3 Strategies for Intergenerational Children's Ministry — Lessons from The Story Program's 2026 Workshop

A Fresh Approach to Intergenerational Children's Ministry

How does church connection sustain into adulthood? Millennials who stayed connected to church beyond their youth "were twice as likely to have a close personal friendship with an adult inside the church." It's clear that relationships matter.

As the Lenten season begins, churches have a unique opportunity to build relationships across generations. By aligning activities to the church calendar, churches can offer children's sermons, artistic experiences, or spiritual disciplines activities that apply to this season of reflection. These activities and the relationships that develop from them help sustain faith for years to come.

Let's explore three strategies your congregation can use for intergenerational children's ministry.

1. Use Children's Sermons to Bridge Generations

Jesus welcomed children, saying, "Let the children come to me." Our churches can do the same.

Children's sermons create a meaningful way to recognize the importance of children in the worship service. They are an opportunity to help welcome children and parents while including children who may not attend Sunday School or Children’s Church. Ultimately, children's sermons help children recognize they are valued members of the congregation alongside adults in the primary worship service.

During the workshop, we modeled a children's sermon for the Lenten season. Leaders put themselves in children's shoes to understand what it feels like to listen, think, and act like a kid again. When adults experience the sermon from a child's perspective, they become more intentional about creating space for children in worship.

How do churches move from the practice field to taking action?

Consider adapting the weekly message into a bite-sized approach that taps into the heart of the Christian faith on a child’s level. During Lent, churches can walk through the weeks leading up to Christ's death and resurrection. The children's sermon can end with a practical application, questions for families to consider, and time for reflection with each new week.

2. Make Art a Shared Intergenerational Experience

Art provides a hands-on experience for children and adults to create together. During the workshop, attendees placed dots on pieces of wood that signify the 40 days of Lent. Each dot serves as a daily reminder of Christ's sacrifice for our redemption.

As attendees painted dots onto the wooden pieces, they were encouraged to reflect on a list of questions. For example:

• How can I listen to God more intentionally this week?

• Where have I chosen comfort over courage and obedience?

• What distractions keep me from being present with God and others?

These questions allow adults to model vulnerability as a key component of faith while giving children room to work through their own faith in community. By tying questions to the art, churches can provide weekly conversation guides for reflection. On Sundays, members can reflect on these questions in groups or as families to build natural conversations across generations.

3. Turn Spiritual Disciplines into Intergenerational Activities

Sometimes congregations need to break out of the normal routine. An intergenerational activity creates an opportunity for everyone to lean in together. During the workshop, leaders explored ways to walk through a Psalm, tie body movements to the words of Scripture, and provide a practical takeaway for families to focus on through the week.

Take Psalm 23:1-2, for example:

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

He leads me beside peaceful streams.

Churches can have children and adults act out being shepherds together as they read Scripture by pretending to hold a staff. When verse two begins, children and adults can transition to a state of peace by hugging themselves and showing peace on their faces. Children move easily, but adults may need to get out of their comfort zone for this portion.

After exploring the verse together, pastors can challenge the congregation to pray and meditate on Psalm 23 when they feel scared or overwhelmed during the week. This encourages children and adults to practice the spiritual disciplines together throughout the week. Using these interactive elements with the whole congregation invites everyone into a communal, practical application of the Scriptures.

Next Steps

How will your church meet the moment to develop intergenerational relationships?

These strategies are an entry point. Providing these opportunities can create decades-long relationships. As the Lenten season begins, try one of these strategies with your congregation. Take note of ongoing participation or deeper questions from children. Look for positive interactions between children and adults. These are the signs that relationships are taking root.