Blessings, Backpacks, and What Makes a Church Truly Intergenerational
What would it look like if your congregation were behind every backpack?
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, consider others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2: 3-4
At least 40 backpacks, each with a child attached, stood on our church podium last Sunday. A senior sported a Minnie Mouse backpack while one of the youngest wore a backpack that, if filled, would probably land him flat on his back. Lanyards and buttons adorned one backpack, reminding me of a car’s bumper plastered with stickers.
Our pastor noted that the backpacks were terrific tools for organizing the lives of young scholars, tools that weren’t that common when he was a youth. Then he added that the church congregants were another tool, eager to pray for and assist these students. They didn’t need to go to school alone. We were praying that they would sense God’s presence with them and depend on him. And he wanted them to know that the congregation stood behind them, willing to help anyone who needed it. He concluded with a prayer echoing these truths.
They didn’t need to go to school alone.
You would think that would be a well-done 10-minute intergenerational moment between congregants, both young and old. And you would be right.
But then the voice of a beloved retired preschool teacher broke from the back. “Pastor, we’d like to cheer on these kids as a congregation.” I assume she had already prepared him for this deviation because the cheer appeared on the front screen. The congregation gave the kids this rousing cheer:
“We’re your friends from First Presby, You’re the light for us to see.
Wishing you a great school year. If you need us, we’ll be here!
Sound off. Call us.
Sound off. We’ll come!
Sound off. Call us. We’ll come!”
There’s a story behind this cheer that makes this a standout intergenerational congregation. The retired teacher knew most of these students from birth. Then, for the past few years, she began serving in the youth group as one of the adult leaders on youth mission trips.
Additionally, several other retired women in the church have been attending youth group on Sunday nights. I had never heard of that. Years ago, I attended a church that turned down seasoned, middle-aged adult volunteers for the youth group. In my mind, this was unfortunate. Youth aren’t likely to gain as much biblical wisdom and maturity from one another nor from a young youth director as they could from older, seasoned adults. Discipleship is richer and broader when generations learn from one another.
From 2005-2010, Fuller Youth Institute studied what factors contribute to youth following Christ after high school. The project called Sticky Faith became a book by Dr. Kara Powell and Dr. Chap Clark. One of the most interesting findings was the significant role adults play in youth faith. They called it “a sticky web of relationships” in which at least five adults other than family know and love your son or daughter. This could be mentoring, working together in ministry, serving on committees, participating in community/care groups, and family friendships. Ultimately, this happens because youth worship and mature with the entire church body. Thus, it is vital that they be welcomed and connected to the church at large, a key component in forming and sustaining faith.
Segmenting youth and children’s ministries has become customary and at times makes sense. But isolating these groups has been detrimental to the faith of the ones we hope to minister to and to their ties to the larger Body of Christ. We benefit from hearing stories of past hardship and dependence on God. Our prayers are more pointed when we learn the challenges young people face.
Sometimes these relationships happen organically. However, in most cases, it takes the pulpit to highlight God’s design for the Body of Christ to serve and love one another. Then leadership needs to find avenues for youth and adults to get to know one another. Dr. Christina Embree, founder of ReFocus Ministries, helps congregations discern how to do this best for their context. One church she counseled posted the sports schedules in the foyer so that congregants could attend games and build connections. My new church home creates backpack buddies that pray for one another. The church in which I was raised used churchwide Bible memory to connect generations. Everyone learned Scripture and recited it weekly to their “buddy.” A deep understanding of Scripture was part of our DNA, and we built relationships around it.
You can bless backpacks all you want, but unless you create wide-open doors for youth and adults to learn from one another, friendships based on the love of Christ are unlikely to form. And the fallout could be youth disconnected from God’s people and, ultimately, their faith.
Questions to explore: (Let’s assume that all adults had passed the requirements for child safety/protection. Wouldn’t that be a superb way to embrace children in your church?)
Are students welcomed to serve in your church ministries? What would it look like for youth to serve side-by-side with adults?
Are adults welcome to attend youth events? What would it look like for your youth events to be open to adults in your church? If you did this, would it be by invitation or open to anyone?
What kind of training would you want to offer adult visitors/helpers?
Resources
ReFocus Ministries, led by Dr. Christina Embree https://refocusministry.org/ They provide coaching and webinars.
The Center for Faith and Children https://faithandchildren.org/ They have blogs and podcasts and a biannual conference.
Sticky Faith by Dr. Kara Powell
Teach Your Children Well by Sarah Cowan Johnson