Building a Faith that Lasts through Intergenerational Discipleship
by Karin Sasser
One of the hardest things we face as youth leaders is watching some of our former students walk away from church or their faith or once they leave our ministry to head off to college or whatever path they choose to take after graduating high school. We pour so much of our time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears into developing both environments and relationships to help them grow a strong, maturing faith, and more often than we want, it feels like it doesn’t stick.
Unfortunately, studies show anywhere from 50-70% of students walk away from church or faith after leaving high school. The Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) wanted to better understand this dilemma and discover what practices best help students retain their walk with God and relationship with the church. They coined the phrase “sticky faith” – a faith that sticks for a lifetime. In their words, “Faith that is both internalized and externalized: a faith that is part of a student’s inner thoughts and emotions and is also externalized in choices and actions that reflect that faith commitment. Faith that is both mature and maturing: a faith that shows marks of spiritual maturity but is also in the process of growth.” Now this is what we are hopeful for as our students graduate from our ministry. So how can we help ensure it happens?
One of the markers Fuller discovered that helps students build a “sticky faith” is intergenerational relationships. The good news is this is something we can definitely foster in our youth programs! When I first started leading a youth ministry, I remember a lot of talk about leader-to-student ratios. We dreamed of having a 1:5 ratio of 1 leader to 5 students but were typically thrilled if we could have a 1:10 ratio (and to some of you, even that may seem surreal). But the authors of Sticky Faith have turned this on its head. They say what is most beneficial is a 5:1 ratio. Yep – that’s five adults in every student’s life. Youth leaders can partner with parents by helping their kids be surrounded by adults who love and care for them and point them toward a relationship with Jesus. Obviously, this ratio can include adults outside of church – coaches, teachers, family friends, and extended family members. But having more adult leaders in the lives of our students can only help. This could be small group leaders, Sunday school teachers, or even adults our students serve alongside.
Intergenerational discipleship can work with both students having relationships with people older than them as well as having relationships with kids younger than them. It may not be the right fit for all students, but students who are able to serve in children’s ministry or high school students who can help serve in middle school ministry have not only the opportunity to put their faith into practice as they disciple those younger than them but also have the added benefit of being around Christian adults serving alongside them.
There is also a great benefit in teens attending Sunday worship services with the entire congregation. While there are definite advantages to children and youth having ministry environments tailored specifically for them, intergenerational worship is extremely valuable. Many young adults, after attending programs designed specifically for their age group from birth through college and without having attended the church’s Sunday morning worship services, feel lost and have little connection to church once they age out of programs created just for them. Many of your churches may already encourage families to worship together on Sunday mornings, but if not, advocating for that can have a lasting impact on your students’ walk with God and church participation for years to come.
Intergenerational discipleship is important for healthy spiritual growth, and you have the opportunity to surround the youth in your church with caring adults of all generations who teach them, model a life of faith, and help them develop a faith that lasts.