Connecting_Generations

Dear Diary,

 #Making_Cross_Generation_Disciples

How can Baby Boomers, Gen. X, Gen. Y and the iGen connect; build mentoring relationships and strengthen faith formation?

Two weeks ago I attended our church's (Friday 5:30pm-6:45pm) Bible Study. While lingering at the parking lot, there were two gentlemen of the iGen or ukipenda wale wa Gen Z catching up. I asked them if they're going inside church for the Bible Study. One of the gentlemen said, "Me niliattend ya youth jana. Hii ya leo ni ya wazae; mtu anafeel out of place huko ndani!" Ouch! Since then I have been thinking, how can the church connect generation gaps? Is it necessary to have cross-generation relationships and fellowship? Certainly yes!

My local church, PEFA Gikomba, just like most churches have separate services for children, teens and youths. This is great, but, what's the implication of separate services? Sadly, most times iGen don't attend corporate service, they prefer to come for their separate services (my personal observations).

The response from the young man led me to search to understand generation cohorts. A generation is a group of people born around the same time and place. People in specific generation cohorts exhibit similar characteristics, thought processes, preferences, values and expectations.

So, here are the generations I came across in the internet:
Traditionalists, born before 1945; Baby Boomers, born between 1946-1964; Gen. X, born 1965-1979; Gen. Y or the Millenials, born 1980-1995; Gen. Z or iGen 1996 and later.

I have observed that sometimes there's a prejudicial separation between the above generations. But, can the church build generation bridge and make cross-generation disciples? How can we build cross-generation mentoring relationships? What relevant messages can spark cross-generation life-changing conversations?

Yours faithful scribbler,
NzakuNashipae
© Jesus loves you