millennials and the church

Millennials and the Church

America’s largest generation seeks change through hope, knowledge, and authenticity.

1. Gain an understanding of the 4 adult generations interacting today and what makes each important to your church and business

2. What do Millennials think about Church and Religion and what does that mean?

3. Develop a plan for attracting and marketing to Millennials

1st time in US History!

Veterans: Over 68 years old

• Important events included: – The Great Depression– WWII – Disney releases it’s first animated feature (Snow

White)– The Korean War– Sputnik went into Orbit

You might be a veteran if…• You have the ability to entertain yourself without

a TV, in fact you remember the days before TV

• Popular Technology: Radio

Veterans

Assets: Experience, enhanced knowledge, dedication, focus, loyalty, stability, emotional maturity, perseverance

Possible issues: Reluctant to buck the system, uncomfortable with conflict, may want to keep things the way they are

Messages that Motivate: “Your experience is respected here”

Rewards: Tangible symbols of loyalty, commitment, and service including plaques and certificates

Methods of Communication: Memos, letters and personal notes

Baby Boomers: 48-67 years old• Important events included:

– Man walks on the Moon– Civil Rights– Woodstock– Deaths of JFK and Martin Luther King– Vietnam War begins

You might be a Boomer if you can complete these sentences…

• When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on the ______show

• "Get your kicks, ________________”

• Popular Technology: Television

Baby Boomers

Assets: Service orientation, dedication, team perspective, experience, knowledge

Possible issues: May put process ahead of results

Messages that Motivate: “We need you”, “ Your opinion is valued”

Rewards: personal appreciation, promotion, and recognition

Methods of Communication: phone calls, personal interaction

Generation X: 33-46 years old

• Important events: – The Cold War (remember getting under your desk?)– Challenger Shuttle Explodes on Takeoff– Berlin Wall Dismantled– Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe– U.S. Troops go to Persian Gulf for the 1st time– AIDS Identified

You might be a Gen Xer if…• Schoolhouse Rock played a HUGE part in how you actually

learned the English language. – I know what a Bill (sittin’ up on Capital Hill) is thanks to that show!!

Popular Technology: Computers

Generation X

Assets: Adaptability, techno-literacy, independence, creativity, willingness to buck the system

Possible issues: Skeptical, may distrust authority

Messages that Motivate: “Do it your way”, “there aren’t a lot of rules around here”

Rewards: Free time, opportunities for development, certifications to add to their resumes

Methods of Communication: Voice mail, email

Millennials: 12-32 years old

• Important Events: – Death of Princess Diana– Death of Mother Teresa– Columbine– 9/11– World Trade Center Attacks– War begins in Iraq for a 2nd time

You might be a Millennial if…• Blog, Facebook, IMing, text messaging, and other

social media are a regular part of your daily life

• Popular Technology: The internet, cell phones

Millennials

Assets: Collective action, optimism, ability to multi-task, and technologically savvy

Possible issues: Need for supervision and structure, inexperience-particularly when dealing with difficult people

Messages that Motivate: “Your work makes a huge difference here”

Rewards: Awards, certificates, tangible evidence of credibility

Methods of Communication: texting, instant messaging,

How do different generations view Church?

Older generations are more likely to:

• attend worship services weekly• prefer traditional styles of music in worship services• spend regular time in private devotional activity• have a strong sense of belonging to their

denomination• be involved in church-based community service,

justice or welfare activities• be involved in community-based service, care or

welfare activities

Younger generations are more likely to:

• be involved in small groups• prefer contemporary styles of music in worship

services• feel that their gifts and skills are encouraged• have helped others in a range of informal ways• value outreach, be involved in evangelistic activities,

and actually invite others to church• be newcomers to church life, have switched

denominations or transferred congregations in the previous five years

Generational Activities

• Form generational groups

• Brainstorm 5 positive and 5 negative characteristics of other generations (Veterans, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials) Write them on the note cards

• Create a list of what you don’t understand about other generations approach to work.– Bring cards to front when finished

• Within your group, do the characteristics written accurately describe you?– Choose a spokesperson to explain your answer

Sound Familiar?

• Looking for meaningful work• Seeking challenge• Chance to prove themselves and show they can

perform well• Enjoys contact with people• Desire to be in a position of responsibility• Resents being looked at as though they have no

experience• Tends to be more job mobile• Less respectful of authority

Who does this describe?

Training and Development Journal

November 1970Sorry Boomers, the other generations in the workforce

didn’t like you when you started working!

Every generation that enters the workforce makes waves!

Every generation that enters the workforce makes waves!

What Make’s Millennials Different?

94% of Millennials state they respect older generations

Statistically Speaking…• Young adults today are less church-connected

than prior generations were when they were in their 20s. (65% rarely attend church)

• Millennials are just about as spiritual as their parents and grandparents were at those ages. (72% believe they are more spiritual than religious)

• Millennials are significantly more likely than young adults in earlier generations to say they don’t identify with any religious group.

young people are thirsting for social justice, and simply not finding those principles in the pews.

They are seeking a place of creativity and critical thinking, and a space free from judgment.

What Does this Mean for your Church?

According to research, Millennials feel that churches should “focus their engagement on actions that serve the common good or speak up for the oppressed rather than

opposing a controversial issue because of theological objections.”

Deeper

TRUTH

Mentoring Program

Purpose

Value

Mentors/Advisors

Design

Method

Baby Boomer Run

Career Advancement

Mentee/learner gains understanding and skills

People with higher status and knowledge

One-to-one mentoring: Long-term relationships

Face-to-face

Millennial-Run

Primary Learning

Rapid dissemination of knowledge

Anyone with knowledge the learner needs

Networked relationships: Time determined by needs

Virtual

Know What Millennials think of Mentoring!

Mentoring

Matters!

98% of Millennials believe working with a mentor is a necessary component in development.

PowerhouseCoopers Global CEO Survey cited in “If You Want to Retain Your Best Young Workers, Give Them a Mentor Instead of Cash Bonuses”

by Vivian Giang, July 2011

What is your strategy?

Peer to Peer Invitations

About twice as many people are willing to volunteer if a peer invites them, but the church is still relying on events (like Sunday services) to

encourage serving.

In fact, 81 percent of Millennials prefer to be invited by a friend while only 43 percent would

prefer to be invited through an event.

Engaging Millennialswww.mymobilechurch.com

www.robocent.com

Jennifer Fisherjenniferlfisher@live.com

Download this presentation from:Twitter: Jenfisherfw

Blog: www.generationalsoup.comwww.walkingwitheli.com

Thank You!!!