Multigenerational church
Chris and Stephanie Neal, Lifehouse Community Church and developing younger adults across S&L Advance
It’s a swelteringly hot day in first-century Ephesus, and you pull your cloak across your face to shelter you from the sun. You weave your way through the market stalls and duck down an alleyway into the next street. With a quick glance over your shoulder, you push open a door and enter the house on the corner. From the outside it looks quiet and unassuming, but inside it is a hive of activity. As you enter you are greeted by a multitude of people from all walks of life. Conversation is flowing in several languages, as people talk and pray for one another. There are babies, children, men and women, young and old, all mingling together in this house on the corner. This is the church, and it is alive.
Throughout the New Testament, the church is depicted as a vibrant melting pot of different ethnicities and generations, with people from all stages of life joining together as family. This forms much of the context of Paul’s letters, which provide instruction and guidelines for unity amidst diversity.
We still aim for this today. The church is the family of God, and much like an earthly family, it is naturally multigenerational. Multigenerational church is essential to who we are as Salt & Light Advance, and something which we are intentionally pursuing together.
Characteristics of multigenerational churches:
Discipling
Multigenerational churches are natural habitats for discipleship. Each generation is able to learn from their elders, while simultaneously training the next generation.
However, multigenerational discipleship doesn’t only benefit young people! Just as younger generations can learn from their elders, so too older people can benefit from the capacity, energy and vision that others can bring.
Attractive
Multigenerational churches are attractive to multiple generations! It is easier to imagine belonging to a community where there are others like you.
Moreover, as society seems to continuously pit generations against one another, multigenerational churches are a powerful counter-cultural witness. As the family of God, our unity in diversity is incredibly attractive to people searching for community.
Caring
Churches are not simply people working together to achieve something, but are joined relationally. We care for one another by spending time together, building relationships and praying for one another. Multigenerational churches are uniquely placed to provide effective practical care for the whole family of believers.
For example:
A church with a leadership team made up of different generations is likely to have a more informed understanding of the varying needs of their congregation.
Both young professionals and retirees may have fewer evening commitments, are well placed to meet the needs of families with young children, providing meals and babysitting.
Young adults with more energy and physical strength can help with DIY and other practical tasks.
Older people can provide safety, food and shelter for those struggling to make ends meet.
Sustainable
Multigenerational churches should seek to honour and empower all generations in their congregation. It is fitting that younger generations should be raised up into leadership, with their elders guiding and encouraging. We see this in the New Testament in the relationship between Paul and Timothy – spiritual parenthood coupled with practical leadership guidance.
Multigenerational churches are churches that endure, with the leadership ‘baton’ being passed from one generation to the next.
A building priority in our churches
The long and short of it is that we need each other.
A church made up of people from all ages and stages of life is an accurate reflection of the glory of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as we relate to one another, serve one another, and honour one another in turn.
Yet we often fall short of the multigenerational vibrancy that we see in the New Testament church. Younger generations can gravitate towards larger churches, where more of their peers can be found, while smaller churches may stagnate and struggle. The polarisation of generations that we see in culture at large can sadly seep into our churches, creating atmospheres of resentment or mistrust.
When a generation is missing from our churches, we are poorer for it. In our group of churches as a whole, people in their 20s and 30s are significantly lacking compared to their predecessors.
God is calling us to address this, to be welcoming communities where all are honoured, empowered, and equipped to pursue God’s purposes, and to raise up and disciple the next generation, and the next, and the next, until Jesus returns.
“One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” (Psalm 145:4-5)
As we join together across the demographic lines that culture would seek to divide us along, God is going to release something beautiful that will change this nation.
So would you join us in praying for and buliding towards increased diversity and unity across our churches?