Building Church with Generational Impact
Building a multigenerational church isn’t just a preference for me. It’s my one of my deepest commitment to the body of Christ. If Jesus said He is building His church, then why on earth would I spend my life doing anything else? My job is simple: get under His authority and build what He’s building.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6
It’s never been about my strength or my cleverness. The House only stands because the Spirit breathes on the bricks. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” Psalm 127:1
And yet, when the Architect commands the build, He expects His people to actually pick up the tools. Heaven isn’t passive. Kingdom builders aren’t passive. I believe in building the church, building teams, building leaders, building whatever we must to see the kingdom rise in our generation.
Equipping People to Build
Paul writes:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…”
Ephesians 4:11–12 (NKJV)
The ministry gifts exist to build people, not replace them. We are “living stones” being fitted together, Jesus Himself the chief cornerstone.
“…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…”
1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
When you lead, pastor, or even just oversee a small team, your responsibility is to identify purpose, place, and passion in the people under you — then release them. Church culture tends to say “wait your turn,” but kingdom culture says “steward their calling.”
Why Multigenerational Matters
A multigenerational church refuses to treat age groups like isolated planets. We aren’t meant to copy the patterns of “how church used to be” or force young people through outdated traditions. We’re meant to connect generations so the inheritance flows properly.
“Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.”
Joel 1:3
Pastors don’t just preach sermons… we steward generational cycles.
Some people come with loads of wisdom but little experience.
Some come with loads of experience but very little wisdom.
Some come with neither — yet carry a spark that could shape nations.
When we do this right, every generation becomes part of the story God is writing, not sidelined by it.
Youth Are Not “The Future” of the Church
I’ve never liked that phrase. I’ve seen too many youth ministries declare “these kids are the next big thing,” only for half the group to drift off into nightlife, uni culture, or adult life with zero pathway to meaningfully step into the church they grew up in.
The problem isn’t passion.
It’s stewardship.
If the church doesn’t equip them, release them, and build clear pathways, then of course they’ll plug into something else. And maybe — maybe — they’ll wander back twenty years later with a spouse and a toddler, finally feeling like they’re “allowed” to contribute.
That’s not discipleship.
That’s spiritual neglect disguised as optimism.
Cricket
When I returned to playing cricket in my 30s, something clicked for me. In a typical village cricket team, you see teenagers full of passion and energy… right up until they hit 18. That’s when clubs, nightlife, uni, and freedom hit them like a ton of bricks. Many disappear from the sport completely.
Then you get the late 20s crowd — fewer in number, busy with new careers or relationships.
Then a massive gap.
Then the 45/50+ crew return once their kids are grown and life stabilizes.
It’s the same in church.
If we don’t integrate and disciple young believers, they get swallowed by the world, drift into the “uni and freedom” chapter, or only return decades later when they decide church is “good for the family.”
A multigenerational church interrupts that cycle.
Kingdom Culture, Not Cultural Preference
Here in the UK, immigration has brought beautiful, diverse church cultures into the fabric of British Christianity. But kingdom culture isn’t Caribbean, British, Asian, Eastern European, or any other expression.
Kingdom culture is Psalm 78:
“We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done… that the generation to come might know them.”
Psalm 78:4–7
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me.”
Not “let them wait until they’re older.”
Not “let them fit into our style.”
Not “make them earn their place.”
Kingdom culture is generational.
Kingdom culture is inheritance-based.
Kingdom culture requires every age, every background, every story.
The Mission
A multigenerational church must be able to meet people at every season:
- Baby believers
- Students
- Young adults
- Parents
- Empty nesters
- Grandparents
- New members
- Lifelong locals
- Those with scars
- Those with fire
- Those with questions
We build for the long haul so the new ones — the babies in Christ — can grow into mothers and fathers of the faith.
This isn’t nostalgia.
This isn’t preference.
This is the kingdom.
Thanks for reading, and if this hit something in you, drop a comment. I’m always keen to hear how others see this same challenge.
Andy
