Building an intergenerational church requires a shift in mindset. It requires a commitment to creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of age, feels they have a place and a voice.

Just as Luke felt compelled to offer a trustworthy narrative of his experience with Christ, so did Carter G. Woodson as it related to the rich history of African Americans.

In a globalized world where a disease outbreak in one country can turn into a pandemic, where natural disasters, conflicts, and the people displaced by them cross borders, does withdrawing U.S. aid and collaboration with other nations in addressing these risks make America safer? Does reneging on commitments we have already made to other nations, damaging trust and credibility in the United States abroad, make us stronger? Does abruptly cutting thousands of American jobs related to international aid make America more prosperous?

Perhaps the Amish are unique in their inclination to be predisposed to forgiveness. And yet, their examples cause us to reexamine our beliefs about forgiveness.

We’ve grown cynical about solutions to acts of violence, but there actually may be some things the church is uniquely positioned to provide.