The Benefits of Cross-Generation Small Groups
Monday, January 18, 2010Small groups are a great way in connecting your church, especially since people in and outside the church yearn for community. Most small groups are done by choosing to gather with friends or by similar age grouping (parents with young children, senior saints, etc...), but a weakness in this is that the church becomes segregated by age-level communities. Churches that are mixing their small groups generationaly are finding that it is strengthening their church. One of the benefits is sharing faith from one generation with another. This is a great way of passing the "torch" of Christianity from older to younger. Here are some insights that will help you process multi-mix generations for your small groups:
- Benefit of life experience from older adults.
- Benefit from energy and passion of younger adults.
- Provide a natural conduit for mentoring the next generation of leaders.
- Provide child-rearing assistance for younger adults.
- Provide application and the sense of being needed for older adults.
- May be linked by geographical location.
- May be linked by interests or hobbies.
- May be linked by a desire to study a particular book of the Bible.
- Strengthen the overall ministry of the church.
- Provide needed group care and pastoral type shepherding.