Intergenerational Ministry

 

“The church is raising a generation of potential church dropouts. Most children in children’s church have never experienced a multi-generational worship service. They have not had opportunity to become acculturated to the adult worship mode. All elements of a children’s ministry program should be working toward the day when a child graduates into sixty or seventy years of adult worship. Children need to be encouraged to minister and participate” – D. Goodwin

 

“I think the main hindrance has been the lack of understanding that intergenerational relationships are crucial to spiritual growth and maturation. If leaders understood how important intergenerational experiences are for growth and development, they would pour enormous amounts of energy into creating these experiences” – B. Snailum

Following research data from Australia, the U.K and United States, as well as a core literature review, with theological and practical analysis of more than 60 books, articles, blogs and websites in the area of intergenerational ministry, E.M found the following to be true:

1. Churches have a youth/young adult retention problem
2. We are not always transitioning children, teens or young adults well
3. Adults ignoring children, their doubts and concerns, increase the risk of drop-out
4. Intergenerational serving, mentoring and discipling mitigate drop-out
5. There’s a need for connection to adult church and to see adults practising their faith
6. There’s a need for intergenerational engagement outside church settings

As a result of these findings, we have produced a research and working paper specifically addressing these issues and proposing churches now begin to  consider the following:

1. Manage age segregation
2. Build social capital
3. Create structures that span life stages
4. Develop intergenerational serving ministries
5. Rethink the place of church wide services
6. Make a philosophical paradigm shift in core values
7. Begin where you are
8. Keep intergenerational values in balance with age-specific ministry

We invite you to read our research and working paper below, as well as the complementary research papers on ‘Youth and Children’s Ministry‘ and ‘Retention and Transition‘ found on this website.

* For more resources on ‘Intergenerational Ministry’ click on the drop down menu above under ‘Blog’.

E.M RESEARCH AND RESOURCES ON INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY

E.M FORUM ON YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES