Inter-generational ministry is dangerous

(Quick note: I think Bill Beatty might be dead ... or dead tired. Either way we miss him and are praying for him.)

I have been working towards an intergenerational ministry at my church. We segregated based on age groupings, and I don't think it's beneficial for anyone. The drama team I lead was working on a video and we were including three older adults. The youth had written the scenes themselves. The final scene we were shooting was of a crazy man trying to help a little old woman across the street.

Alma is a great lady who very few of the youth know. She's amazing. She is competing with my grandparents for my favorite older adult right now. (If Virgil and Elaine are reading this, more cookies would help your chances!) She was doing a great job hamming up the scene, which was funny to begin with, when she placed her cane infront of her foot and tripped. She fell hard. Really hard. Then she rolled into a busy street.

It was terrifying. She could have easily broken a hip. She could have been bruised from top to bottom. She was fine, thank God. We helped her up and she laughed about it. She didn't have a single bruise and went shopping the next day.

Intergenerational ministry is dangerous for a lot of reasons. There are differences of opinion that could seriously damage young Christians. Disapproving eyes can trample on the dreams of the young. Cultural differences can be too much for both youth and older adults.

It's worth it.