Description

Youth workers are increasingly realizing the importance of intergenerational ministry. But it remains a challenge to promote a churchwide commitment to these cross-generational relationships. Why is this so important and how do we make progress in this area? 

Discussion Includes:

• Could you tell us a little about Generation Spark's vision for intergenerational mentoring? 
• Why are intergenerational relationships so important for youth discipleship? 
• What are some of the challenges that need to be identified and overcome in order to cultivate a church-wide commitment to intergenerational ministry? 
• Can you tell us about one or two churches who have made real progress in this, and how they did that? 
• How does this intergenerational unity flows from good ecclesiology and strengthen the whole church’s identity and mission? 
• Advice for youth leaders who want to lead their church to become more intergenerational but their ability to lead this kind of change is limited. 

Annika Bangma serves with Generation Spark and served in church-based youth ministry for over a decade. Generation Spark is a ministry initiative of the Reformed Church of America to promote cross-generational mentoring in the church. She’s also a dear friend who has ministered to me during some really painful seasons of youth ministry, so I’m happy to introduce her to our YPT listeners. 

Resources

• Generation Spark
• Growing Young, by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin
• A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry, by Mike McGarry
• YPT Podcast Episodes on Church Membership
  • Ep.39: Gospel-Centered Pedagogy and Church Membership as Discipleship
  • Ep.51: Church Membership for Teenagers?

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Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions)

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YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book presents ten articles from the YPT archives to help new readers catch YPT's vision for theologically rich and pastorally wise youth ministry.