The Village!

A guest blog by Rebecca DeLucia, our Next Generational Pastor

This past Sunday we launched our newest effort to build intentional intergenerational relationships here at Central, The Village. If you missed the launch, you can watch it right here. This initiative will pair kids within the church with adults, so that we can ensure that

every kid will be seen, heard, known, encouraged and prayed for. 

I’ve had many encouraging conversations with people here at Central – both before and after Sunday – who desire to foster these intergenerational connections, to build relationships that impact the next generation, and develop community that develops faith. This is what The Village will help to foster and create. 

These intergenerational relationships used to happen more naturally; this was highlighted in the testimonies heard throughout the video of both Harry and Zeke. Harry talked about what sociologists call door to door relationship building, in which you are truly living in a community – it is small town life at its finest – your postman is your Sunday school teacher and your mechanic is your best friend’s dad. In door to door community building you’re forming relationships because you are truly living life alongside each other.  

Zeke spoke about what is called place to place relationship building, in which there’s a shared affinity for something, in his case surfing, but it could be anything. In place to place community building you form relationships with others based on a mutual like, you spend time doing that thing together, and then you get to know one another.  

Both of these types of community building have shifted and are no longer the prevalent way younger generations find and form community. Generation Z and Alpha now build relationships in what is called person to person relationship building. For them, this is done primarily online. They are used to “navigating multiple networks at once, so this generation needs the church to offer a sense of belonging, coupled with a meaningful use of time and connection. They want to develop community alongside others from whom they can gain wisdom, experience, or opportunity.”

This is what The Village will offer: a chance for you to share your wisdom and your experience with the generation that is plagued with loneliness. 

We believe that not only will the village meet the desire for connection and community, but it will also influence the faith of our young people. Researchers have found that one key component to faith becoming ‘sticky’ or lasting into adulthood is what is referred to as a ‘sticky social web’. This social web is planned, intentional, and fosters strong connections. When young people feel as if they belong to the community of faith, that their input is seen and encouraged, and that they have value and purpose, their faith is more likely to stick.

The Village is helping to weave this social web so that kids are connected to the wonderful community here at Central in a way that will impact the way they view themselves, the church, and ultimately God. 

Lastly, but also firstly, one key component to all of life – prayer. Within The Village you will be intentionally praying for your kid: that they would be seen, heard, known, and encouraged; that your relationship with them would encourage their faith to grow in depth and become sticky; and that they would see, hear, and know God. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Village, or to sign up to be a “Village leader”, contact Rebecca.

Grace & peace, 

Rebecca