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Congratulations to InterGenerate, recipient of the 2025 TENx10 Faith Service Grant!

Here is a sample of one of our first Mutual Interviews with Pastor Steve and Promise Rose. Stay tuned for the full interview, and many more to come from the IYS Story Project!

tell the story of a youth in Your community

Want to participate in the pilot of our new story tool? Contact IYStoryproject.ig@gmail.com to register.

Scene from our First Interview for the IYS Story Project:

“Oh my! Today, we had our first IYS Story Interview, and I still have no words! All I can say is that our Youth have SO much to say about being the church, and when generations get together to share mutually, lives and faith communities are changed!” - Valerie Grissom, Project Director

Afterward - a note from the interviewing Pastor: “Thank you for asking for my participation. This kind of stuff and the direction of Christ's Body is where I live! This was so cool. [Name of Youth] was both revelation but also confirmation of many things I've already suspected about her. What a uniquely gifted young woman. I was not exactly surprised by some of her insights but her clear passion and enthusiasm for the future not only of The Church but also St. Peters is palpable and I will continue to encourage her. We also think a lot a like even though separated by over fifty years. That says a lot to me, and I'm not sure if it's perennial wisdom or that I'm just a big kid at heart, A little of both I presume. Honestly, I could have chatted like that all day and will sure be intentional in the future with holding conversations. Never once did I feel forced or uncomfortable and I feel so lucky to be a part of figuring out what works and what might be reserved for practical application. Oh I could see these as conversation starters in real time practice, which I think a good part of what Promise and I were engaged in was the practical outcome. , , ,Wow. Just wow. God is doing some amazing thngs and sometimes I can't believe I'm included in some of that.

- Pastor Steve Olson, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church

Our goals of this project are to:

+Elevate stories of youth participating in acts of service and justice in faith communities around the world.

+Enable leaders to build intergenerational, formational relationships with youth by using a new tool created by InterGenerate to interview youth and share their stories. Our goal is to collect at least 50 youth stories by Sept. 15.

+Catalyze future research regarding youth and intergenerational ministry, particularly in regard to discipleship, service, and justice.

How can you participate?

  •  Fill out the Global Survey on Youth & Intergenerational Ministry (above), which enables you to enroll your faith community in the pilot of our new youth story capture tool (launching May 5).

  • Spread the word to faith communities and ministry leaders about our IYS story project.

  • Follow our story project (see future dates above) and participate in future digital research panels and projects.

  • Attend our upcoming InterGenerate Conference, June 10-12, where we will be spotlighting IYS and facilitating a Round Table Discussion on Youth & Intergenerational Ministry.

  • Pray that the Spirit would powerfully work through the stories of youth in our churches around the world!

Feel free to reach out with questions or more details: Valerie M. Grissom, Project Manager of IYS valerie.m.grissom@gmail.com 

Valerie Grissom, Project Manager

Valerie’s research and ministry utilized the powerful medium of intergenerational and intercultural story sharing, so she is very excited about incorporating intergenerational story sharing into this project. She also loves to facilitate collaborations, so she looks foward to collecting and learning from others researching regarding youth and intergeneraitonal minsitry.

Larry Green, Promotion & Technology Director

Larry Green’s doctoral research has delved into why youth are leaving the church, and how intergenerational ministry, especially through the lens of family systems theory, can facilitate thriving intergenerational ministry that invites and collaborates with youth and young adults. Larry is excited to use his skills for this project as a podcastor, video creator, communicator, author, and pastor, and is passionate about developing relational discipleship with youth intergenerationally.

This program is made possible through a Faith and Service Grant from the TENx10 Collaboration at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.