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Day 1 - Jun 15, 2026

Roots & Relatives:  Why We Must Carve Out Time for Family

The “Why” That Binds Us: Discovering the Heartbeat of the Reunion

Mandy and I recently celebrated the 65th annual Lane Family Reunion. Relatives from multiple states gathered for 4 days and 3 nights to celebrate, reflect, and have an enormous amount of fun.

We keep things exciting with nightly themes: night one is to "Gather & Gab," the second night is "Dessert & Game Night," and the final night is Celebration Night, where we share a huge dinner and a brief service.  

This marked my 40th Lane Reunion. My very first reunion was actually the last time the entire family camped out for three straight days! It was amazing but I'm glad we're no longer camping out.  

This incredible legacy began with the heartfelt desire of Momma Grace.

She had eight kids that we all call "The Great 8".  Momma Grace wanted all of her family to gather together and she wanted a few simple things to happen every time we gathered. To honor her memory, we end every family reunion by singing her favorite song, "Amazing Grace."

I’ve had the wonderful honor of sharing a breif message at most of the 40 reunions I've attended. It’s a unique experience—it's like preaching to a small church with adults and children at the exact same time. 

But the most crucial thing I always emphasize is this: We MUST see the value of WHY we gather.

Without a clear "WHY" a reunion is just a crowded vacation. 

It is surprisingly rare for families to pull this off today. Current statistics show that only about 20% of extended families manage to gather for an annual reunion. It takes effort, but understanding your true purpose is the fuel that keeps the tradition alive.

Psalm 133:1 (NLT) "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!"

Day 2 - Jun 16, 2026

No Discounts on Legacy: The True Price of Togetherness

Even if you are starting your very own family legacy right now, you need to remember one absolute truth: it will take sacrifice.

YOU CANNOT CREATE A LEGACY ON A DISCOUNT

Bringing everyone together requires giving up time, spending money, and navigating complicated logistics. It’s not always easy, but it is profoundly worth it.

Psychological data reveals a wonderful fact about families who invest in staying united: strong "Family Cohesion" acts as a powerful emotional safety net. Studies show that when extended families intentionally gather, it significantly reduces anxiety and depression in younger generations while giving them a deep sense of identity, security, and belonging.

You are not just paying for a vacation; you are investing in your family's emotional and spiritual health. A lasting legacy demands a high price, but the return on that investment lasts for generations.

Proverbs 13:22 (NLT) "Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous."

Day 3 - Jun 17, 2026

Passing the Baton: If We Don't Tell the Stories, Who Will?

If a family legacy is going to survive, you have to know how to pass the baton from one generation to the next. You can't keep doing everything yourself, because the moment you stop, the tradition stops with you.

Our Lane Family Reunion has a rich history that started with The Great 8—the children of our very own Momma Grace. They built this tradition by rotating the planning duties year after year. Several years ago we started a new chapter, as the responsibility of organizing our Family Reunion was officially handed down to the next generation of The Great 8.

In our Lane Family Reunion is started with "The Great 8" which were the children of Momma Grace.  They rotated the responsibilities each year.  Now those responsibilities of organizing the Family Reunion have been passed down to the next generation of "The Great 8".  

Judges 2:10 (NLT) "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel."

Let's look closer at this passage.  Just before this verse the Bible says, the people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the elders who outlived him. BUT THEN, a new generation arose. The text then reveals two vital things about this new generation.

First, it says they did not know the Lord.

That was their responsibility. They chose not to serve Him, and the truth is, you cannot force someone to serve the Lord.

The second thing it says is that they "did not know the mighty things He had done." 

That failure falls on the parents and grandparents.

Somewhere along the line, the older generation stopped sharing the stories. Without the stories, how can the next generation possibly know? And if they don't know, very few will choose to serve Him.

WE MUST SHARE THE STORIES!

We have to boldly share the stories of what the Lord has done for our family in the past, what He is doing in the present, and what we are believing Him for in the future.

Day 4 - Jun 18, 2026

The Perfect Recipe: Blending Faith, Fun, and Free Time

When you plan a family reunion, the schedule is just as important as the location. You need an intentional mixture of structured time together, open free time, and pure, unfiltered fun.

If you pack the schedule too tight, people get exhausted and cranky. If you leave it entirely open, people drift apart and isolate themselves. The secret is balance.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT) "A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance."

You also need to make sure every age group is involved. When I speak at our family reunions, the messages have to connect with toddlers, teenagers, and great-grandparents simultaneously. It’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone, regardless of age, feels seen and valued. Give the kids a role to play, give the teens a space to connect, and give the elders a platform to share.

When you blend faith, fun, and free time properly, you create an environment where natural conversations happen, relationships deepen, and genuine joy is experienced.

Day 5 - Jun 19, 2026

Looking Back to Move Forward: Reflect, Remember, and Rejoice

Every family gathering needs a moment set aside to hit pause. You always need to take a moment to reflect and remember.

Psalm 145:4 (NLT) "Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power."

At the Lane Family Reunion, we do this on our final Celebration Night. After a massive dinner, we hold a brief service. We look back at where we came from, remembering the love and vision of Momma Grace, who started it all. We sing "Amazing Grace" together, letting the words wash over the generations.

This time of reflection isn't about living in the past; it's about drawing strength for the future.

Remembering anchors us. It reminds us that we are part of a story much bigger than ourselves. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate those we've lost, honor the legacy we've inherited, and rejoice in the gift of still having each other.

When we intentionally look back, we gather the faith and gratitude we need to move forward into the next year.