Millennial Church

I’ve been observing a very interesting trend in churches recently.  See what you think…

 A lot of mainstream (around 200-300 members) churches of Christ are struggling to plug young Gen X parents, their families, and young professionals (18-30)  into the “work” of the church.  Sunday evenings have become a faint resemblance of what they used to be.  My wife and I have noted that there seem to be more “golden saints” attending than members from other generations. 

Fewer and fewer families with small children are attending on Sunday nights due in part to the growing trend among Gen X parents to “protect family time.”  I’m one of those Gen Xers, and I can vouch for this idea that family time is a prized possession.  I’m not talking about working in the yard on Saturday, either.  I’m talking about deliberate spent time with spouses and children in an effort to draw the entire family closer to God.  You’d be amazed at how much these young children are being taught by their parents during this time.  I know a certain three year old that can recite the twelve tribes of Israel! 

Fewer young professionals are attending because, frankly, they attended Sunday morning and don’t see the need for repeating the same “ritual” of attending.  These younger members are longing for the connectedness that they had in youth group (hence, the “gap” from youth group to active member).  Right or wrong, their attitude is, Sunday evening is “just going through the motions.”  So, they have begun hanging out in each other’s homes on Sunday evenings in order to fulfill that need.  All the while, they’re studying God’s word together and leaning on Him and each other for their support during life’s events. 

So, good things are happening on Sunday nights for our older generation at the church building, in the home for our Gen X parents, and in other’s homes for our young professionals.  How can we “harness” this and make it better for everyone invovled?  How do our shepherds “shepherd” a church that it utilizing different means to keep the “Sabbath holy?” 

Mark it down.  This will be a growing trend in ALL churches over the next decade.  It will affect future youth groups, budgeting for ministry programing, building usage, shepherding skills needed in order to “pastor” churches, and evangelism as a whole. 

The church must adapt.  The Word does not change, but the style of delivery must.