More Thoughts on Age-Integration

Age-integrated ministry is one of the most ignored Biblical teachings. For the past 10 years I have appealed to pastors, church leaders and members who have not been taught it but read it (and see it) in their Bibles and wonder why the church is so age-segregated. Why is it? Because we have adopted the education model prevalent in this country with its theories and assumptions (which BTW educators, some of our best and brightest, will tell you are always changing), rather than a Biblical one.

In terms of priority as well as order, 1st, Christian education is to happen in and through households day by day, teaching and example, full immersion, living it, like learning a language. 2nd, it happens among the gathered church. 3rd, ought to be age-segregated ministry. Most churches put the majority of their paid and volunteer resources into age-segregation. I did children’s ministry that way for years; what you get when households are not fully engaged in the process is stunted growth; generations that want to be entertained; that are disconnected from the life of the body. Churches should put their best efforts into equipping heads of households to lead spiritually. Every pastor ought to be considered an intergenerational pastor; every church leader ought to be engaged in age-integrated ministry. It is biblical, God-honoring; & the best way to pass the faith from generation to generation.

This doesn’t mean you can’t do anything else, it means that we will put our best energies into what long-term will be more fruitful. Eric Wallace in his book, Uniting Church and Home says: "Churches in ever-increasing numbers are seeking to move away from methods of ministry that are in reality working against the establishment of faithful generations. A renewed focus on multi-generational vision, heart-level relationships, and nurturing in everyday life (the household discipleship vision) are slogans of this revival. Thus, we see the movement away from the traditional age-segregated approach to an age-integrated household approach."

Bottom line, the primary place for Christian growth is in the home and the primary gathering for believers is in the worship service with all generations together. Good things like Sunday school, small groups, youth groups, and children’s ministry are not replacements or substitutes for families reading the Word and praying or all ages gathering together to worship. They are supplements but shouldn’t replace the main things.