I'm fascinated by the generations. I love talking about Builders, Boomers, Gen x and Gen Yers--their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.
Aimy Steele and I have taught a breakout on intergenerational women's ministry for the past few years at She Speaks. This year as she described Gen. X characteristics, I tuned in sharply to hear about my own generation. (You can find lots of information about your generation at Aimy's blog by clicking here.)
There was one phrase that really caught my attention. Aimy explained, "Gen Xers are disillusioned by the political system. They've lost hope in it and are largely apathetic."
That's been so true for me. I've found myself tuning out entirely--skipping the news for more HGTV, cancelling my newspaper subscription and reading blogs on a very narrow spectrum.
When I heard Aimy speak about my generation, the "Me" generation, I realized that I had fallen into that disillusionment, and I needed to pull myself out. The world doesn't need checked out Christians. The world needs engaged, informed, involved, salt-and-light Christians.
So on Wednesdays I'm going to start writing about a current event. I'll do my best to make it something interesting for you, but it's also forcing myself to shift my gaze back to the world I live in and process it through my Christian world view.
I'm cheating a little this week, because I'm using an article from a Christian publication. I think it's relevant, though, on lots of levels to the world around us, and it taps into my fascination with generations.
In Lifeway's publication "Facts and Trends" this month, Thom Rainer forecasts what he believes will be the 5 major trends for churches. Here are some facts that struck me:
- Millenials (sometimes called Gen Y born between 1980 and 2000) have just surpassed the Boomers as the largest generation.
- Lifeway research estimates that only 15% of American Millenials are Christian.
- With nearly 80 million members, that means that almost 70 million American young people aren't Christians.
Rainer comes to so great conclusions about how that affects the church. Click here to read the whole article. (There's some great news about Boomers!)
I began thinking about how 70 million young Americans with a world view that's largely unaffected by Christianity shape our culture. The church is surely flawed (there are people there after all), but let's think about some of the values that the church espouses--telling the truth, treating others justly, caring for the poor, orphans and widows, seeking a non-relative Truth, behaving with the fruits of the Spirit....
Even though existing Christians fall far short, we're a group that is mostly trying to live these values. What happens when those values are seen as passe or irrelevant?
That's not to say that this generation is amoral. In fact, one of the reasons I've read they ignore the church is that they are a very socially aware generation, and they see the church as a group that's irrelevant in this arena. Ouch! What a painful but often accurate indictment.
Lisa Whittle and our She Seeks team is focused on reaching Millennials with the hope of Jesus. Is your church reaching out to this generation in any way? What kinds of things are you doing? I'd love to hear.
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8 comments:
Amy, you might like this article by another expert on generations: http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/newsletters/read/1937.
Honestly Amy, those trends made me cry. I did go to the full article and I know there is great hope, but I am so saddened by the view and maybe the truth that the church has become so irrelevant. What can I do Lord? How do we reach Millenials (three out of my four girls are Millenials, thankfully girls who believe!!). How can we introduce this group to a living, loving, life-changing, awesome God who is so much bigger than any church or ideology or doctrine? Oh Lord help us!
Amy, it was such a true pleasure to meet you at She Speaks. Your beautiful spirit alights your face. You are genuine, enthusiastic, and encouraging. I am so looking forward to working with Next Step. God bless you!
Amy, that was fascinating and really pretty scary. Our Stories, I love how you cried out. You're so right that we need to seek God for wisdom to reach that generation. Didn't you love, though, how the Boomers are turning to the hope of Jesus later in life. HOPE!
Wow, that's pretty eye opening! It's sad that so few are connected to the church but I also wonder how much of that lies with churches being so focused on the overall message of Christ that they have forgotten to minister to this particular group. I know that we have one church in town where kids see confirmation as a ticket out of the church while another church a block away fosters their teens through graduation and has a much higher rate of young people staying in the church. I think we need to focus on making sure EVERYONE knows that they are relevant in the church and make them feel the connection.
I attended that break out session and really learned a ton!
One thing my church has done (and needs to start again!!) is College Care. Families adopt a college student from our congregation, pray for them, send letters/emails, send gifts or treats to them away at school. Helps to have a reminder of how people besides family miss and think of them!
This has really got me thinking. I'm guilty of living life with my head buried deep in the sand :)
That session at She Speaks was one of my roomie's very favorite. I think I ordered the CD -- looking forward to listening to it.
That is a good idea about your "Wednesdays" - you are so right - "We Christians" - must I mean must try to help that generation. I have a son who is part of that high percentage! The Millenials need us - I too will be asking God, "What can I do Lord? How can I help reach the Millenials?" Thank you Amy!
I remember going to a youth ralley held by Teenmania Ministries years ago adn they quoted those numbers. I bought a book called Battle Cry for a Generation. It shook me to the core. Because I knew what it said to be true. How many friends my age (I am 31 now) knew Christ. How many just pushed aside the "religion of their parents." In a generation plauged by divorce, substance abuse, and immorality, we need Christ more than ever. We need something real to grab hold of. For my children's sake,I pray for revival in our hearts, nation, and churches.
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