COMMUNICATING INTERGENERATIONALLY

NIGEL WINDER | SUNZ Children & Families Consultant

How 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, 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.

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.

Here is a summary of eight things to be guided by when communicating.

1 The gospel is for everyone.

No one should be excluded from the proclamation of the gospel. Children and young people are included as full members and pilgrims and have important contributions to make in proclaiming the gospel. They are equal and valid participants in congregations. All voices are welcome around the table and are valued.

2 Start with simple everyday words. Pay close attention to the language we are using. Religious language needs to be explained due to a rise in Christian language illiteracy. Language needs to be comprehensible by everyone. This doesn’t mean dumbing down deeper and more complex ideas. Don’t simplify the concepts, just the language.

Mutual formation.

In Acts, Peter had to learn that God had destroyed the barriers of exclusion between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Through dialogue, we all become teachers and learners no matter our age, informing each other as we walk arm-in-arm on the discipleship journey. We form and inform each other together without excluding any age groups or relying merely on the expert up front. 4 Durable scriptures. Centre on the Bible, connecting it with how we see God working in the world. The Bible is not a weapon of coercion. Engage, wrestle, question, explore. The Bible is rugged, durable and can cope with our questioning and grappling.

5 De facto diversity.

There are so many ways to engage with all that is contained in the pages of the Bible. Make room for the Good News to be heard by people of all ages and walks of life and traditions. Preach with an awareness of your audience and their backgrounds and connection points with biblical stories. Use a variety of methods.

6 Experiential Participation.

Encourage participation where the audience makes active meaning from the sermon message. Active listening and learning are a participation process, leaving space for others to contribute.

7 Infused Creativity. Being exposed to new ideas and evaluating them against our assumptions and previous experiences allows space and opportunity for God to work and change us. God is creative and asks us to join Him in the process of creatively proclaiming the Gospel. 8 One Spirit for all. At Pentecost we are witness to the miracle of the ear. Everyone heard the gospel in their own language. God gave the crowd the ability to hear the gospel. The same Spirit gives all ages in an intergenerational context the ability to hear the gospel. From these hallmarks, it becomes obvious that when we are intentional in our intergenerational practice, everyone benefits. That is the point really. Creative, biblically focused, spirit-filled communication that acknowledges the gospel is for everyone and speaks into our context can transform us no matter our age. How miraculous and powerful that is when we are all sharing and participating in that experience together.

3

NIGEL WINDER | SUNZ Children & Families Consultant

There is a lot to wonder about in our world at the moment. In challenging times and with plenty of uncertainty, we tend to be more open to wondering about God. I wonder what He is thinking? I wonder what He is doing? I wonder what life is really about? I wonder whether God is real? I wonder what He thinks about me? This year our SUPAkidz Camps for senior primary-aged children have been using the Scripture Union holiday programme resource Wonder Zone. The programme takes a scientific approach to observing the world around us and beyond, to discover more of the God of the Bible. Alongside leaders sharing their faith stories, the campers enjoyed video testimonies from real scientists whose faith has been strengthened by the things they are discovering, and also how their faith informs their work. There was something for everyone in the programme. We covered Solomon’s search for wisdom, the declaration of the Psalmists amazement of God’s creative flare, Jesus as the “Light of the world,” and the story of the Lost Son. Daily experiments, songs, memory verses, crafts, games and deeper Bible exploration using our Lab Books helped us to discover that God, while being the Creator of everything good that exits, wants us to know Him by believing and trusting in Jesus. Here are some things that kids from the Southland SUPAkidz Camp — Wonder Zone, told us they learned about God. · ‘He knows me personally.’ · ‘He is faster than light.’ · ‘He did not programme us like robots.’ · ‘If you pray, He instantly listens.’ · ‘He gives us choices.’ · ‘He takes all your sins away.’ · ‘Jesus could do lots of miracles and He is God.’ · ‘He is super powerful.’ · ‘He sent His own son to die for us.’ It is refreshing through this resource to see the way faith and science complement each other, helping us discover the wonder of the world we live in and the wonder of God. The Wonder Zone holiday programme resource and supporting materials are available from SUNZ online store on our website.