Betsy Dishman
Betsy Dishman has enjoyed serving as GenOn’s Training Director since 2016. Before coming on staff at GenOn, she volunteered as a training leader for 15 years. You’ll often find her writing, or leading, online and in-person sessions for GenOn or offering workshops for other organizations like InterGenerate, Practical Resources for Churches, and the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE). Her writing interests include creating blog posts and resources to encourage intergenerational ministry development, and she has begun to dabble in grant writing and podcasting. Helping churches evaluate where they are with intergenerational ministry and guiding them to develop their own pathways to realize their specific vision and goals is her passion.
On the home front, Betsy has served on staff for local churches in her native Virginia for over 30 years leading music ministry and children, youth, and family ministries. She and her husband Keith have been married for 4 decades and counting, and they enjoy spending time with their two adult sons, spouses, and first grandchild. For fun you’ll find her hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, traveling, or playing pickleball.
Favorite quote (at the moment): “We all have different stories, but each story has the same hero.” – Dwan Hill
A FAVORITE INTERGENERATIONAL MEMORY/EXPERIENCE: My favorite intergenerational memory is ongoing! Years ago as parents with 2 young sons, my family stumbled on a church that intentionally created time and space for Christ-centered intergenerational relationships to form. Adults who knew my sons as preschoolers continued to engage and love on them through high school, and into adulthood. These adults also helped shape and inform my sons' faith practices by modeling what it means to follow Jesus. I'm grateful these relationships continue to this day.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY IS VITAL TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH? After decades of mourning why young people aren't staying connected to faith communities as adults, it's time to reconsider our siloed ministry designs. Every church would benefit from shifting to an intentionally intergenerational approach that focuses on creating an arena where intergenerational relationships are encouraged and nourished. We are designed to be in relationship with God and with others beyond our peer groups and to share our wisdom, knowledge and experiences from one generation to another.