by Bob Whitesel D.Min., Ph.D., 10/22/15.
The following is an experience I had while listening to National Public Radio (NPR). Prior to having satellite radio, I would listen to the national news on NPR during my long trips. One day they were interviewing a sociologist that had written a book about anthropologist’s Margaret Mead’s discovery that grandparents most efficaciously transfer values down to grandchildren, and do so better than parents (A House Divided, 2001, p. 51).
The interviewer wondered if there was an institution in our communities that could foster this inter-generational communication. The author replied that he knew of no such local organization, and the interviewer suggested that perhaps the government could sponsor inter-generational Senior-Child Centers and these could be set up across America.
It totally flabbergasted me that they did not see the Church as a conduit (as I believe God intended) for inter-generational values transmission.
I was busy dialing and redialing, trying to call in and tell them the answer was “the Church, the Church!” when the segment ended.
I sat there alongside of the road in my car thinking that we must do a better job of promoting that our churches are the God-intended environments for intergenerational dialogue and communication.
So, I challenge my students and my clients to spread the news that the best place for inter-ministry dialogue is the conduit God intended: His called-out ones 🙂
Here are some online articles (from National Public Radio and Autism Speaks) that exemplify how grandparents are making a difference in the lives of their grandchildren. http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/community-connections/grandparents-can-make-difference and http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128489672
ChurchLeadership.wiki 