Intergenerational Recreation Ministry

When it comes to getting active with the older people in our churches, let's just face it, some of us get grossed out at the thought.  Seeing them out of their natural environment of eating peppermints and watching Matlock it's just real hard to see how teens or even young adults could get along and possibly even develop some friendships with the older ones in our church.  But the hard facts are everyone benefits when it comes to mixing all the generations at church together for some clean, fun Christian recreational activities.  The main idea behind doing activities as a body of believers is, of course, about the community it builds.  But that is just the foundation that supports many great things to come.  Once that ice gets melted away and the uncomfortable cold waters are warmed relationshps are developed.  I am not sure about most of you, but I have at least 3 old ladies and 2 old men at my home church that I have to either hug, shake hands, or kiss when I go home.  Those people are always making sure that I'm doing ok and they always let me know that they have been praying for me.  I think that is what intergenerational recreations are all about.  I mean I never did go golfing or canoeing with them but it was at church events that I got to know these individuals on a deeper level that led to me thinking of them as a second or fourth grandma.  And we all know we could use more grandmas in our lives.  I guess my question for is what boundaries do you see coming down because of intergenerational recreaction?  And is there any older person out there that has invested in you?

The many possibilities of middle schoolers

As far as middle schoolers what do you see are limits of ministering/recreationing with and to middle schoolers and in contrast what are some of the opportunities? What were your expectations going into MSO as far as how middle schoolers would be?

Well, when I think of middle schoolers I think of my sister who is in middle school. There are times when I think that she is fully incapable of learning, but weeks later she will surprise me with some tidbit of information that she had retained. The opportunities for middle schoolers I think are that they are very open and receptive to modeling. Middle school is a time where kids look to idols and mentors and it is a great time to be a positive mentor and introduce strong Christian figures and heroes that they can look to i.e. St. Francis, Martin Luther, Shaine Claiborne. Especially for my sister it helps her to see real people that live a life like Jesus in the here and now. For the recreational aspect middle schoolers love to play games and have fun. As far as limitations, I think that middle schoolers can dig in deep to the word, but their attention span and thinking capacities are similar to that of a small rabbit especially if social media is not utilized. Also for recreation sometimes kids don't want to cross the middle school cliques and hang out with the other kids.

I hope this question isn't confusing. The more experience you have had with middle schoolers then your answers will probably be better. My experience is limited.