HOPE For Our Church by Bishop Fickett

FALL 2025 ISSUE | 5 minute read

Hope for Our Church

Leading Through Generational, Cultural, and Ideological Tension

My great-grandfather, Hermon Small, lived to be 96 years old before the Lord called him home. Some of my fondest memories of him are tied to the way he prayed. His hearing wasn't great, and every so often his hearing aid would let out a high-pitched squeal that made you think the church was on fire. But when I heard that sound, I knew something special—it meant he was in the room. That sound became a signal of his presence, his faith, and his legacy.

Today, we find ourselves in churches where multiple generations—just like my great-grandfather and I once did—worship, serve, and journey in faith together. And while that reality brings great beauty, it also brings unique challenges. That's why it's more important than ever that we strive for unity—a unity that allows us to walk hand in hand, across generations, down the road of faith.

As a pastor, one of the most challenging aspects of ministry is meeting the needs of every generation. The Church stands at a crossroads—generational gaps are widening, cultures are shifting, and ideologies are colliding. If you're pastoring a church of any size, chances are you have three to six different generations sitting in your services at the same time. That reality can be a beautiful picture of health and joy—or a source of tension and grief.

Each generation brings with it the culture that shaped them. Some prefer hymnals over lyrics on a screen; some want the lights on during worship, while others feel more engaged when they're dimmed. These differences go beyond personal preference—they reflect deeply rooted cultural expressions that have formed over time. And the truth is, every generation eventually has to reckon with its own culture—what it got right, and what it may have missed.

But at the heart of it all, we must come back to this unshakable truth: the Church belongs to Christ. As Ephesians 1:22–23 declares, "And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." If that is true, then regardless of age, worship style, or background, we must pursue unity—not as a preference, but as a Gospel imperative.

The most breathtaking picture of this unity is found in Revelation 7:9, where the Apostle John saw "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, tribe, people, and language" worshiping before the throne. That's not just a future reality—it's a present invitation. God delights in diversity and unites us through Christ, not by erasing our distinctions, but by redeeming them.

So the question before you and me is this: Will we fracture under the weight of our differences, or will we faithfully lead the Church toward unity and revival? Regardless of your local church's size, season, or situation, here's the good news: there is hope. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can lead and labor toward a Church that reflects God's heart—a unified, Spirit-filled body where diversity is not just acknowledged, but celebrated. This is the Church Christ died for. This is the Church the world desperately needs.

But hope without action is just sentiment. If we believe there's hope for a unified, Spirit-filled, multi-generational Church, then we must lead intentionally toward it. So where do we begin?

Here are three action steps for Church leaders who are committed to building bridges across generations, cultures, and ideologies:

1. Model Intergenerational Honor.

Create intentional moments where generations bless one another—whether through shared testimonies, cross-generational prayer, or mentoring. Celebrate the presence and purpose of every age group in your congregation.

2. Lead with a Kingdom Culture, Not Just Church Preferences.

Help your church distinguish between cultural comfort and biblical conviction. Teach them to lay down personal style for the sake of shared mission, and keep the Gospel—not generational norms—at the center.

3. Build Unity Through Shared Mission.

Unity grows best when people work together. Mobilize multi-generational and multi-cultural teams for outreach, service, and discipleship. Let collaboration, not competition, define your church's culture.

Just like that sound signaled my great-grandfather's presence and legacy, may our leadership echo the presence of Christ and leave behind a legacy of unity. Let us be the generation that faithfully leads the Church into the future—not divided, but united in purpose, love, and hope. The sound of revival may not come from a hearing aid, but from a Church walking together—every generation, every culture, every voice—in step with the Spirit.

Bishop Chad Fickett
Youth & Discipleship Director
Virginia Church of God State Office