I recently heard a sermon with an interesting illustration. Theologians were championing their favorite Bible translations which included the beauty of language in the King James, the integrity of translation of the NASB, the readability of the NIV. Finally, a fourth noted that he preferred his parents’ translation. When asked to elaborate, he explained he learned the most about Jesus by how his parents lived the Word of God, highlighting the value of our influence over young lives.  

Preschoolers are hardwired to learn from the people around them. The benefits of intergenerational experiences are not just for preschoolers though. Everyone benefits when a variety of age levels meet together. Everyone learns more when they interact with people from a gathering of generations.  

Think about mixing older children, teens, college students, young adults, and older adults. The interactions between preschoolers and individuals of different generations benefits all participants.  

Here are some ideas to encourage intergenerational interactions with your Mission Friends.  

Welcome the Generations 

Invite parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles on a rotating basis to be a part of your Mission Friends class. Assign intergenerational helpers a specific interest area activity and provide them with the necessary information and materials they will need to lead the area. Or rely on the experiences of older family members and friends and ask them to share about their work, teach “Jesus Loves Me” in a different language, or provide a snack from their home country.  

Mission Friends for Parents 

Invite parents to join a Mission Friends session and play alongside their preschoolers to find out what they are learning. Provide suggestions, activities, and ideas to continue missional disciple-making at home. Use information found in Mission Friends Leader, page 2, to make copies of “Mission Friends at Home,” “Mission Friends at Home for Babies, Ones, and Twos,” and the monthly “Play and Learn” to send home with parents.  

Take a Prayerwalk 

Plan a virtual prayerwalk during Mission Friends and invite senior adults and parents to join you. Provide game cards highlighting the neighborhood surrounding your church for preschoolers to mark off as they visit different areas. Ask adult and teen volunteers to manage a station along the prayerwalk and provide simple activities for the preschoolers to learn about the prayer stop. Include schools, parks, police and fire stations, and community ministries.  

Bless Your Community 

Invite adult and children’s Bible study groups to help preschoolers decorate prayer cards for community servants. Consider notes and snacks for teachers in a local school, cookies and prayer cards for local fire and police stations, and teabags, coffee pods, and prayer notes for local hospital workers.  

Pray the Map 

Post a world map in your church. Use information from Mission Friends Leader to label the monthly missions area and prayer needs. Invite adults to join Mission Friends to write sticky notes and illustrate prayer requests to put on the map. Encourage adults to converse with preschoolers as they help them illustrate prayer requests and read about the missions needs of the area. Lead a simple group prayer and pray for the missionaries of the month. 

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by Teri Ussery