This Sunday I am looking forward to our 4th annual Young and Wise Dinner at our church. This year I have invited our youth group and our senior saints breakfast group to get together for dinner. This event is like no other event we do doing the year. I always tell my group, this isn't the most fun event we do each year but it may be the most special and one of the most important.
Just about any author that has done research about kids keeping their faith into and throughout college says that each student needs at least 5 adults in their life. In these adults the students see that their faith is not just for kids, and it's not some imaginary thing. In these adults they see that their faith should make a difference in their life for the rest of their life.
My goal for the Young and Wise Dinner is to connect Youth Group and Senior Saints together; to connect the generations.
For the older generation to get to know those in the Youth Group and for the Youth Group to get to know the older generation.
For the Youth Group to serve the older generation and the older generation to minister to younger.
For both generations to learn to love and to serve others.
Some of the ways that I facilitate these relationships at this event is by:
Intentionally seating small groups of people around 1 table. About 2-4 "wise" people and 1-3 "young" people and 1-2 youth leaders.
Starting the night off with trivia. Each question is from a different decade so both the young and the old will have to work together to answer the questions. These trivia questions should also spark conversation.
Eating together. Of course, it's a dinner! This year, 2 of my high school students are going to help prepare the food. The students at the tables bring the food to the tables and serve their table. Salad first, then dinner, then dessert!
Giving out silly dollar store prizes. Everyone likes to be rewarded for their effort, even if its a silly $1 cup that the winning trivia table gets to use during dinner!
Some sort of relationship building game. This year it is Apples to Apples. This game gets everyone around the table playing together and talking. Again, awarding the winner with a prize.
Taking a picture of each table and giving everyone at the table a printed copy of the picture before they go home as a prayer reminder.
Closing the night with another intergenerational activity. This year we will be seeing who can name the song from the second line of songs we have sung in church. These songs range from traditional hymns that the "wise" people might have grown up singing to new songs that the students love to sing. Again, close with a prize.
Finally, I get to remind the group about the importance of this event. I am praying that this event is the start of some very special relationships. Over the last 3 years there have been many stories about this being the case. Here is the challenge I give to the group:
Ways Godly Senior Citizens can minister to younger people:
Pray for them.
Encourage them.
Tell them your story.
Minister WITH them.
Mentor them.
Ways Youth Can Minister to Senior Citizens:
Pray for them.
Honor them.
Ask them.
Use them
Help them.
*These lists are from Inter-Generational Youth Ministry: Why a Balanced View of Connecting the Generations is Essential for the Church Paperback – December 17, 2013. by Mel Walker (Author).
**Thank you to the man that I had the privilege of being paired up with during a similar Young and Wise event at my home church growing up. I didn't really know this man until I started my internship at my church. I realized this guy was a prayer warrior. Every Tuesday morning he was in the prayer group, and every Tuesday morning I know he was praying for me. In fact, I bet he prayed for me just about every day. Thank you for being an example of what it means to connect intergenerationally and care for someone in the younger generation! I hope your faithfulness can inspire the next generation of "wise" people to invest in the "young" people.
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:18
