Look around your church. How many of your congregation members are 36 to 51?  That is Generation X.  How many of them are 15 to 35?  That is the Millennial Generation. If you think there is still time to learn how to minister to the Millennial Generation, you had better think again.  They are in their early 30s!!  Daylight is fading on your ability to reach the Millennial Generation and rising on the next generation, Digital Natives. Born with technology in their hands, Digital Natives are now in your high school youth group.  Digital Natives are the NextGen population, not Millennials.

If you are not concerned yet, you should be. But before that concern turns into fear, let’s look at some generational characteristics and 5 changes you can make as a church leader to connect with those under 50.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

The people who study church demographics are concerned about two increasingly large groups: “Nones” and “Dones.” “NONE”s are those who, when asked on a survey to mark their religious affiliation select “none.”  This group makes up over 20% of individuals in the United States.

For example, I had a recent conversation with a very good friend who was raised in church. Now in his mid-30’s, he still believes in some sort of God-entity, but that being or his understanding of that being, simply does not affect his day-to-day life.  He is a typical Millennial “NONE.”

“DONEs”, those who are ‘done with church’ are also on the rise. “DONEs” are those who are leaving church, although not really leaving their faith.

I also have friends who are “DONES.”  One in particular was in full-time ministry for over decade, has been an elder, ran Bible studies, and personally mentored hundreds of people. Now in his 50’s he is not interested in sermons of the show of church anymore and no longer finds the ritual of it edifying to his walk with God. He is not leaving his faith, but rather is looking to do more work in the Kingdom out in the world than volunteering inside the walls.  He is typical Generation X “DONE.”

As a leader who believes that God is in this large demographic shift, I see it as an opportunity for significant and relevant change. When I think about my two friends, what I see that what they need is not coercion to go to church, what they need is each other and a non-religious space to find friendship.

DONES are leaving because they are tired of church as it has been. They are tired of endless volunteering where their personal walk with God is not relevant to anything. On the other side, NONEs are not looking for a sales pitch or a show, they want to know how God is relevant in their daily life and they want to find meaning and purpose.

I do not think it is coincidence that what the DONEs want to give is exactly what the NONEs need. The hitch is that the church services and our conception of church needs to change so that the NONEs can meet the DONEs.

TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS

Here are 5 changes you can make that will expand your influence to those under the age of 50.

1. Empower the ministry ideas of you congregation. I knew a church that would let anyone start any ministry they wanted to, it just had to meet the following three criteria. 1) It has to reflect the values and the principles of the church. 2) There is no budget from the church for it. If money is need for things then the group would need to fundraise.  3) It begins and ends with the initiator. The church will not take over or keep it going should that person loose interest. This church had many little ministries and as people saw a need in their church or community, they were empowered to meet it. This helped the congregants see themselves as ministers to their community and each other. It also allowed them to experience the work of the Kingdom and become real disciples.

• Don’t be a selfish church. This is going to hurt some people, but a selfish church is one that exists merely for the people who attend it. It is turned inward and sees only itself. The most important things it does are what it does to serve the members.  It does not have a vision for the community or those outside the walls of the church, and it does not have a heart for the lost (unless they come within the walls of the church). Millennials are not interested in attending selfish churches and Xers are leaving them to do the work of the Kingdom.

Here is another point that a pastor made that says it quite well. 

“I could be wrong but I believe that you produce after your own kind just as God did for all of creation. An acorn can only produce an oak tree. It cannot produce a peach tree.

I am a retired teacher and I worked very hard to make the lessons relevant and up to date which was important as I taught Business, Economics, I.T., Politics and Law. I was enthusiastic about my subjects and do you know what? Most of my students were enthusiastic and worked hard. Their assessment of me was that I made them work hard and I knew my stuff and I was fair.

If you invest everything in Sunday morning meetings, then your congregation will as well and that means they will be deprived of a 24/7 experience of God.”

• Be open with different formats of what “church” looks like. What is ‘church’?  Different doctrines have different “Marks of the Church” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marks_of_the_Church  as do the different generations in church. Understand that in any discussion concerning ‘church,’ most people will not be talking about the same thing. Pray and talk with the people in your community and decide what is essential and what is non-essential. Consider what it means to be the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. How does a building serve that purpose and where does it limit that purpose?

• Ask people where they are regarding ‘church’ and listen. Okay, so this might be the hardest one. It is hard for a pastor-type personality to ask for feedback regarding something as abstract as ‘church’ and not feel personally attacked or offended by it. The high relational nature of pastors makes them more susceptible to being defensive. It is both a gift (defending the flock) and a weakness (struggle to hear concerns without taking it personally). But out of this conversation you will learn how to love people better, which is always the goal.

• Remember that ‘attitude reflects leadership.’  As a minister, your job is to meet people where they are, regardless of how you feel about it or what you think about it. Their position and opinion is the starting point of the conversation (not to be mistaken with the end-point).  If you look at those outside the walls of your church in judgement, you will reap what you sow. If you open your arms to them and you make time to meet them in non-religious spaces, they will make time to meet with you too. As you value their journey and what they have to say, they will value what you have to say.

Here are some info graphs for you to consider: