and out. So maybe uh just share a little bit about how that played out for you guys.

SPEAKER_02: 5:55

It played a lot out in my life. I I did give my life to the Lord when I was 12, but then I really didn't have anyone disciple me. So there were a lot of mistakes made in between fully surrendering again, you know, and I already had my children when I did that, even though uh I was always praying and always a believer. Um I came to a point, and and when we were in the military, we moved every three years or less. Um but always pointing the kids to church, we would always take our children to church, see that they got there. But there was one time we were in Mountain Home, Idaho, which is pretty far away. I forgot where that state was actually when Dave told me we were moving there. And uh there was uh I loved children's music. Um, and someone um in a VBS when Dave was remote had invited my children to go to Bible school. And we learned these wonderful songs. I love them. We started singing them, and then I got really involved in children's music. But there was a pastor's wife, Cindy, she's still my wonderful friend today. We were nurses together um at a little hospital there in Idaho. But she uh did wonderful Christian musicals with children down by the creek bank was the one that she did um with my kids. And I learned from her. And then when we moved to Spain, I think Spain, uh, I got involved and she taught me how to do it, so I did that. So um, and it was wonderful, and it and we just kept growing in the Lord from all of that, you know, he had a plan. You it it's a journey, you know, and so um just watching and being away from our family was difficult, but I I really believe God just kept opening doors and opening doors, and you know, we're very thankful for the people that we met along the way and then that invested in us.

SPEAKER_00: 8:18

Good connections, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 8:21

As for me, I gave my life to the Lord uh in the last assignment. So Nancy really led the way spiritually in our can in our family. Uh so, so, so thankful for that. Um, I was involved in work and worked a lot. I was in the last part of my career, I was in law enforcement. So crime and stuff happens not on an eight-hour schedule. So I was gone a lot. And also two remote tours. Uh when we talk about how how the wife of a military member is so important and deserves a medal, uh, whatever they're giving out. Uh, but you know, that her her guidance and and and this was critical in the spiritual growth of Mark, Matt, and Ben, who all went to a um Christian university, Liberty University, afterwards. It just the influence that she put in at a very early uh part of our family's growth was so important.

SPEAKER_00: 9:20

Investment is important in all times and always, right? So really critical this month. Um, just share a commonality that my brother's in the Air Force and he's currently overseas, and I know that's been a challenge. You know, he has three little boys, and his wife has been, you know, having to you know carry on the parenting and uh pouring into them. Less due to technology, they can FaceTime, but he's on a real-time difference, so challenge. But uh just uh fortunately he's coming home soon. I know they're looking forward to that because uh you need that. But but anyway, uh great, great story. I know again, we could go on a long time, but we do want to specifically talk about investing from the standpoint of the older generation, you know, the seasoned adults. Uh I loved when Ash and I first came to Lifehouse learning about the salt ministry being seasoned adults living triumphantly. Uh, we we found that very clever and and very unique. I had not heard that before. You have to give credit to Bonnie King. Shout out to Bonnie King. Yeah. But just talk about us, you know, for us about uh the heart behind that, you know, how it's so important in our churches. You know, we see uh various churches that fall into different age demographics. But why is it so important, you know, that our seasoned adults stay active in the church, continue to invest, uh not just fade away. So maybe talk a little bit about your heart for that in in the ministry.

SPEAKER_02: 10:48

Well, being in SALT, um uh it's fun uh to be together and to do things, but um the the one of the my favorite things to do is to serve. And so we uh all of us uh well a team of us have invested in VBS. We work with VBS, we love it. It connects us not only to the kids, but the younger adults that are serving and the middle-aged adults that are serving and and just gives us purpose and it's a way to serve and to invest just by um tackling some of those things that like the snacks, um, have done that for a while. Um, we've graduated that over to or transferred it over to someone else now, but we'll still help um because we believe in it so much and we believe um in getting um the younger generation pointed in the right direction to Jesus and for them to be saved, it's so important that they know who Jesus is and give their lives to him at a young age, you know. And I that's one of my favorite things about salt is serving.

SPEAKER_00: 12:10

Yeah, opportunities for service in so many ways. Yeah, it's you know, not to you know, stereotype, but if you're retired, you got lots of free time on your hands to one would think so, but then I think most retired people I talk to are busier than when they worked. But but yeah, that opportunity to really serve, to give back to the church, to you know, invest in the next generation. I know VBS, it's always great. You know, we know snacks are well handled because salt's got it covered. I know you guys do a lot with our daily bread, many other things. But Dave, anything you'd add as far as kind of how we just I it's so important too for the connectivity.

SPEAKER_03: 12:47

And I think that that uh really supports uh unifying the body of Christ, our body of Christ here at uh Lifehouse. Um it's so easy if we don't have uh some sort of a uh a plan to get people together. Uh that's what we try to do in SALT is to develop uh situations and events that can bring people together so that we can meet new people, that we can connect faces. If it's just uh at one event where you're sitting at a table with a couple people, uh at least you get to know them and you recognize them when they're in church again. And, you know, it it and on the basis of Nancy of what she said, it it gives self-esteem if uh people our age can know that they can do something. And sometimes I I think that um, you know, if you're in a situation where what am I doing just coming to church and receiving the message, which is a good, it's a lot, but just to have a part in in serving and being obedient to the call that God places upon us that we we need to reach out and touch other people. So um, yeah, that's important for SALT too.

SPEAKER_00: 14:04

Very critical. What would you say is usually some common reasons people, you know, in in your demographic don't, you know, why do they feel they fade out? Is it, you know, kind of lack of opportunity or you know, just kind of fading into retirement? What would be your encouragement for what you've maybe kind of commonly seen of people in the church who don't engage and and invest in the the golden years?

SPEAKER_02: 14:31

I think serving is so important um because you become isolated and that's never good. Um and just when you have a purpose it's it's and and it's serving the Lord, you know, it it just gives you joy and peace and and those good things that come. And it and what do you do if you get isolated and you stay home, then maybe you're watching TV or you're on the phone and um doing those kinds of things is not good for you.

SPEAKER_03: 15:12

So yeah, just uh as Nancy was talking, I was thinking of grandparenting and how important it is because that's connected to our age group, and uh we've been trying to bring that um that activity uh to the forefront in SALT through uh uh a couple times we've we've uh offered the uh grandparenting matters course. Uh hopefully we'll begin to do more. Again, it's time, as you were saying, uh Nathan. It's surprising how our age group, if you are involved in church, the calendar does get full. And so it's having the time to do uh all that we want to do. And you know, we're we're hopeful that in the grandparenting, and maybe I can use this forum of whoever's listening, uh, that there would be uh a person or people who would be wanting to get involved in in some sort of a grandparenting ministry um, you know, within Lifehouse because uh uh it is important. And it is important when you think of grandparenting, you're thinking of 60s, 70s, and 80s. But you know, uh people are becoming grandparents at 40. And if I have any testimony, I did not really, I can share that I did not have the right perspective on what I could be as a grandparent at when I became one, I think 42. I'm not sure I'm trying to count back, but you know, I was more involved in work and and other things, and and you know, uh Nancy, and usually uh the grandmother doesn't have any problem being a grandmother, but it's the grandparents, uh grand uh father that does in a way, most I want to say most, is that how how important it is for them to be involved. Um grandparents at their 40s and also the grandfather. And so that's important.

SPEAKER_00: 17:18

Yeah, so maybe good segue there. And I know you guys have kind of taught that class of why grandparenting is important, and as you said, in our culture, it's getting younger, and you all are blessed to be great grandparents to multiple great grandchildren. So, you know, obviously, in kind of an overview, what are some key principles, you know, especially as you've taught that class, as you've ministered to others who walk, and as you've learned, you know, by experience, what are some of the key principles you would encourage, you know, when it comes to investing in your grandkids and what kind of role you should have, you know, in supporting both your children who are now parents and and those grandkids?

SPEAKER_02: 18:00

Well, the grandparenting matters class was excellent to talk about that and address those things. There's so many things, you know, there are um families that have a mom and dad in the home, and there are families that don't, and there are families that um maybe their kids aren't in church, and so their relationships are strained, and it it really addressed how to um maybe be wise. I think wisdom was a key thing there, and I have to, in defense of Dave, when he talked about not being, you know, where he was uh as a grandparent, he was a farmer and working from sunup to sundown, and I think he did a pretty good job providing there for uh things that we got to do with our grandchildren. So uh part of it is, you know, um planning not to be so busy, but there are times when you just have to be. So somebody has to pick up the the the slack and go. But um together, you know, it it's good. But you talk about grandparenting matters. You taught the class, but it was not getting off the hook here. No, he's not. He was very, very good at it.

SPEAKER_03: 19:24

So well, uh, you know what comes to my mind is you have to be humbly proactive. I mean, there's a role that a grandparent plays that they're no longer the parent. In fact, one of the principles of grandparenting is that you're fired as a parent. And, you know, you can say that in tongue-in-cheek, but it really is true that you know, your your kids are now raising your grandkids. And so, you know, what part do you play? Uh, you know, we're you know, maybe for the guy, talking about the grandfather again, it's all about throwing the ball and you know, doing saying things maybe athletically or or it doesn't have to be that, it'd be other activities, but you know, it's uh it's the importance of spiritual involvement in your grandkids from a very, very good age. Um, some of the things that came out in the grandparenting chat class is is how to do that sometimes when your kids aren't on board, when your kids aren't going and on going to church, and how you do that humbly but still proactively as as you were invited to do or allowed to do. Um, it's a difficult role that you now full fill as a grandparent. And in there's so much, I mean, could talk a long, long time about the things that uh to encourage uh grandparents uh to be proactive, humbly. I want to use that word, humbly proactive, in playing a part, a real part in their grandchildren's lives, even young to teenagers, being available, being uh in in now in our day and age of the social media and things like that, uh you know, I you need to encourage, and I'm not so good at it, but grandparents need to be social uh the social media uh savvy uh because their grandkids, grandkids are. So, you know, it's I I could talk a long time about that, but those are the things that come to mind right now.

SPEAKER_00: 21:35

What would you say are some of the key do's, you know, as grandparents? I know you kind of shared there's some you know, navigating waters, you know, the Bible tells us children are like arrows, you know, you send them out, so as you as you put it, you know, you're fired, you know. So you're not the parent. So how do you need to be, what does being humbly, you know, proactive look like, you know, in terms of some do's that you should do as as a grandparent?

SPEAKER_03: 22:05

Know what they're doing, uh be involved. I mean, it's it's uh of course we got uh grandkids that are athletically involved, so that's easy. I mean, we we can and we always try to be present, uh, what they're doing in in uh being around uh Middletown and having some a set of grandkids near. Uh, but we had a set of grandkids that are far and and always trying to make the effort to do that. Um, you know, I I I pick this up in the Grandparenting Matters uh class, uh, but uh you pick a you can pray, and I know Nancy does. She prays for all of our grandchildren daily. I'm more the man guy, and uh I concentrate on one per day. And I really find great fulfillment in that uh because if I do pray, then I gotta know what's going on in their lives. What do I pray for them for? So I really try to connect with them weekly. So one per day. I sometimes I have to split them and I include my kids and daughter-in-laws in this because I I they're important too for me to pray for. Uh, but it's just not a general prayer. I really try to isolate the specific things that are going on in our lives, what they're struggling with, and and to give them encouragement and to give them um uh Bible verses that mean a lot to me. Um and so it's the spiritual involvement that that I really cherish that that I am able to do this with my grandkids. I am so blessed that that all of our kids are believers, so that we don't have we're not butting up against uh the fight. And I know that there's grandparents that are that are having trouble looking on Facebook about what their grandkids are doing. It's just a heartache, you know. But you know, I I I if you are in that mode of of really struggling to have a relationship, I say keep trying. I mean, because I think you're in a role that our grandkids will listen to you, just to humbly be proactive.

SPEAKER_00: 24:21

I think if I could summarize that, then it's presence, prayer, and perseverance. You know, you really need to be present with them, being active, being there with them, as well as praying. Can't discount that, but then persevering, even if you are in that situation where they're not in the spiritual walk you know that you would like to see from the wisdom you've gained over the years. So can conversely, what are some don'ts? What are things maybe grandparents do that you know gets maybe over involved or oversteps, or what would you say are some common grandparenting don'ts and when it comes to investing in in your kids and grandkids and even great grandkids, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 25:05

Oh, just never give up. Um, like Dave said. Um don'ts don't try to maybe decide maybe you're looking and you're like, what are they eating that for? Or you know, I just talked to somebody last week that said when the kids came for um a visit, uh, they had some kind they wanted to do nutritious food. That's what the parents wanted, so they did um do that for lunch. But then when it came time for dinner, they had ice cream for dinner, and that was okay, you know. Um, but I do think that when parents have certain rules, you you have to be open to you know following those the best you can. And um I don't know. Hope your kids don't hurt them, right?

SPEAKER_00: 26:09

Don't don't be uh countering your your children's parenting.

SPEAKER_02: 26:14

Support, support the parents. I think that's huge. Um always look at the way they're directing their children. Not I mean, not if it's wrong, not if it's something that is not in God's word for the truth, but you know, you always try to support them in the decisions that they that they have for their children, if they're right.

SPEAKER_03: 26:38

You know, I it's easy for us to think about, you know, what we did when we were growing up, and then see our kids, you know, in what they're doing, and and question ourselves of geez, are they doing things the way that they're supposed to be doing? You just have to let them live their lives. I I mean, not only are you not are you fired as a parent as a way of how you'd raise their grandkids, but I think that you know you have to be so careful as as a grandparent of of what you really involve yourselves in.

SPEAKER_00: 27:15

Awesome stuff. And so certainly would encourage people if they want to know more. Hopefully, we'll have grandparenting matters, you know, on the schedule again in 2026 or going forward, but even if not here, uh definitely develop your grandparenting, right? Don't take it for granted. It's super important to continue to, I think, invest in your kids as they learn to parent and then your grandcar grandkids, especially spiritually as they walk. So uh maybe a closing question. I know, you know, when it comes to investing, you know, we talk about really the importance of mentorship, you know, Nancy, you kind of mentioned that in terms of meeting some important people. What is the best way for young people to seek out a mentor in in the seasoned adult demographic? Why is that important? And and how should they approach you guys in terms of finding that somebody to invest in them and and somebody who has that wisdom? What would you say to that?

SPEAKER_02: 28:12

I'd say look at someone they would like to be like. Look at um someone that has wisdom that they feel comfortable and trust and ask them. Yeah. And yeah, they'll probably feel honored, I would say. Correct me if I'm oh they would feel honored, yes. But oh but maybe they would help you find someone else because if you are mentoring three or four people, you know, you that you have to share the joy and um maybe help help them find someone.

SPEAKER_03: 28:57

Um that I mean, I I agree with what Nancy said in in the way of uh of of really I know that they've got their parents, but you know, if they are entering a season of life uh for um you know a decision, big decision, uh it it's it's probably good to just uh uh invite another opinion in uh that it's an older opinion. And I think because we've probably experienced everything that they're going through right now, or most of the stuff that they're going through right now. And and I know that our years of experience can help them in that. If it's just a one time deal of uh they're at a season of making a big decision to feel free that I'd like to have a cup of coffee with you or something. Um mentoring doesn't necessarily mean weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks of it, but it's nice to maybe do a a one time thing. Thing if you're struggling with something, you just need to ask questions. So I I I would hope that our age group would be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00: 30:09

Yeah, really great stuff. And I think maybe something as we're closing out September, the importance of, you know, we talked so much about how we invest, but making sure somebody is investing in you. You know, I think for you all especially that's so important of uh investing from your age, but then also would encourage those, you know, in whatever age you're in, make sure somebody's investing in you. Make sure you have somebody who you can lean on who has wisdom, who has some seasoning, as you said, Dave, has been through where you are. You know, the Bible tells us in the multitude of counselors, uh, there is wisdom. And so I think especially looking to those. So as we talked about serving in the church from the you know, seasoned adult. You know, I try to be, you know, using good language there, right? But uh make sure you're investing. And I know there's so much to give back, you know, from your demographic. We're so blessed here at Lifehouse to have such a vibrant salt ministry. So, well, Dave and Nancy, I really appreciate your time. Uh, Lifehouse family. Uh, hopefully this has been an encouragement to you. If you are a seasoned adult, get involved. If you're a grandparent, you know, step up and and be humbly proactive. I think we've heard all of those today. And uh just make sure you're still continuing to invest all the way to the end. But thank you guys for your time today.

SPEAKER_03: 31:23

You're welcome. Thank you. God bless everybody.

SPEAKER_00: 31:26

Life Talk family. We'll talk to you next time. Thanks for tuning in to the Life Talk Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and leave a review so others can find this content as well. And we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode.