When Generations Collide for the Gospel 

At Crosswater Church, ministry isn’t confined to Sunday mornings or a church building. It’s about equipping every generation to live out their calling, and nowhere was that more visible than at their Back-to-School Bash. 

This student-led outreach began with a simple vision: create a space where teenagers could invite their friends who might never step foot inside a church. “If you ask a teenager to church, many won’t come,” explained Heather Thompson. “But invite them to a party, a celebration? They’ll show up. And once they’re here, they hear the gospel.” 

A Carnival with a Purpose 

On a Wednesday night, the church parking lot came alive with energy. There were climbing walls, axe throwing, games, music, and food. The biggest draw of the evening was the car smash: two junkyard vehicles parked side by side, ready for students to take a baseball bat and let off steam. 

“Teenagers are carrying so much stress, anxiety, depression, anger,” Heather said. “If you want to see that, just watch a petite teenage girl with a bat take on a car. It’s powerful.” 

But the true highlight wasn’t the carnival atmosphere. It was the moment when over 700 students paused for a salvation message. That night, 90 students gave their lives to Christ. Friends prayed over friends, teenagers wept together, and new life began in the parking lot of a church. 

A Multigenerational Movement 

What made the event possible wasn’t just the energy of students, it was the support of the entire church family. 

“Our church is uniquely multigenerational,” Heather shared. “Half of our congregation are young families, and half are empty nesters and retirees. That mix is our strength. Without our older generation, we never could have pulled this off.” 

From nursery workers watching younger children so parents could volunteer, to greeters offering warm smiles at check-in, to older adults leading small group discussions after the message, every generation played a role. 

One of the most beloved volunteers is affectionately called Grandpa. Students rush to him for hugs and encouragement, knowing he pours his heart into them. “It’s the sweetest thing,” Heather said. “These teens see what it looks like to be loved and discipled by someone who has walked with Christ for decades.” 

Modeling and Multiplying Service 

That night also sparked a culture of serving among the students themselves. Many have stepped up into ministry, whether by running cameras and sound for Sunday services, serving in children’s classrooms, or helping lead their peers in discipleship groups. 

“The older generation modeled what it looks like to serve,” Heather explained. “And the students are following suit. We’re already seeing them take ownership of their faith by leading others. When you give teenagers real responsibility, they rise to it.” 

The exchange of wisdom and energy doesn’t stop there. The church has also created opportunities for the younger generation to teach the older one, especially in areas like technology. At one recent event, teenagers coached members of the Lightkeeper Ministry (ages 55 and up) on how to use smartphones and apps. “It’s a beautiful picture of how much we need each other,” Heather said. 

Beyond the Event 

The Bash wasn’t the end, it was the beginning. The very next Sunday, new families attended worship services because their teens had come home with excitement and hope. 

The church has a follow-up process in place for every student who made a decision for Christ: prayer, gifts, invitations, and small group connections. But the real discipleship happens as students link arms with peers in their grade and begin walking out their faith together. 

“Especially for boys, who sometimes struggle to open up, it’s critical that they have Christian friends at school,” Heather said. “We want them to know they are not alone, they have brothers and sisters in Christ walking with them.” 

Looking Forward 

This year’s Bash was the most successful yet, and the ministry team is already dreaming about next year. But beyond numbers and attendance, the real measure of success is the transformation happening in students’ lives. 

“When you see teenagers studying Scripture more deeply because they’re preparing to disciple someone else, it’s incredible,” Heather said. “Our hope is that what they’re learning now becomes life-long habits of faith.” 

At Crosswater Church the Back-to-School Bash isn’t just an event. It’s a glimpse of the Kingdom, where generations serve side by side, students step into their calling, and the gospel continues to change lives.