“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”— Isaiah 59:21

G. R. S. Blackaby returns home from a tiring workday at his banking branch. He strolls into his study and hangs his jacket neatly on the coat hanger (like a proper English gentleman). Banking is his profession—preaching and poetry are his passions. With exquisite handwriting, he pens another poetic stanza:

“I cannot let thee go;
The tender ties that bind our hearts in one,
Eternally.
And sealed in Heaven before the Father’s throne.”

In the background, he hears his three young boys: Alfred, Henry, and William. He prays that God will bless the faithfulness of an ordinary banker and moonlighting poet and that his sons will one day grow to know and serve the God who has always been so good to him.

***

Henry T. Blackaby returns home from a tiring international speaking trip. As a shy, introverted kid from William’s Lake, British Columbia, he never dreamed of preaching before large crowds on the other side of the world. He certainly hadn’t imagined writing a book. But here he is, a first-time author at fifty-five years old, and his book, Experiencing God, just sold its first of several million copies.

He stops to enjoy the pictures on the wall, portraits of his four boys and only daughter. He prays that they will continue to follow the same amazing God who has always been so good to him.

***

Richard Blackaby returns home from a weekend trip teaching spiritual leadership principles to a group of Christian businesspeople. For a moment, he wonders how his life ended up here. He loved being a pastor and thought he would spend his entire life in that role. Instead, God took him on an unpredictable journey that included running a school and encouraging influential leaders in the marketplace.

As he sits at his desk, he sees a picture of his three children: Mike, Daniel, and Carrie. He prays that they will continue to follow the amazing God who has always been so good to him.

***

In the other room, I hear my 4-year-old twin boys playing. I glance to my bookshelf. A row of books is pushed against the wall. The first is a tattered old poetry anthology containing two poems my great-grandfather G. R. S. Blackaby penned. Next is the 25^th anniversary edition of my grandfather Henry Blackaby’s debut book, Experiencing God. Third is the first book my father, Richard Blackaby, wrote. Finishing the row in an unexpected fashion is a young adult fantasy novel that has my own name printed on the spine. Four books, representing three genres, written by four generations, over a period of nearly 100 years, the authors were united by their love for the same God.

I now echo the prayer of my great-grandfather—a man I never had the privilege to meet—that my children will follow the same amazing God who has always been so good to me, my father, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather. My family is not particularly special. The name “Blackaby” has no power. But there is infinite power in the name of Jesus.

The Christian life is about passing on a legacy, not of individuals or families, but of an almighty God who calls every generation into an exciting and unique relationship with Him. As Christians, we should remain faithfully obedient to God in our own day. But we must also pass our spiritual heritage down to the coming generations so they, too, will see and experience God’s mighty activity in their lives.

– Dr. Daniel Blackaby

Young adults are leaving the Church at an alarming rate. Many members of the younger generations experience dissatisfaction with the Church, a growing disconnect between their faith and their everyday life, and a struggle to rebut difficult arguments against Christianity. Despite this troubling trend, God is actively working in the younger generations, and Blackaby Ministries is joining this exciting activity by launching a new ministry: The Collision. 

Our mission is to equip Christians to navigate today’s digital, media-driven culture by strengthening their biblical foundation, addressing difficult questions about their faith, and guiding them to engage thoughtfully with today’s pop culture and secular worldviews. As part of this new initiative, we are preparing to launch a new website (thecollision.org), a YouTube channel, and a podcast (hosted by Dr. Daniel Blackaby). This exciting new ministry will enable Blackaby Ministries to reach larger audiences than ever before and to impact the younger generations more effectively. We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. We look forward to hearing from you as we explore together what it means for Christians to collide with their culture for Christ.