Gather

In an era of self-driving cars, AI-powered everything, and anything-in-the-world delivery, I’m sometimes drawn to a very different kind of brilliance—wisdom that has lasted for ages. One place to find this kind of wisdom is gardening.

Companion Planting

Thousands of years ago humans discovered that many fruiting plants grow better when planted among plants of different kinds—a practice known as companion planting.¹ Companion planting may not look neat or tidy to people used to straight rows of crops, each type confined to their own zone. With this method, plants are arranged into intentional clusters that form something like agricultural families.  

Not only do these plants put up with each other, but they mutually benefit one another. Instead of competing for sun, water, and soil nutrients, these plants accommodate and even provide surplus for the plants around them. Some replace nutrients that other plants need. Others provide physical support for others to grow. Still others emit chemicals that deter pests that prey on the other plants.² These mutual benefits can result in higher yields, fewer pest problems, decreased chemical application, and more efficient water use.³

While I don’t recall a passage where Jesus talks about companion planting, his teachings are full of gardening analogies. Maybe there is some ancient wisdom for our discipleship experience in this companion planting concept. 

Hunger for Intergenerational Discipleship

There is emerging evidence that Christians are rediscovering a kind of companion planting for the church. Rather than only opting for separate zones of neat rows, people are witnessing the unique fruit of generations coming together in worship, service, and relationship. This is an approach some refer to as Intergenerational Discipleship. And, when it comes to the fruit of Intergenerational Discipleship, the hunger is growing.  

A recent survey by CoGenerate revealed that 60% of respondents believe the presence of younger people improves religious experiences. Likewise, 65% responded that the presence of older people improves religious experiences. Stats don’t just point to a desire to be next to one another. It may surprise some that 80% of respondents rate collaboration with someone younger as positive within religious communities.⁴

Even more, 90% of people rated collaboration with someone older as positive within religious communities.  

This deep desire for collaboration amongst generations aligns with Intergenerational Discipleship, which intentionally includes faith experiences that go beyond coexisting (multigenerational) or even crossing paths (cross-generational). Intergenerational Discipleship represents an approach to ministry where multiple generations are present, equally valued, mutually invested, and participating in the holistic formation of all parties into the image of Jesus Christ.

What Does the Bible Say?

The goal is to grow in relationship with God, with one another. This master plan is not new. Throughout the Scriptures, we read of generations encountering God together. The hallmark passage on faith collaboration amongst generations (Deuteronomy 6) is joined by others in the Old Testament, like:

• Deuteronomy 29, when Moses sent for all the Israelites and speaks to God’s people for the last time
 

• 2 Chronicles 20 when Jehoshaphat calls for the entire nation to fast
 

• Nehemiah 8 and 12 when Ezra reads the book of the law aloud and the entire community celebrates together  

In the New Testament, we find Jesus’ inclusion of multiple generations throughout His life and ministry. Welcoming the children to Him and affirming the faith of the young boy with fish and loaves are only the beginning (Matthew 10:42; 11:25–26; 18:2–6, 10; 19:13–14; 21:16; Mark 10:13–16; and Luke 9:46–48).  

The epistles seem to assume that all ages and stages are present in worship and the daily life of the church (Ephesians 6:1–4; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy 4:12).

The Reality in Many Churches

Despite the biblical framework for Intergenerational Discipleship and a growing desire of many Christians to experience relationships with other generations, this kind of faith experience is often missing in local churches.

A recent Barna study found that, while 35% of Christian adults ages 55+ say their church is “very effective” in helping them grow spiritually and caring for their spiritual needs, only 18% say their church is “very effective” in helping them create relationships with other generations.⁵

Even in churches where people say they’re growing, the ancient wisdom of connecting generations seems elusive. Said another way, it may be that Intergenerational Discipleship is a tragically underutilized approach, even in otherwise healthy congregations. Reflecting on companion planting again, one could ask a few questions about Intergenerational Discipleship:  

How does a local church begin to see through the Intergenerational Discipleship lens? (Maybe by thinking of it like companion planting in a garden—just replace sun, water, and soil nutrients with gathering spaces, budget, and calendar slots.)

What kinds of spiritual nutrients could generations add to one another? What bright wisdom and perspective do different age groups offer? What supports and helps for healthy growth could be shared? What redundancy or inefficiency could be cut out?  

A Way Forward

Rather than competing, the generations mutually contribute to one another, while accommodating each other’s unique needs and providing support for healthy spiritual growth.

1. There is no need to cancel all your programming. Intergenerational Discipleship doesn’t mean doing away with age-and-stage programming. These approaches serve very important and unique purposes.
2. No huge events or budget changes are required. Many churches, like the people who attend them, already have limited budgets and full calendars. Adding one more event doesn’t necessarily add value.

3. No expertise or fool-proof plan is needed. Some very small, intentional steps go a long way!  

Next Steps:  

You can ask (and probably answer) these questions in just a few minutes. The answers can highlight some next steps to seeing the fruit of Intergenerational Discipleship in your context.  

1. What generations are already present in my faith community? For instance: Silent Generation (1925–1945), Boomer Generation (1946–1964), Generation X (1965–1979), Millennial Generation (1980–1994), Generation Z (1995–2012), Generation Alpha (2013–today).
2. What is one regular experience where multiple generations are already present in my faith community? This could be weekly worship, VBS, a service project or missions trip, or seasonal event like Christmas or Easter. It might include kids but doesn’t have to.
3. What is one thing I can do to either add a generation to this experience, or help the already-present generations interact in a more meaningful way?


Concrete Suggestions: 

Eating Together: The people of God have always experienced faith alongside food. This experience can be as simple or complex as you desire, but the important elements are very basic: food, generations being together, and a bit of intentionality to foster engagement. Is it a picnic with intentional opportunities for interaction? Even standing in line to get food and sitting together can lead to great first steps. Maybe pre-sort groups to include representatives from different generations, with simple questions or conversation starters at tables. Is it a breakfast or dinner where the church family serves each other before or after a worship service? Don’t underestimate the power of ancient things like food, fellowship, and fun.


Fifth Sunday Experience: A couple of times each year, our calendar blesses us with a bonus Sunday! Capture the unique momentum of a bonus Sunday by planning a service that more intentionally includes and engages all generations. This can be as big as leading a fully Intergenerational service, or as simple as tweaking one element of the worship gathering. Or you can include a “bonus breakfast” (or snack, drink, etc.) hosted by a different generational group each Fifth Sunday. Have fun together by providing a table with colored wristbands that correlate to each generation and ask people to wear the wristband of their generation. Incentivize each person to ask people of every generation simple questions as a way of breaking the ice. If providing questions seems overwhelming, use the wristbands and do a Fifth Sunday “High 5” challenge, where people are encouraged to give handshakes or high-fives to someone from each present generation. 

Weekly Service Apprenticing: Existing volunteers serve in countless ways as churches gather for worship. What if a few roles were identified where experienced believers could train people from other generations in the posture and practice of serving in the body of Christ?  

The apprenticing can be short term—for a few weeks even. Apprenticing can be as simple as inviting them to observe and ask questions, while the real goal is relationship building amongst generations. The “Master” may find themselves learning from the “Apprentice.” Some examples: Greeting or Hospitality Team, Ushers, Audio/Visual/Tech, Worship Team. In one church, an older coffee expert trained a small crew of high school and middle school students to form a great team. Meanwhile, a high school boy trained a retired gentleman to run slides.  

Intergenerational Sunday School or Small Group: This can be short-term and selectively offered, and can include kids, but doesn’t have to. One church created a men’s group where college students, young dads, middle-aged men, and retirees were intentionally recruited to do a short-term Bible study together. This “short-term” group is still meeting after more than six years. They credit their intergenerational mixture for the unique fruit and growth they have enjoyed.  

Grow Where You’re Planted

With a little creativity, generations can experience the sweet fruit that comes from sincerely knowing one another, worshiping together, and growing together into the image of Jesus Christ. This might mean adapting to less tidy rows. It may require being a little more intentional about calendars and gathering spaces. And the yield might be a quantity and quality of spiritual fruit that so many are hungry for.
 

What if the fruit of Intergenerational Discipleship is more bountiful than we have ever imagined? What small step can you take today to be a part of Intergenerational Discipleship where you are planted?  

1. “The Science of Companion Planting in the Garden,” Montana State University, June 14, 2019, https://www.montana.edu/extension/broadwater/blog-article.html?id=18786.  ↩︎
2. “Plant Partners: Five Benefits of Companion Planting,” Clemson Extension, June 30, 2025.  ↩︎
3. The best-known example of this may be the “Three Sisters” companion planting technique developed by various indigenous North American cultures. ↩︎
4. “YouGov Report Dev4 – CoGenerate,” Can Bringing Older and Younger People Together Renew Religious Communities? 2024, cogenerate.org/yougov-report-dev4/. ↩︎
5. “Empowering Older Adults: Building Intergenerational Connections in the Church,” Barna Group, February 21, 2025. ↩︎