Moving Beyond Space Heaters

As Fritz Meier, base director of Gleanings for the Hungry, returned with his wife Cindy from visiting family in Washington state, he shared how he mistakenly settled for a space heater in their RV, failing to take advantage of central heat on their trip’s first leg. 

Their space heater was effective when they sat close to it, but moving even a short distance away led to shivering cold.

Specialized, age-targeted ministries in our churches can sometimes resemble space heaters. Peer groups are often warm and cozy, but the temperature can drop dramatically as you move outside these comfortable cocoons.

We love our peers, and we love seeing them loving on people up and down the age thermometer.

Our YES! team’s age range at Gleanings makes a difference, this time from age six to eighty. And it wasn’t just the older adults making a difference in the kids’ lives; the kids impacted adults throughout Gleanings.

We love the intergenerational staff at Gleanings, who nurture fruitful potential in mostly older workers during the cooler winter months and young teams in the summer heat. 

And after serving all week at Gleanings, we loved returning to our home church to hear glowing reports related to the young-and-older-adult discipleship friends, paired up since the beginning of this year.

Thirteen pairs committed weekly one-on-one time together, encouraging each other spiritually and stirring up the gifts within. Many of the young people matched up with older adults are students at UC Santa Cruz.

Flipping on that central heating switch is heartwarming.

Being valued by individuals at opposite ends of the age spectrum invigorates us. Young people gearing up for what’s ahead connecting with older adults often on the other side of their careers—but still ready and willing to engage, young enough to serve.

Space heaters serve a purpose, but we yearn for more central heating in our churches and ministries. His faithfulness continues through all generations!