The Church is well positioned to bring younger and older generations together. But according to Aging Well, Barna’s 2023 study of the needs of older adults created in partnership with Worship Anew, just 19 percent of Christians say their church provides opportunities for cross-generational interaction.
It’s likely this gap is, in part, a result of well-intentioned leaders who assume certain age groups would rather stick together. But relationships between people of different generations are naturally happening—and proving beneficial. Data from Aging Well reveals that more than three-quarters of adults ages 55+ (77%) say they have a close relationship with someone from a younger generation.
Creating a strong intergenerational ministry—something we report more deeply on in a recent State of the Church release—requires intentionality and an understanding of generational differences. For insights on how churches can help foster cross-generational relationships, we turned to Wes and Judy Wick, founders and directors of the parachurch ministry YES! Young Enough to Serve. The Wicks are focused on leveraging the serving potential of adults over 55 while intentionally engaging younger adults with them in this quest.
Editor’s note: You can learn more about current intergenerational discipleship trends here on Barna.com or in our full-length exclusive release inside Barna Access Plus.
If you’re interested in reading the full Q&A from Wes & Judy Wick, you can do so by purchasing a copy of Aging Well or subscribing to Barna Access Plus where the digital report is housed.
