Church, Make Room for Young Leaders

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Church, Make Room for Young LeadersEarlier this week, I wrote about the 5 “Disastrous” Results of Inviting Emerging Adults into Leadership.  I came across an article this week that I wanted to share with you concerning making room for Emerging Adults within the leadership structure of the church.

Here are a few points that I would like to make:

Stephens City United Methodist Church from Flickr via Wylio

© 2013 NCinDC, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio


1.  If you do not “make room” for young leaders, then they will not feel welcome.  Through the years, most young adults know that when it comes to church leadership that the “Young Need NOT Apply.”  We must be proactive in making room into our leadership structures and inviting them to join us.

2.  We must fight ageism within the Church.  In the author’s words, “Don’t expect the worst of fellow believers, regardless of their age. Let the gospel go to work on your subtle age-prejudice.”  People from all generations must stop bashing others, and seek to build bridges.

3.  Good leadership knows how to release power to others.  Unfortunately, the power of leadership is drawing, and causes many to clutch it for too long (I am hearing the words of Gollum – My Precious).  Larry Osborne has a great quote,

The seniors never graduate (at least not until they’ve become literal seniors and start dying off). They hog the leadership table, shutting out the next generation. It’s one of the main reasons that most churches stop growing and lose their evangelistic touch (and cultural relevance) around the twenty-year mark.

Enjoy the article by David Mathis the executive editor at desiringGod.org.  

 

 

Five “Disastrous” Results of Inviting Emerging Adults into Leadership.

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Although some people believe that mixing generations in leadership can cause the same results as mixing Mentos and carbonated drinks, I believe in young leadership.  I actually believe that the church needs Millennials in order to be healthy.  That doesn’t mean change will be easy.  Here are some results to expect as you invite emerging adults into leadership.

1.  Questions will be asked.

tommy_portrait_blackwhite_690882_h[1]As you invite emerging adults into leadership, be ready to answer questions.  Asking questions is key to a healthy community, while authority that stifles questions and criticism is quickly headed towards disaster.  God-ordained leadership can face questions without feeling threatened.  Hierarchy is so often ingrained into our communities, that we learn to not question authority or the systems that elected them.  As we invite emerging adults to speak, they will need to ask questions to provide understanding, and at other times to evaluate decisions.

2.  Elephants will be acknowledged.

Elephant's tea party, Robur Tea Room, 24 March 1939, by Sam Hood from Flickr via Wylio

© 1939 State Library of New South Wales, Flickr | PD | via Wylio

Many organizations have an elephant (or two) in the room that no one is willing to talk about.  Young leadership will gladly point them out – either because they don’t understand them, or because they can see how unhealthy these huge burdens have become for the group.  Unfortunately, most of these elephants have protectors in the room.  When established leadership chooses to ignore problems within our communities (because they are too painful), emerging adults will want to revisit them.

3.  Reality Checks will be given.

We all need a dose of reality from time to time.  Emerging adults are often idealistic, and do not realize how difficult it can be to bring change to individuals and an organization.  In spite of their idealism, other generations can learn from those who understand how our world is changing, and how the church sits on the precipice of irrelevancy.  A healthy spoonful of reality is needed by both sides.  Inter-generational leadership is a medicine that will grow and strengthen the church.

4.  Assumptions will be challenged.

Whether due to being raised in a postmodern society, a digital world, or because they want to see change, EA’s will challenge assumptions –  no matter how old.  A community’s leadership is often blinded to their own assumptions.  A new leader will see what is being assumed by the leadership structure, and how these old assumptions are obstacles to growth and healthy change.

5.  Growth we result.

As you place emerging adults on your team, their leadership skills will improve.  However, growth should not be associated simply with youth.  Diversity creates a dynamic working environment that will cause everyone involved to grow.  This growth process is characterized by moments of pain and pleasure.

Inviting younger leadership to the table would require something from everyone. 

It is risky. 

It requires humility. 

It requires work. 

It requires courage. 

Maybe these are the reasons why Emerging Adults get shut out.

In the end, we will discover that the results of working with emerging adults are not disastrous at all.  Rather, we will discover that they are exactly what the Church needs.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  If he can help your church create avenues to minister to emerging adults, you can contact him at gdavid@earesources.org.

Your Job Isn’t the Problem.

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Your Job Isn't the Problem, Your Attitude IsAre you in a job that isn’t what you had always dreamed about?  Here is an article that teaches a proper perspective of work.

Another recent article by CBS suggests that Millennials are too spoiled for the workplace.  I don’t believe in generation bashing.  It is unhealthy for society and the Church.

Anyone (regardless of age) can struggle with their current job for multiple reasons including stress, co-workers, or tasks.  A proper view of work and vocation is essential to keeping a positive attitude towards where God has currently placed you.

A proper view of vocation is also essential to a biblical view of adulthood.

If you are currently struggling with your current work, take a moment to read these links and ask God to give you a proper perspective towards what He has called you to do.

 

Move over Babyboomers – You are no Longer on Top.

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It is official!  The reign of the Babyboomers as America’s largest living generation is coming to an end.  The population of the Millennials is currently 75 million, but is expected to increase due to immigration.

Alas for those of us given the title “Gen X”!  We will not overcome the Babyboomers until 2028, and like most “middle children”  we will never be the center of attention.

Here are a few points from the article.

  • Baby Boomers have always had an outsized presence compared with other generations. They were the largest generation and peaked at 78.8 million in 1999.
  • The Census Bureau projects that the Millennial population was 74.8 million in 2014. By 2015 Millennials will increase in size to 75.3 million and become the biggest group.

Here is a the article.

With the “reign” of the Babyboomers coming to an end, what does this mean for the Church?  I believe that churches already feel the shifts that are coming with this new generation, but are unsure how to respond.  If your community wants to understand and minister to the needs of Millennials, maybe we can help.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is a member of Gen X – the middle child of generations who was destined to be overlooked by big brother Babyboomers, and little brother Millennials.  In spite of feeling neglected, he loves both generations, and believes the church needs representation from each of them in order to healthy.

Financial Literacy: Why College Is Not The Time To Blow It Off

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© 2007 Quazie, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio

Your college years generally set the tone for your entire adult life. During this period, the choices you make can either lead to lifelong stability or long years of financial insecurity. By following well-established principles, you can prove yourself an excellent steward of the resources you have been blessed with. While learning the basics of financial literacy is doable for just about anyone, this topic can seem like a tough nut to crack for the uninitiated.

Whether they are enrolled in college or entering adult life and considering their options, millennials enjoy many opportunities to take on debt. Well-intentioned or not, an enormous number of lenders present young adults with various forms of credit. Whether they have graduated or not, millions of young adults leave college life with significant debt levels. Depending on your level of financial literacy throughout this period, accepting lines of credit can cause you to sink or swim in life.

Unfortunately, far too many people are entering their adult lives with little understanding of finances. A 2012 report from the SEC found that the average Wall Street investor don’t understand basic concepts like compound interest and inflation. If this class of people needs to “hit the books” and develop financial literacy, how much more does the average college student need to take responsibility of their own finances?

Despite the unique challenges millennials face, members of this generation can access financial tools that were not available to their parents. Many resources, including personal finance software, calculators, budgeting apps, financial blogs and others offer insight, direction, tips and financial education that helps set you on a path to being financially responsible.

The TopTenReviews College Student Guide explores exactly how financial software can help students live within their means. It enables you to have a full, clear accounting of how you spend. You might be bleeding money in ways that are genuinely surprising. Once you know your problem areas, you can focus on how to improve them and be more efficient at how you spend your money each month.

Some might feel that saving is as simple as it is important, for others it is a difficult concept to keep. When we are prepared, we will not fear. As Joseph in Egypt clearly showed, saving is the cornerstone of wise living. What would have happened to Egypt if Joseph did not save? Even if it feels almost as hard as wringing water from a rock, it is important to set aside a percentage of your monthly income for emergencies. Find the method of saving that will work best for you. Maintaining the right kind of savings habit might cost you a little pain now; however forgetting to save can cost you a world of heartache when you are faced with an unforeseen crisis and a shortage of funds. With the many resources and tools available today, there is plenty of help and guidance to help you improve your understanding and your situation before it gets out of control.

Lessons in financial literacy can hit home powerfully when learned from others who share your Christian ideals and values. Get to know trusted mentors who have faced similar challenges and blazed their own trails towards peace and security. Learn how to be financially responsible and self-sufficient during your college years, and don’t put it off. With God’s help, you’ll discover that becoming financially literate is more than a chore; it is a journey of empowerment and self-discovery.

View Jesse.PNG in slide showJesse Woodhouse is a Team Lead at TopTenReviews. He is a proud husband and father and loves sports, music and the outdoors.

Over Half of College Students do NOT know their College Debt Amount.

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I still remember the number – 27,000.

There is no relationship between the number and my age, birthday, or anniversary.  It is not the number of comic books that I own (although, I wish it was).  The number seemed to follow me everywhere I went.  I began to feel a strange kinship with the number.

That number was my student debt total from graduate school.  I predicted the number even before I began my first year, and knew it was coming.  I still remember the day it was paid off.

Debt was a big deal to me, and I was aware of its weight.  Unfortunately, the concept of debt is lost among many students entering college.

I came across this article this week from the Washington Post.  A study was done among first year students about their perceptions of debt.

The study concludes that, “Students who do not have a good idea of their level of borrowing may make expensive mistakes that they will later come to regret.”  I have seen many students take out extra student loans for leisure trips or unnecessary expenses.

The study also states that “They are also likely to be surprised or even fearful when their first loan payments come due, which may impose an emotional burden on borrowers.”

That is an understatement.  The emotional burden of debt exists until the debt is paid.  Proverbs 22:7 states, “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.”  Here are some stories from those living with school debt.

Debt is real.  It has consequences for today, and for the future.

We must help emerging adults understand the ramifications of debt, and help them find cost-effective solutions while discovering a vocation.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  He has a passion to help emerging adults and equip churches.  He is thankful for his wife Rachel who worked hard to pay off his school loans.

 

 

5 Struggles of Emerging Adults and How Your Church can Help.

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As the Church, our purpose in helping Emerging adults is not to remove their pain or struggles, but to walk alongside them in the journey.  In Essential Church, Thom and Sam Rainer believe that churches must become essential once again to the lives of people – especially emerging adults.  Your church can become essential to the life of emerging adults, if it understands and seeks to minister to their greatest sources of struggle.

1.  Lack of Direction

aaron in woods

Photo Courtesy of Aaron Robert Photography. Copyright 2014. www.aaronrobertphotography.com

Emerging adults face endless opportunities, but often lack the ability to make decisions (link to decision making).  This does not mean we make decisions for them, but we can seek to provide people and resources that can empower them to make their own decisions.  Do emerging adults in your community have easy avenues to connect with mentors, or does your church provide a mentoring community that can help them find direction? 

 2.  Lack of Stability

Young adults face regular transitions, and so a stable environment is crucial to your ministry (including regular meeting times and consistent leadership).  Emerging adults do not want to meet a new group of people each Sunday.  They want someone to know their name, and offer an understanding ear for their lives.  Do emerging adults at your church should know who they can turn to when they are in need?

 3.  Lack of Community

While attending college, many emerging adults only have a few months to connect before they face a new transition.  This leaves both sides asking whether or not the investment is worth it.  How long does it take for the average person to connect to your church body?  Assimilation into your community must be quick and effective.  While these relationships do not have to be peer-centered, they should be peer-sensitive. The emerging adult years are filled with transitions due to changing jobs, housing, and relationships; therefore, a church that ministers to emerging adults will provide clear channels for them to quickly connect.  Do emerging adults know who they can sit by?

 4.  Lack of Vocational Experience

rachel parsons

Photo Courtesy of Aaron Robert Photography. Copyright 2014. www.aaronrobertphotography.com

Whether currently taking classes or graduated, emerging adults are either looking for work or gaining work skills.  Churches must understand that vocation should not be limited to a side topic, but that vocation is directly connected to the mission of Jesus Christ.  A church who ministers to emerging adults will find people who can provide vocation mentorship, guidance, and internships for emerging adults.  Another way to help emerging adults gain skills includes:  childcare, sound technology, video technology, leadership, teaching and public speaking skills.  All of these skills can serve emerging adults as future job skills.  Do emerging adults know you care about their vocational lives?

 5.  Distance from Family

Many emerging adults are away from their families, and long for “family experiences.” This is especially true when a family member has died or is facing an illness.  Train and equip your people to provide moments when they feel your church is truly a family.  For example, one couple opened up their home every Sunday afternoon to college students.  This couple wanted students to have a home-cooked meal around a table where they would feel loved.  After lunch, the students could then sprawl out in the living room to watch football or take a nap.  Do you make emerging adults feel at home?

As a church, you must plan ways to meet EAs in their struggles.

If you do, they will come.

If you do, they will stay.

If you do, more will come – for your community will not be entertainment, but essential to their lives.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit driven to encourage and provide resources to Emerging Adults and their parents.  If we can help your community minister to Emerging Adults, contact David at gdavid@earesources.org.

 

 

 

Recommended Resources:

                            Big Questions, Worthy Dreams by Sharon Parks

                           Shaping the Journey of Emerging Adults by Jana Sundene

                           Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer

                          Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood by David Setran and Chris Kiesling

 

Millennials on the Rise in the Twin Cities

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The Real World from Flickr via Wylio

© 2013 Steve Jurvetson, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio

The Star Tribune recently released an article that discussed how Millennials are flocking to big cities.

“The population of young adults in Hennepin County rose nearly 25 percent during the past seven years, one of the biggest gains in the nation, according to RealtyTrac, a national real estate research firm.”

In spite of rising rental prices, Millennials are moving there because of low unemployment, and moderate cost of living.

“Craig Helmstetter, senior research manager for Wilder/Minnesota Compass, said that because people in this age group are making big life decisions, including marriage and homeownership, much later than baby boomers did, it will be particularly important for employers and policymakers to pay close attention.”

Change is coming, and it is important for institutions to be prepared – including the Church.

Is your church prepared to reach and minister to Millennials?

David Boyd 1 (1)Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to encourage and equip Emerging Adults and their parents.  If he can help your business, church, or institution prepare to meet the needs of Millennials, contact him at gdavid@earesources.org.

35 Things We’d Better Tell Our Sons About Harassment, Assault & “Boys will be Boys”

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Just read a powerful article by Ann Voskamp, a NY Time best-selling author of A Thousand Gifts.  This article is important because it discusses what to teach our adolescents and emerging adults about sexual abuse and violence.

boyswillbeboysHere is the Article!

It is longer than many articles, so make sure that you have the time to read and digest it.  Each time that I have read it, I finished inspired and encouraged in my role as a man and father of three sons.

Wow, here are a few of my favorite quotes.

1.  And better stories begin around our dinner tables and our kitchen sinks.

Stories around our dinner tables and kitchen requires spending time together as a family.  This requires saying no to the endless activities of our world, and saying yes to better things.

2.  It is the scarred ones who make the Body of Christ sensitive.  

I know because I am a scarred one.  I was actually scarred by  the church (and I am not alone).  I am not thankful to those who gave them to me, but I am grateful to the God who sustains me daily.  These scars don’t define me, but they have shaped me in ways I once never imagine.

2014-09-28 13.35.063.  You don’t value a woman by telling yourself that she’s some man’s sister, or daughter, or mother. A woman doesn’t derive value from having men in her life that value and like her. A woman has value because she is made in the image and likeness of God. Period.

I have heard this false argument so many times.  Women do not receive their value due to their relationships with men.  They have value because of their relationship to God as Creator.  I don’t want my sons to treat women respectfully because they fear a dad sitting in the living room cleaning a gun.  I want my sons to fear God to whom they will give an account one day.

4.  That’s what you have to get, Sons — Real Manhood knows the heart of God for the daughters of His heart.

I want my sons to know that Real Manhood understands God’s love for men and women.

5.  Son, let everything you read of women be shaped by how Jesus sealed His view and value of women.

There is a beautiful piece of poetry in the center about Jesus’ view of women.  It is amazing.

May God make me a real man who will stand up for the value of women in the church.

May God make me a real father who will teach my sons to value women.

May God do the same to you.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to minister to the needs of Emerging Adults and their parents.