This month, we focus on the idea that our teens need many voices in their lives as they grow in their faith. The best kind of voices can often be older voices. We refer to this as intergenerational discipleship, where we surround our teens with older generations to give them a broader picture of faith. We all know that it’s important to have our teenagers involved in Sunday school, youth group, or in a small group at our church. But these groups alone might not be enough. If our teenagers can be influenced by a group of significant adults who teach them, encourage them, and model what it means to follow Jesus, there’s a better chance they will develop a faith that will last a lifetime. This is intergenerational discipleship, and you, as parents, are in the best position to look for opportunities to foster these relationships in the lives of your teens. This month’s resources will help you better understand the importance of intergenerational discipleship and give you some practical ways to make it a part of your family’s spiritual journey.

In this month’s Parenting Class, we encourage you to buy into the power of intergenerational discipleship and work to surround your teenagers with people of all ages who can spur them on in faith. Church is a great place for the next generation to learn from and build relationships with past (and future) generations, but you, as their parents, can be proactive in helping your teens have multiple influences in their lives. This video will give you a few ideas and steps you can take to make intergenerational discipleship a powerful tool as you seek to lead your teens in their faith.