Each year I have the joy of speaking before our diocesan convention of 300+ persons representing our 50+ churches. The following is what I shared this year…
For over 15 years I have been serving as your Coordinator for Youth Ministries. Longevity has the advantages of seeing vision get rooted and learning how to best help churches do youth ministry. My work includes consulting, advising, coaching, mentoring, and training with churches and leaders in their efforts to reach and disciple teens. I have the privilege of training the youth commission who are serving today under the direction of my wife who has been at my side for the past 30 years of full time youth ministry. I also want to add a personal thanks for all who have prayed for Jane and I during the past year. A year ago she started chemotherapy for breast cancer which was followed by surgery, radiation, and more surgeries. I am pleased to share that she is cancer free and has an excellent prognosis for her future. The healing and recovery are ongoing but we are past the hardest part.
A major part of my work is our youth events. Our fall events, Mondo and Regenerate, reach about 200 each. The Jesus Weekend in February, averaging 140, has been a spiritual turning point for vast numbers of students. Epic, intentionally smaller and more intimate, sees about 75 students. Our events are proclaiming the gospel and teaching the Bible to hundreds and hundreds of students every year.
Our reading this morning from Deuteronomy 11 paints a picture of lives devoted to teaching God’s word to the next generation. This is where I see a vital need to shift our approach to students… specifically children, youth, and college age. Here’s why…
I went to the circus last weekend. (I’m resisting the temptation to compare youth ministry to a circus) It was a bittersweet experience because “the greatest show on earth” is ending this spring after 145 years. Coming generations will never experience Ringling Bros circus. Our culture has shifted so drastically that this form of entertainment is no longer in demand.
The circus is not the only institution affected by our rapidly changing culture. The largest demographic in America in regards to religion are the unaffiliated. James Emory White refers to them as the “nones” (+ not the kind that belong to a catholic order). “Nones” don’t identify with any religion at all. Recent Pew Research discovered that nearly a quarter of the nation are “nones”… 23% to be exact and growing rapidly. In 1990 the unaffiliated represented just 8% of our population. In a quarter of a century the “nones” tripled. We‘ve also reached a point where nearly 20% of Americans identify as former Christians.
Now, the 23% varies according to generation. So, let me introduce you to generation Z, the gen that follows the millennials. Born from about 1995 to 2009, this is the first post Christian Generation in America and 36% are “nones”! This generation is currently preteens thru college students. Gen Z represents slightly more than a quarter of our population, making them the largest living generation.
There are reasons to be hopeful for younger generations despite so many of them being unaffiliated. “Nones” are not generally atheists. More than half of them believe in God. They have not rejected God, they simply are not thinking about Him. Studies have also found that 90% of young people who go to church at least occasionally are interested in reading the Bible more*. This means opportunities exist to engage them! However, research tells us they are becoming less spiritual as time goes on. The window is gradually closing. So how do we engage Generation Z?
I am convinced the church needs to invest more intentionally in discipleship and evangelism to children, youth, and college age. In other words, students. When I say invest I am not saying money but rather time. We need to explore new ways to make stronger disciples and also reach out to students in our communities. This involves adults sharing the gospel and the truth of scripture with younger generations. I’m not advocating for more programs but rather more relationships between the generations. Our end goal must be to provide the next generation with a biblical understanding of the world we live in and the God who loves us.
In many churches we see thriving ministries to children and youth and yet we need to be increasingly intentional about making Biblical Anglicans for a global age. That means discovering new ways to engage younger generations with the truth of God’s word. It’s exciting to see the ministry of grandparents growing across our diocese. That’s not about programs, but about relationships of intentional discipleship.
There is one segment of Generation Z that we are not engaging though. Listen to their voices in this video (CCO) …those of us invested in ministry to teens know the pain of seeing students go off to college and disconnect from the church. I’m excited to say a former youth minister from our diocese will be starting an Anglican ministry at Clemson University that will be church based. They are partnering with CCO who created the video you just watched. We have many colleges in our diocese and very little college ministry! What students need in their college years is not simply a campus fellowship to attend but a church to be part of. What Gen Z needs are relationships with older Christians who can help them follow Jesus. If everyone in this room would give one hour a week to younger generations by simply spending that hour sharing, reading scripture, and praying with that young person, hundreds of lives would be changed! Imagine if our churches were filled with people committed to doing this with children, youth and college students!
So I ask you today, will you join me in focusing on proclaiming the gospel and engaging younger generations with the truth of God’s word? I am ready and eager to help you get started!
* The ABS study shows 53% of teens in general want to read their Bible more often. The 90% reflects specifically practicing Protestants.
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