Imagine Christian communities where people at every age of life and every stage of human and spiritual development were meaningfully included, connecting, contributing, and maturing. Imagine young adults becoming heroes, midlifers becoming explorers, older adults becoming elders. Imagine the positive impact on the quality of church life and its witness in the wider community. Not easy in contemporary Western culture, but this book is about how to move further in that direction, the practical steps toward imagination becoming experience. This is not about becoming busier, personally or organizationally, but becoming healthier, humanly and spiritually. It is not about formulas or techniques, but about embracing the opportunities in every stage of life to help each other to keep developing beyond where one has reached. It is based on the integration of biblical theology and developmental theory. It explores the tasks and challenges to growth of key life stages. It addresses the implications for Christian formation and mission, leadership and church. It embodies the prayer that God might make everything beautiful in its time.
