Generations

My paternal great-grandmother was born in 1899. She lived through two world wars, the advent of powered flight, men on the moon, and the arrival of the personal computer. My grandparents were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation” and lived through the Great Depression and WWII.

My parents are baby boomers, formed during the cultural and political turmoil of the 1960s, including the Vietnam War. I belong to Generation X and can remember the Challenger space shuttle explosion, 9/11, the Great Recession, and Donkey Kong. My kids are Gen Z, and they have never lived without the internet.

If you have immigrated to the U.S. or Canada from another country, perhaps these generational differences also include expressions of your immigration experience. Some might remember learning a new language and transitioning from worshiping solely in your mother tongue to worshiping only in English. Others might no longer speak their parents’ and grandparents’ language at all.

Pop culture tells us our generations are defined by characteristics that might include frugality, hard work, social boundary breaking, struggling to buy a first house, and social media use.

I’m a little cynical about these stereotypes. In my experience, the events that shape us are often more specific: the death of a sibling or parent, an unexpected move during high school, or being born with a disability, for example.

Scripture tells us about a measure for the generations: God’s faithfulness. In Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses tells Israel: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deut. 7:9). Psalm 100:5 proclaims, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Luke 3:23-38 lists 77 generations between Adam and the birth of Jesus to remind us of God’s great faithfulness throughout the ages in bringing the promised Messiah into the world.

It hasn’t always (or ever) been easy to live the life of faith. We have had our faith sorely tested and tried at one time or another. Maybe some of us have stepped away from God for a season. But God’s great promises, sealed in our baptisms, have stood the test of time. In a moment where many families, churches, and other Christian institutions are struggling, it can be easy to forget this deep reservoir of spiritual nourishment. From generation to generation, the Lord our God has been and continues to be utterly and completely faithful.

Beginning in the second half of 2025 and into 2026, the Christian Reformed Church in North America will celebrate the 150th anniversary of our two denominational institutions of higher education: Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary. These two institutions have been such a blessing to CRC folks, including me, who have been shaped and formed for lives, careers, and ministries.

I am so thankful for the generations of faithful Christian Reformed churches and families that have given sacrificially of their talent, time, and treasure so that these schools continue to flourish. I am equally grateful to wise and passionate faculty and staff members who bless generations of CRC students by sharing their love for God’s church and world. We look forward to hearing stories from Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary over the next 12 months as we celebrate this milestone.

In July 2025, the Christian Reformed Church of the Dominican Republic will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The denomination began when Haitian immigrant sugar cane cutters began listening to “La Hora de la Reforma,” the Spanish-language radio program of The Back to God Hour (now ReFrame Ministries). Through the Spirit’s blessing, the hard work of local leaders, and the support of our CRCNA denominational agencies (ReFrame Ministries, Resonate Global Mission, and World Renew), today the denomination includes more than 200 congregations and 12,000 members, most of whom are of Haitian descent.

Admittedly, some of us are a little nostalgic for our old Ataris or Apple IIs, poofy bangs, and Air Jordans. What we depend on, however, is God’s faithfulness to God’s promises. In the words of the beautiful hymn “We Will Extol You, God and King,” “One generation will call to the next, ‘Our God is good, and his hand is strong!’ All the world sings his marvelous acts, and our voices will join with theirs in the song.”