Making God Real for a New Generation
by Craig Kennet Miller
About every eighteen years U. S. society has a youth boom. A youth boom happens when a generation is age 7-24. The past four youth booms have produced some remarkable results:
- From 1934 to 1940, the GI Generation created a new style of music called Swing. Superman and Shirley Temple were all the rage. Hollywood produced movies such as Snow White, Gone with the Wind, and The Wizard of Oz that went on to become American classics. In this window of time between the Depression and World War II, the GIs shaped the culture of the time and carried those values and experiences into the future.
- From 1952 to 1958, the Pioneers invented rock 'n' roll as Elvis and Little Richard began a revolution in music that still continues. The leading edge of the Pioneers led the Civil Rights Movement as Martin Luther King, Jr. and others protested against racial discrimination.
- From 1970 to 1976, Baby Boomers found their voice, protesting against U.S. involvement in Vietnam and hypocrisy in general. Groups such as the Jackson Five and the Osmonds ushered in "teenie bopper music," soon to be followed by Donna Summer and disco. A whole new dress code including platform shoes and leisure suits was the norm. In the church, a new kind of music coming out of the emerging Jesus Movement created a climate in which new forms of worship experiences were created.
- From 1988 to 1994, the Postmoderns were introduced to a whole new line of Disney characters that started with The Little Mermaid. Kurt Cobain and others personified teenage angst with Grunge music. Rap, born in the inner cities, became the dominant music form for the generation. During its youth boom, it saw the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union and found itself fighting in the Persian Gulf War.
If the pattern holds true, we can expect a new youth boom to start in 2006 as the Millennial Generation, born from 1982 to 1999, reaches the ages of 7-24. Although we cannot say for certain what will happen as this generation finds its voice, a couple of key trends are already emerging.
- The Millennial Generation is our largest generation, resulting in record numbers of students in grades K-12 and record enrollment on our college campuses. School systems and colleges are being challenged to meet the needs of the growing number of students enrolling.
- The Millennial Generation is the most racially/ethnically diverse generation. In the chart below, you can see the contrast between the younger Millennials and older Pioneers and GIs.
Source: U.S. Census, "Census 2000 PHC-T-8, Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin by Age and Sex for the United States: 2000," U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary FileUnder 18 55+ White, not Hispanic 60.5% 81% Black 16% 9% Hispanic 17% 6% Asian 4.5% 3% American Indian 2% 1% - Millennials long for healthy relationships. The 2002 Millennial Generation Survey of 500 high school students, conducted by the General Board of Discipleship's Center for Evangelism, revealed some interesting statistics. When asked which experiences had the most impact on their lives, twenty-five percent pointed to a religious experience; an additional twenty-five percent pointed to the death of someone close to them; twelve percent talked about going through their parents' divorce; and another twelve percent said having a great coach or teacher was the most significant.
When congregations talk about being in ministry with Millennials, many think they have to have the latest technology or offer the most exciting activities. The truth is, the church is never going to out-entertain Disney; but it can out-relationship it. What young people are longing for are healthy, caring relationships. Congregations that desire to be in ministry with Millennials need to pay attention to three critical areas:
- Does worship include youth and children? Many congregations think a new contemporary worship service is the best way to draw youth into their congregations. Although this may work in some cases, many congregations find that young people are less interested in praise music and more interested in prayer, Communion, and mystery. By making these elements of worship a rich experience of the grace of God, congregations are able to bring young people into the whole life of the congregation.
- Is the preaching real? Although it is nice to hear a sermon about the history of Moses and the Exodus, what young people long for is a message about how their relationship to Jesus matters in their daily life. They are less interested in theological discussions and more interested in how the Bible helps them deal with the tough issues: divorce, terrorism, suicide, drug use, sexual abuse.
- Does the congregation truly want to have youth around? This may sound simplistic, but it gets at the root of the problem. Wanted means being willing to form relationships with youth, listen to their needs, and learn from their life experiences. It means committing to an ongoing conversation about God's work in their lives and in the world. It means laughing and crying as children, youth, and young adults share their joys and sorrows.
The challenge for the church is whether it will be a frame reference and influence for Millennials as they go through their youth boom. Congregations that seek to be in relationship with Millennials and that are open to hearing their voices as they express their spirituality and connection to God will be the best poised to learn and benefit from the new insights Millennials will share.
Dr. Craig Kennet Miller is Director of the Center for Evangelism through New Congregational Development at The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship and author of Making God Real for a New Generation (Discipleship Resources, April 2003).