Attempts at Authenticity in Youth Ministry - Guest Post from Sara Traficante
The kiddos in our churches grow into teenagers, and transitioning from children’s programs is not always smooth. What are the teens to do on Sunday mornings? Although we include frequent intergenerational experiences at my church, there is not always an obvious fit as teens move into high school. Some join the choir or the livestream team, others become assistants in the Sunday school, and a few float in just on time for coffee and cookies.
Breaking Down the Walls Between Age Groups
For years, churches have been built on a well-meaning strategy: dividing the community into specific age groups to meet their unique needs. It’s the norm in most churches — separate ministries for children, youth, young adults, seniors. It seemed logical and even beneficial at the time. After all, who better to relate to a teenager than another teenager? And wouldn’t seniors rather be with people who understand their stage of life? But over time, these well-intentioned efforts to focus on particular age groups have built something unintended: age silos.