‘The human body has many parts, but the many parts form one body. So it is with the body of Christ.’ 1 Cor 12:12
While at the GAFCON conference in Brisbane recently, I attended (with some trepidation!) a workshop on ‘Intergenerational Ministry’ (IGM). It was pointed out that the Church is almost unique in our society as an organisation that has all ages in its membership. As someone who has spent many years in the church hall with children during Sunday services, I was wary of where the discussion would head! However, although the speaker was not saying we should abolish age-specific ministry, we were encouraged to look for opportunities to intentionally bring ages together. Young people could then better know faithful mature believers and older folk could be encouraged by youthful enthusiasm. The ‘vision’ proposed was to see Children’s Ministry (CM) as part of the whole, instead of tagged on the edge, like one ear of Mickey Mouse!
As I reflected on the changes in TGS over the last couple of years, I felt that by God’s grace, we had some elements of IGM already. Within our primary school cohort, we usually have about 12 kids of widely different ages each week. And although we still have some age-specific material, for part of the time, the older children necessarily help the younger ones, they model behaviour, and learn patience! And praise the Lord it usually works!
I also reflected on other recent events, such as how good it was it was to see younger women and girls at the Equip women’s conference. And our monthly church dinners after evening church have also helped bring us together as a family – youth, children and adults, both young and old.
As we consider other ways to develop IGM, please consider praying regularly for a young person that you aren’t related to (as well as those you are!). In Psalm 78:4 the people of God promise to ‘tell the next generation of the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD.’ May we be intentional in how we do so.
Alison Sartain
