Have you ever felt left out? Unnoticed? Present — but somehow invisible?
It’s a feeling many people carry quietly. And sometimes, it takes something simple to bring that reality into the open.
The “Number Four” Game
During training, we often use a simple exercise called the Number Four Game.
Participants are divided into four groups. Groups 1 to 3take part in engaging activities — laughing, interacting, enjoying the experience.
But group four? They are ignored.
At the end of the exercise, groups 1 to 3 eagerly share how much they enjoyed the activity. But group four is left asking one question:
“Why were we ignored?” It’s a powerful moment — one that reveals what exclusion feels like.
A Powerful Moment in Ethiopia
During last year’s Mentorship Course training in Ethiopia, the Serving God Together: Becoming an Intergenerational Church course was presented as part of the programme.
Sara Teferi reflects on the outcome of a workshop where children and adults participated together:
“The Saturday workshop was very interesting — so many children were involved. They were reflecting on different ideas, and the most interesting thing was that most of the people who attended the workshop thoughtthat they were the ‘number fours’, and that they were responsible for bringing in those who are excluded.”
This was a profound shift. Instead of identifying others as excluded, participants began to see their own responsibility in creating belonging.
“We were really amazed. Children participated, and everyone felt responsible — not only for recognising exclusion, but for building intergenerational ministry going forward.”
A Child’s Honest Truth
One moment stood out above the rest. When participants were asked: “Who are the number fours in the church?”
A child raised his hand and said: “The excluded people in the church are children.”
Sara shares: “All the leaders were shocked — because the children in that church felt excluded.”
It was a moment of deep realisation. Not assumed. Nottheoretical.
But spoken — honestly — by a child.
Two Types of Church
Participants were then asked to describe two types of churches:
The “Apart Church”
Their description was striking. They called it a “supermarket” — not in size, but in structure.
“Tomatoes together, potatoes together, carrotstogether.” Everyone grouped separately.
Generations existing side by side — but not together.
Some even described it as: “A church that cannot continue into the future.”
The “Together Church”
In contrast, they described this as a: “Unity Church.”
A place where generations connect, grow, and belong together. A church where no one is invisible.
A Defining Question
Participants were challenged to reflect: Which church are we part of? The Apart Church? Or the Together Church?
It was not just a discussion — it became a moment of decision.
This workshop revealed something powerful:
· Children want to be seen
· They want to belong
· And they want to be part of the life of thechurch
But more than that — it showed that everyone has a role toplay in creating belonging.
A Call to Prayer
Please pray for the upcoming follow-up training in Ethiopiafrom 14–31 May.
Pray that:
· Leaders will continue to embrace intergenerational ministry
· Children will be seen, heard, and valued
· Churches will move from “apart” to “together”
Because faith truly grows…when generations come together.
