communicating
INTERGENERATIONALLY NIGEL WINDER | SUNZ Children & Families Consultant
H
ow we communicate is directly related to our core values and understanding of our audience.
If you value all ages and see all people, despite their age, as authentic and equally valid members of God’s family, you won’t want to exclude anyone by the way you communicate God’s truth. If you are committed to helping the church be more together across the ages and less apart, then taking a moment to reflect on your communication style is worthwhile. What assumptions, attitudes and postures guide you? This year, a number of children’s ministry practitioners in NZ attended “Intergenerate Conference Australia” held online. David Csinos, a theologian from Canada, shared eight hallmarks of intergenerational preaching. While David was predominately referring to teaching and preaching intergenerationally,
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we think these hallmarks need to be infused in our thinking and practice wherever and whenever we are communicating with a variety of ages present. David makes the point that you are involved in intergenerational preaching whether you stand in the pulpit or not. Everyone is involved.
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IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING THE CHURCH BE MORE TOGETHER ACROSS THE AGES AND LESS APART, THEN TAKING A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON YOUR COMMUNICATION STYLE IS WORTHWHILE.
