The Joy and Pain of an Intergenerational Church

The picture above is of Ebe and Emily Sikakane. It was taken five years ago when Ebe started as our pastor to seniors at Richview. We had a party to celebrate the start of his ministry here.

Ebe and Emily didn’t just serve from a distance. They literally moved into the Richview Residence next door. They’ve become part of the community. They’ve been an incredible blessing to us. I’m so grateful for both of them.

Last Thursday, we stood by Emily’s hospital bed and spent some time with her. On Friday she passed away.

Emily was quiet yet feisty. She was unassuming and definitely didn’t think too much of herself. That made us love her all the more.

There are many joys in being an intergenerational church. Sure, there is a cost. Everything isn’t the way we’d like it all the time. You have to flex. We see things differently sometimes, and some argue that intergenerational churches don’t grow as quickly.

But the gospel overcomes all barriers. If the gospel could reconcile Jew to Greek, it can also reconcile seniors with twenty and thirty-somethings.

I know the joy of becoming family with somebody like Emily. Now I’m learning the pain of losing her. But it’s worth it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.