As Generation Z marks the first truly “post-Christian” generation, with studies showing young people dropping out of Church in droves, a movement has spread to hundreds of churches to foster intergenerational relationships in hopes of keeping young people in the Church.
According to Tony Souder, CEO of One Hundred Years and the Pray for Me Campaign, the need for intergenerational relationships within the Body of Christ has never been greater.
In an interview with The Christian Post, Souder said that overwhelmingly, young people connected with other adults in Church have a much higher percentage of remaining with the faith — yet such relationships are woefully lacking within the Body of Christ.
Souder believes young people are exiting the church because “it’s easy to leave an institution.” He’s trying to make church involvement more like being in a family.
To help foster unity across generational lines, Souder created the Pray for Me Campaign, a Church-wide initiative that equips adult believers to pray for children and students.
The way the campaign works is simple: a local Church holds a launch event where a student asks three adult believers from different generations to be his or her “prayer champions” for the school year.
Souder believes the relationships will build an “invisible bridge” between the generations.
Through the Pray for Me Campaign, Souder said his goal is that one generation will commend the greatness of God to each emerging generation.