Intergenerational Church from the Child’s Perspective

One of the most cited definitions of intergenerational ministry comes from Holly Catterton Allen and Christine Lawton Ross’ excellent book on the topic, Intergenerational Christian Formation. Allen and Ross’ definition states that,

‘Intergenerational ministry occurs when a congregation intentionally brings the generations together in mutual serving, sharing or learning within the core activities of the church in order to live out being the body of Christ to each other and the greater community’[1].

Typically, there may be up to six generations represented in any church—Builders (born < 1945), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Gen X (1965-1979), Millennials (1980-1994), Gen-Z (1995-2009), and Alpha (2010-2024)[2]—and intergenerational ministry is occurring whenever you intentionally bring two or more of these generations together in the way described by Allen and Ross. Therefore, a 40 year old, 60 year old and 80 year old who are, “together in mutually serving, sharing or learning within the core activities of the church”, are expressing intergenerational ministry.

Of course, at Youthworks, we are specifically focused on what intergenerational ministry means for the children and adolescents in our churches; how it matures their faith, how they participate in the household of God, and how they can co-contribute to the life of church through mission, ministry and service.

Forming intergenerational relationships with others in the church not only bolsters faith, but develops the deep sense of belonging that keeps children and adolescents in faith and in church through, and beyond, the school years.

What does intergenerational ministry look like from the child’s perspective?

The following story captures the heart of the intergenerational vision for young people in our churches. J. P. Conway, now a minister in Nashville, lost his mother at a young age in a road accident, and in this section of his story relays how his church community loved and cared for him during his childhood and adolescence.

“When I walked into my church building, I walked into a room full of uncles and aunts. In fact, I called many of them by those names, despite no blood relation. Everyone knew my name, and I knew their names. People smiled when they saw me. I loved being there. My childhood consisted of church potlucks, church cookouts, and church camp. I ran around with my friends and drank entirely too much Kool-Aid. On summer nights at church camp, we'd sing under the stars. It all felt so perfect, so Edenic.

I remember a song with this line: "Holy father, grant us peace." We’d sing it right before bed. I don't know how we sounded, but to my childish ears, it sounded like angels. Surprising to me, God was granting me peace. I missed my mom, and yet I had my people. I felt safe. I felt welcome. “If you wonder what it's like to grow up with hundreds of people that think you're awesome and hug you weekly, I can tell you, it's incredible.”[3]

Growing up with hundreds of people that think you’re awesome. What a community for any child to grow up into! What a vision to set before our church congregations!

For children to grow up in a community of saints who know them by name, love them as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, are intentionally invested in their holistic discipleship, who gather together with them in “mutual serving, sharing or learning within the core activities of the church”, who (in the words of UK Vicar Stephen Kuhrt) are “being made to realise that the rest of the congregation are dead chuffed that they have come to church”[4]; this is what intergenerational ministry looks like from the child’s perspective.

Intergenerational Ministry is one of Youthworks’ 7 Principles of Effective Ministry. You can read more about intergenerational ministry here, see our list of book recommendations, and use The Effective Ministry Tool to assess your church’s current expression of intergenerational ministry and receive specific advice for further intergenerational ministry from our Ministry Support Team.

[1] Holly Catterton Allen & Christine Lawton Ross (2012) Intergenerational Christian Formation. (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP).

[2] Different demographers will suggest slightly different start and end dates to each of the generations. The dates cited here have come from McCrindle. https://mccrindle.com.au/article/archive/gen-z-and-gen-alpha-infographic-update/ Accessed 27th Sep, 2022.

[3] Cited in Holly Catterton Allen (2021) Forming Resilient Children (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP)

[4] Stephen Kuhrt (2009) Church Growth Through the Full Welcome of Children: The Sssh Free Church. (Cambridge, UK.: Grove)