Liz Perraud
Executive Director
GenOn Ministries

Recently, Nancy Wheeler contacted GenOn seeking a suggestion for an “entry” LIFT (Living in Faith Together) session to introduce intergenerational ministry to their congregation of 75-100 people. She shared that they were just starting to build these relationships and were hoping for “something conceptually lighter yet engaging in thought.” Establishing trust among the generations was important for them, too.

Nancy wrote, “I am the leading minister at Hancock United Methodist Church (Hancock, Md.) for our senior ministry, In the Third. So much of my reading about this ministry referred to intergenerational engagement ... and the more I read about it, the more it became clear how powerful it is.  We, like many or most churches, were segregated by age.  So, after orienting the older folks to intergenerational relationships and the ‘fullness’ of God's story in all generations, we needed a focal all-generational "touchstone” gathering. That is where GenOn and LIFT come in.” 

She continued, “Senior ministry may seem a non-traditional entry point.  But since we are more represented on the older end (like most churches), we feel the leadership should begin with us.  It is, however, the heavier ‘lift’ but we're orienting our In the Third bunch to understand the value of building mutual relationships with our Alphas and GenZ-ers toward solidifying their emerging life-long relationship to God—and in return experiencing new spirit, wonder, and life.”

I responded that it’s good to be reminded of the benefit of intergenerational relationships from the older perspective, affirming that this kind of Christ-centered community benefits all generations. In our experience, the approach most often bubbles up from the children’s ministry end. Or if a congregation doesn’t have many or any children (or sees them only sporadically) they can’t imagine the need to be more intentionally intergenerational. Hancock UMC recognized that “intergenerational” can also mean older and younger adults in intentional relationship.

At GenOn, we define intergenerational ministry as including two or more generations, which can be all adults and no children. Once the intergenerational arena has been set, though, there’s a place for any and all ages in the faith circle—in worship, fellowship, study, and service. To be invited to participate, and also to be welcomed and to engage fully as equal parts of the Body of Christ.   

What did I suggest for Nancy’s entry LIFT gatherings?

I recommended she choose something from “We Belong to God” (Unit 3 from Year 2 Spring) . The four sessions are about how and why we belong to God, as well as each other in community. A good place to begin.

Could your church benefit from exploring intergenerational ministry with a GenOn Guide to walk alongside you in the process? We offer free online sessions as an introduction to that exploration as well as next steps to being more intentional with your church team.