Do you know what the hell you’re doing? Because we’re coming clean and admitting that often times we don’t.
For starters, let’s agree we’re past the whole “millennials vs the church” conversation. “Millennials hate the church.” “Millennials don’t believe in institutions or organized religion.” “Millennials don’t tithe because they’re selfish!” We know the stereotypes and stats. We’re just not interested in engaging that kind of click-bait navel gazing. Continue reading
The National Congregation Study led by Mark Chaves, sociologist at Duke, and Alison Eagle. The study included over 3800 participating congregations representing 70+ Christian denominations, plus Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and other religious groups. The third wave of this report was recently released, and is available at this link.
Here are five observations from the study.
1. The Growth of non-denominational churches.The number of congregations claiming no denominational affiliation increased from 18% in 1998 to 24% in 2012. White mainline congregations, and the people in those congregations, are older than the congregations and people of other religious traditions. I believe that this trend is going to continue as Millennials (and other generations) do not want to be defined by a denominational label or the culture baggage that some denominations carry.
Most congregations are small, but most people are in large congregations. People are increasingly concentrated in very large congregations. The average congregation is getting smaller, but the average churchgoer attends a larger congregation. I believe that many people run to large congregations because they have been hurt by the church, but still love God (a group often referred to as the “Dones”). These large congregations allow them to remain hidden while spending time worshipping the God they love.
There is increasing ethnic diversity over time both among and within American congregations. Diversity (in ethnicity, socio-economic factors, and religious beliefs) is valued by many younger generations, and so I expect this diversity to increase. Truly diverse congregations will become magnets for Millennials.
Food assistance is by far the most common kind of social service activity pursued by congregations, with more than half (52%) of all congregations listing food assistance among their four most important social service programs. Social action is important to Millennials, and churches should have a clear passion for service within their local communities. However, serving the poor will take much more than clearing our pantries from an abundance of canned goods. I fear that many churches pursue this route in order to alleviate guilt over Western consumerism.
Acceptance of female lay leadership is very widespread, with 79% of congregations allowing women to hold any volunteer position a man can hold, and 86% allowing women to serve on the main governing board. Congregational acceptance of gays and lesbians as members and lay leaders increased substantially between 2006 and 2012, but acceptance levels vary widely across religious traditions. Those congregations who restrict leadership for various theological reasons might grow as they gather dissident members of accepting communities. However, as Millennials and younger generations become the majority of the populous, these restrictive communities may have trouble replacing their aging populations.
The Spiritual Landscape of America is changing rapidly. How should your community respond?
Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit organization that is driven to educate and equip parents and churches who desire to minister to emerging adults.
For over 200 years the last Thursday of February has been set aside as a day to pray for the college campus. The campus that is a few blocks from your home. The campus that is located hundreds of miles from your city in a region of our country that has very little evangelical presence. The campus where you earned a degree. Collegiate Day of Prayer has a significant history in the spiritual awakenings that have been birthed in our nation on the college campuses.
Praying for those who leave for college campuses is very important, that is why, I believe every church should have at least one prayer campaign a year focused on college campuses. If you want to launch a prayer campaign at your church, here is an idea.
Mark Whitt writes about why the Collegiate Day of Prayer matters to your college ministry. He is the Collegiate and Young Adult Specialist at LifeWay Christian Resources. Before joining LifeWay, he spent many years on the campus of Murray State University as a campus minister.
In the 1960’s, Wayne Rice and Mike Yacconeli came together to convince the church that ministering to youth was essential for the health of the church. Their vision turned into the organization Youth Specialties. According to Mike, “We sure didn’t know where youth ministry or our little company was headed. All we knew was that God was somehow inviting us into this thing.”
Copyright 2014 by Aaron Robert Photography. Used with permission.
Our culture has shifted in the past fifty years, changing the role of church within our country, the role of faith within the life of the individual, and the metanarrative of human development. These shifts have altered our perception of human development and created a new life phase called “Emerging Adulthood.”
As our world rapidly changes, there is a great need for those ministering to emerging adults to stand and work together.
Together we can accomplish more for the Kingdom. Together we can…
Gather resources, share ideas, and speak as one that we might attract the attention of others.
But it is more than that… we must awaken the voices of EA’s so they can share. Give them platforms so they can be heard. We must show emerging adults that we are listening. We will convince them that they are not the object of our work, but that side-by-side, we will labor.
Copyright 2014 by Aaron Robert Photography. Used with permission.
For in this unity, the church will become all that she was intended to be.
That her body might be whole, and that her beauty might be revealed through diversity as the generations worship our bride – Jesus Christ.
I have glimpses of the vision. I have two hands, one of which holds a pen. I have pennies in a bucket. I know a few people who stand beside me in this work.
It is not much, but it is a start.
Who has hands that are ready to work?
Who has resources to contribute to this movement?
Who has the connections to get the ball rolling?
Who has a passion that cannot be contained?
Who has a vision of what could be?
Not for the sake of any organization, but for the sake of the Kingdom. Not for the sake of another conference, but for our common purpose. Not for the sake of another voice, but a medium through which we can hear His voice.
To whoever has resources, let them give. To whoever has hands, here is a shovel. To whoever has a vision, let them speak.
If you resonate with this call, you may have something to contribute. Please contact me.
May we together step forward in faith, and look forward to seeing what God will do.
Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to help churches and parents understand emerging adulthood.
A vision of a renewed Jerusalem was given by Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. In Nehemiah 2:17-18, Nehemiah says,
“You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.” Continue reading
Orange is in. Everyone must have it in their wardrobe, refer to it regularly, and show it off whenever possible. Nowhere is this more true, than in the church.
The concept of Think Orange, a book written by Reggie Joiner, states the influence of the church and family working together makes a greater impact than those same two influences can have individually. This ministry philosophy seeks to unite family and church to have a stronger spiritual impact on children and adolescents.
Orange is the topic of many sermons, and many are attending the conferences. Many churches are changing the titles of their pastors (to include the word family), but…
I fear that many churches have added an orange outfit to their closet, just in case they need it. They have bought the book, know the bullet points, and spout off the right answers when the topic is discussed. However, Reggie writes, “Family ministry should not be another program you add to your list of programs. It should be the filter you use to create and evaluate what you do to influence children and teenagers.” (Think Orange, 83)
We have to move orange beyond fad, and into practice.
In order to accomplish this…
As a youthworker, I know you are overwhelmed. It is hard to evaluate when you have several families in crisis and another program to prepare for in just a few hours. However, a time of reflection and evaluation is always worth the effort.
If you are interested in an overhaul, and don’t know where to begin, contact David at gdavid@earesources.org.
I am always behind when it comes to watching television. On average, I would say about 7 years! This past year, some friends introduced us to a new sitcom called the Middle.
The Middle is set in small town Indiana (which I know from experience has a very unique culture). Patricia Heaton is great – who became famous in the show – “Everybody Loves Raymond”. The Middle is currently in its 7th season on ABC. During the last two seasons, Axl and Sue have grown up and left for college, and the show has touched upon several of the issues that parents of Emerging Adults face – homesickness, money, autonomy, financial aid, vocation, identity formation, and renewing your relationship with your spouse as the children leave home. Watching the show will help you understand that you are not alone, and puts a positive and funny tone to all that you are going through.
Here is a description of the show:
In the Heck family, middle-age, middle-class, middle-America mom Frankie Heck (two-time Emmy winner Patricia Heaton) uses a sense of humor to try to steer her family through life’s ups and downs as she tackles her career goals. Her unflappable husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), is a manager at the local quarry. Oldest son Axl is an obstinate young man; awkward daughter Sue cannot seem to find her niche — despite much enthusiasm in her attempts — and youngest son Brick is an unusual child whose best friend is his backpack.
Here is a link that I found where their second child – Sue is calling home from college because she is homesick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs
When discussing basic human needs, most people are familiar with the work of Maslow and his pyramid of basic humans needs. Maslow’s five basic human needs were: physical, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. His pyramid was built upon the premise that when one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the next one. Maslow believed that people are motivated to achieve certain basic needs. For example, after sitting on a couch for several hours, our physiological need to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom will pull us away from any video game not matter how exciting (or mind-numbing).
Maslow’s Hierarchy up-dated for today’s wired world.
My three developmental tasks of adulthood – discovering vocation, developing community, and establishing autonomy– are internally motivated because humans were created with desires to love, to be free, and to be needed. These basic human needs are based upon God’s creative design. Since each developmental tasks is rooted in a basic human need, individuals do not need to be convinced of their importance, but will naturally work towards their fulfillment.
Humans desire to have a role in their world that makes an impact upon our self and the lives of others. Vocation provides us the ability to be useful and make a difference in this world. While paid vocation often fulfills other human desires (like income for physiological needs and security), it also fulfills our God-given desire to work, create, and design. God is a worker, and is glorified as we follow His ways. Work was not a result of the fall, but the ability to work is a gift (Genesis 3:17-18).
Regardless of your theological beliefs concerning determinism or free-will, thoughts of being controlled or unable to affect the outcome of your life can lead to depression, anxiety, or apathy. Autonomy is the ability to make decisions and deal with the consequences. A sense of autonomy allows the individual to see they can make decisions that will change the outcome of their life. Autonomy provides hope and motivation to the individual to affect our current circumstances.
We seek community because we desire to love and to be loved. Our God is capable of love, and of relationships with His creation. Veith states, “From the beginning, God put us in families, tribes, societies. God ordained that we be in relationships. He ordained that we need each other.” (God at Work, 2002, 41).
When our basic needs (vocation, autonomy, and community) are unmet, we are motivated to action. Our desires increase in intensity the longer they remain unmet. A lack of desire to meet these needs can be rooted in a disability, an addiction (drugs, alcohol, or entertainment) or depression.
The church must seek to meet the needs of emerging adults, through offering assistance in their journey to meet the basic human needs of vocation, autonomy, and community. I believe that church who create mentoring environments focused on these needs will draw and retain emerging adults.
Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit that exists to help parents and churches understand the challenges of emerging adulthood.
I came across an article, and wanted to pass it along!
It’s not all bad; it’s also not all good.
Over the past few years, the percentage of 25-to-34-year-old Americans living with their parents has been at a record high of nearly 15%. Student debt and difficulty finding a job are sending millennials back home in droves — and though this type of arrangement is certainly easier on the wallet, it can wreak havoc on a young adult’s self-image.
Here is the full article.
I don’t really agree with everything in the article. The article is not based upon research, but it based upon three women’s experiences. However, I do know that emerging adults have varied and complex emotions when moving back home which is partially due to societal pressure, and their desire to feel like an “adult.”
Research indicates that most parents and emerging adults enjoy their time spent at home. In his book, Arnett says, “When kids boomerang home, they bring more pleasure than pain. (Arnett, xi) The book also says that “Of the parents who have an emerging adult child living with them, 61 percent describe their feelings about it as “mostly positive” and only 6 percent describe the experience as “mostly negative.”
For this reason, it is important we redefine adulthood according to the three developmental tasks rather than where you sleep at night.
Resources:
Getting to 30 by Jeffrey Arnett and Fishel
