Stepping Over the Gap - Christianity Today

Dan Ruiter embodies the term “baby buster.” Single and 23, Dan majored in music in college, plays jazz trombone, and collects Miles Davis CDs. He sports a goatee and bleached hair, dresses casually when he goes to church, and wears a leather jacket and chaps when he rides his Suzuki 850 GS motorcycle.

And, oh yes, he attends a small group Bible study with people in their fifties and older.

“My parents split up when I was 16,” Dan explains. “My dad was a workaholic and did not disciple me. So when our church offered age-blended small groups, I signed up, because older folks know what’s up. On my very first visit, I told the group, ‘I’m looking for a mentor.'”

He found Charles Bartlett, a retired law enforcement officer. “As the weeks passed,” Dan says, “we reached a level of trust where I could ask pointed questions, seek advice, and even explore areas in my life I needed to work on.”

Dan and Charles represent what is becoming a renewed interest in many churches—trans-generational ministry.

Many pastors are realizing the need to bring the wisdom of gray-haired saints together with the spiritual hunger of frosted-haired busters. Here’s how three churches blend the generations.

Uncover common goals

Northwest Baptist Church of Bellingham, Washington, made generation blending a priority. Their mission statement, printed on the front of their bulletin, reads, “Building a trans-generational community of faith, committed to biblical preaching and practice, to invite others into a relationship with Christ.”

“One step in breaking down barriers between young and old,” says Pastor George Bedlion, “is bringing them together to work on common goals that address each others’ values. The young folks valued their growing families and the older folks valued their historic church facility. We combined both values into one goal—we remodeled the nursery!

“We tried the same approach when negotiating tastes in worship. The traditional service uses a choir and pipe organ. Its participants value the visual, how things look—modesty panels, worship banners, and stained glass.

“The contemporary service uses drums and guitars. They are a very sound-oriented generation. A percentage of our church budget went to purchase amplifiers, microphones, mixer boards, boosters, and speakers. Cables are strung everywhere, much to the consternation of those in the traditional service.

“When some suggested we buy new choir robes, those in the contemporary service cried, ‘Why spend all that money just for choir robes?’ The traditional worshipers said, ‘We want to spend church money for robes for the same reason we approved all that church money on sound equipment and wires! Choir robes help us worship!’

It’s a true ‘Kodak moment’ when you see seasoned tradesmen coaching younger apprentices, service the Lord together.

“The expenditure was approved because both groups share the common goal of worship.

“The highlight of the year occurs in early summer. Because young and old share a commitment to service, we send a work team of 70 to 80 individuals to a Bible camp for a weekend. They work side by side getting the place ready for camp programs. It’s a true ‘Kodak moment’ when you see seasoned tradesmen coaching younger apprentices, serving the Lord together.”

Keep the family together

The church where biker Dan and ex-cop Charles became friends matches old and young in growth groups. A cell-based church, Wellspring Christian Fellowship of Lynden, Washington, intentionally blends generations.

“Between 15 and 20 people of all ages meet weekly in homes for worship,” founding pastor Dan Smythe explains. “Parents choose our church because they can be with their children in ministry settings.”

Children and teens meet with the adults during group meetings for relationship-building icebreakers, worship, and prayer times. When the children in the fifth grade and younger are excused for their own Bible study, a different set of adults leads them each week in another room.

“Growth groups are encouraged to invest one day per month in a community service project. Children and teens participate, too. The impact on family solidarity is profound,” says Smythe. “Children discover they have surrogate spiritual grandparents.”

It is important to the people at Wellspring that the generations worship together, so they offer only one service style.

The service offers lots of choruses and a few hymns. “So far, we have bridged the generational preferences among our fifty or so families,” Smythe says.

Godparents for grownups

Many of the people of First Baptist Church of Ephrata, Washington, wanted a closer walk with God. It started in a weekend workshop led by church renewal expert Richard Bergstrom. Sitting in groups of six to eight, the 50 attendees were asked three questions:

1. “Where have I been spiritually?” Each made a personal time-line.

2. “Where am I going?” Each wrote a personal mission statement.

3. “Who can help me get there?” Participants thought about mentors.

As Bergstrom described the process, “Participants answered these questions for themselves and then shared with each other. People talked, and at a depth beyond the superficial. It naturally led younger attendees to consider the values of age and experience. What better mentor than one who’s been there?”

One 64-year-old participant commented afterward, “As senior citizens get older, they no longer can do some of the things they used to. They feel left out or useless. Intergenerational meetings are essential because we’re good for each other. Blending ages keeps the old younger and the young wiser. It just takes a conscious effort to help everyone see the advantages of getting along.”

One of the remarkable features of Christianity is its inclusiveness. The cross of Christ has overcome ethnic, gender, and class barriers. The same should be said for age barriers. These churches are pointing the way.

Erik Johnson heads Family Challenge Ministries 1788 Harksell Rd. Ferndale WA 98248 e-mail: familychallenge@juno.com