CHRISTINA EMBREE
Rev. Dr. Christina Embree is the founder and director of ReFocus Ministry. She holds a masters in ministry focused on Children, Youth, and Family Ministry and a doctorate in spiritual formation with a focus on age segregation and intergenerational ministry from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. In addition to coaching churches of multiple denominations and traditions all around the globe, Christina serves as the Minister of Generational Discipleship for the Great Lakes Conference of the Brethren in Christ and as the Next Gen pastor at Open Door Church in Lexington, Kentucky. She is widely recognized as a speaker and author in the areas of generational discipleship, intergenerational ministry, and family ministry. As the mother of three children, she is familiar with the challenges of faith at home and pastoral ministry. She along with her husband Luke share a love for the church, their community, and the global work of peace and restoration through Jesus.
A FAVORITE INTERGENERATIONAL MEMORY/EXPERIENCE: The Pray for Me campaign connects kids and youth with prayer partners from different generations in intercessory prayer. One church I was a part had about 150 people involved in praying for each other and the bonds created between the families and prayer partners, especially those who were older and homebound. During that year, our church suffered the loss of a young child. It was heartwrenching and so difficult for me as the children's pastor to try to minister to those who were grieving. But, on the of the funeral, the prayer partners sought out the kids and comforted them and prayed with them. The relationships developed over the year in prayer for each other bore fruit in a beautiful embrace of love and grace.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY IS VITAL TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH? Our faith is passed from one generation to another (Psalm 145). Our current culture is characterized by a separation of ages and generations; we are segregated from each other across the board. If we, as a community of believers, do not create spaces for people to come together, to building meaningful relationships across generational lines, we will not be able to pass our faith and fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples. The life of the church, the longevity of our faith, and the cultivation of a discipling community are directly impacted by our ability to bridge the gap between generations and begin sharing our faith with one another.