Youth Ministry for Big People
I’m becoming increasinly convinced that the way to reach the emerging generation is to have a vibrant inter-generational ministry, that is focused on reaching the emerging generation (rather than catering to the desires of the older generation.)
I read this great article called “A Mad Multi-gen Strategy that Works, Dude: Bring generations together and reduce 20-something dropout.”
We’re talking about 82 year old youth leaders; helping grandparents, who would gladly give their lives for their grandkids’ sake, give their MUSIC for their grandkids’ sake.
Here are some highlights:
Fannie Hamilton sat among teenagers during the Sunday service. She used her left hand to hold up her stroke-affected right hand in praise, belting out the words to “My Glorious” by Delirious. A few minutes later, she stood next to a 16-year-old, who joined her in belting out the words to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” She was a small group leader in our youth ministry—at the age of 82.
The typical church segregates youth ministry from “big people” church. At times, student ministries are created so we don’t have to be challenged by their new ideas. But churches that remain unchanged by new generations grow out of touch, ineffective, and inwardly focused. They also soon discover an absence of 20-somethings.
While every generation maintains its uniqueness and offers different strengths, the heartbeat of God is for one church. So many forces drive generations apart, but moderns and postmoderns can coexist. It requires humility, mutual submission, and respect for different strengths and passions. Those virtues don’t happen easily. They emerge as we teach them and model them. Sometimes that means straight talk. Len Sweet asked a seniors group, “How many of you grandparents love your grandkids? How many of you love your grandkids so much you would lay down your life for them?” Many hands were raised. Then he said, “How many of you love your grandkids so much you would lay down your music for them?”
This is an excellent idea. This is what I think is one of the problems in my church at home. There is a huge social gap between the younger generation and the oldest generation. I hardly know any names of the older people because all they do is sit and drink coffee and talk to each other. The only other people I know is people who have been involved in youth group, the 25-40 year old couples, and they have had a good impact and been good role models for all of us in church.
I read the whole article (a rarity for me). It was good. Don’t think that this strategy is a simple thing, though. People are strongly devoted to their preferences. It would take a passionate commitment to loving the world to Christ at the expense of yourself for this to really work. Not many are willing to pay that price.