Understanding Millennial Givers

Millennials have a reputation for being self-absorbed but I recently read an article in the Business Insider that caused me reconsider that.  The piece focused on the work of Generation Resources, a millennial led organization dedicated to social change and equality.  Generation Resources is made up of 600 wealthy millennials working to redistribute some of their inherited, earned and future wealth to make the world a better place.  Generation Resources has sixteen chapters across the U.S.  Their primary focus is skill building and training.  They want to equip their peers to make a difference.

The executive director of Generation Resources is Iimay Ho, the 32 year old daughter of a wealthy insurance executive.  Ho stands to inherit a million dollars but she does not want to use the money, or her current financial resources, for luxury vacations or an extravagant lifestyle.  Her perspective reflects the organization.  "Our mission is to organize young wealthy people in the top 10% to use their money to support racial and economic justice," Ho said. "We do that by providing a clear role, training, and skills to support the working class through giving."

Generation Resources has donated to several causes.   They gave $2,000 to support Turning the Tide, which focuses on stopping police and ICE collaborations leading to more deportations.  They posted a $2,000 bond to release someone from ICE detention.  The have also raised $135,000 for the Social Justice Fund which addresses the cause of social, economic and environmental inequalities.

I personally am not surprised by this.  Many millennials do support organizations and efforts that align with their interests and passions. Scores of millennials are seeking jobs and positions in the non-profit sector because they desire to make a difference.  Countless millennials also have an entrepreneurial spirit, leading them to start their own non-profit organizations.

Unfortunately millennials are not passionate about giving to churches or religious organizations, even if they are members.  There are two factors at work here.  If they have grown up in the church they see it as being part of their lives that will always be there.  They give little thought to the fact that someone must support the church so the building is maintained and the staff paid.  Secondly, they are not big on supporting and maintaining institutions.  That is especially the case for institutions that seem out of touch and incapable to meeting their needs.

From my perspective, here are some ways we can reverse the trend;

Realize the future is not in building new churches or even remodeling old ones.  The church must learn to focus on ministry outside of its walls

. 

We must engage millennials and except them for who they are.  In the process we might begin to understand what excites them and determine how we might partner with them in pursuing those passions.

Stop playing the numbers game in terms of church attendance and membership.  In the fast-paced world in which millennials live they do not think about long-term affiliations.  They are more interested in partnering with those who want to help them pursue their passions and concerns.

Churches that get the message and adapt will continue to have a relevant ministry.  Those that do not are on the road to extinction.

Good News about College Students

At the time of year when many college students are beginning another school year a new study provides some encouraging words on what they are looking for as they prepare for a future career.  The assumption is their primary focus is on profession development and preparing for a career, with the goal of financial security.  Pastors, youth ministry professionals and their parents have always been concerned about their spiritual welfare while on campus.  The report from the Barna Group seems to indicate a desire on the part of students to grow in their discipleship while planning for their future.  Many want to be able to integrate their faith into their future career.

A majority of college students see higher education as a path to gainful employment (69%) and financial security (55%).  The percentage was considerably higher for practicing Christian college students (75%), but many of them want much more than just an education.   Three in ten (31%) of practicing Christian college students expressed an interest in continued professional development that focused on integrating faith and applying it to a career.  Twenty-six percent (26%) were looking for a workshop or similar one-time event to help them integrate their future career with their faith.  Twenty percent (20%) wanted an even deeper experience through involvement in a hub or small group.

Where at one point we would had to rely on letter writing, or an occasional phone call or campus visit, staying engaged with contemporary college students is much easier.  Social media, Face Time and email are tools that are readily available.  It does require an ongoing commitment.  It also means being fervent in our prayers for young people during these critical years.

Many adults are under the impression that members of Generation Z (those born since the beginning of this century) are like the Millennial Generation that preceded them.  Wrong!  That includes many of today’s college who might be classified as Millennials but in actuality are more like members of Generation Z.  The reality is the opportunity to disciple the next generation appears to be there.  Now it is imperative that we step up a seize it.

Please Don't TL;DR Me

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has just added 840 new entries to our ever-expanding language.  I get the impression that Millennials and the members of Generation Z are seriously impacting the English language. 

There were some new entries that made sense: instagramming, mocktails and salty (yes, think salty).  There were others that left me scratching my head.  Adorb; an adjective describing something that is inspiring, delightful or cute (think adorable).  Bingeable: an adjective for something that is easy to watch or a food or drink that would be easy to indulge on.  Rando: a disparaging term for someone with whom you have no shared social connection.

Just when I had gotten used to LOL (laugh or loud) and BFF (best friend forever) we have all new acronyms.  TL;DR; the response to a lengthy online message (Too Long; Didn’t Read).  GOAT: quite simply The Greatest of all Time.

It did get me thinking about some words that were once a part of our language that now have all but disappeared.  I think about the 50’s TV show Twenty Questions where one of the initial queries always was “Is it bigger than a breadbox?”  Phone booth; I am left to wonder if Superman now has to use a Porta-Potty to change his persona.  There was a time when boss did not just refer to someone we worked for but rather a really cool car.  

I probably need to cut this off before some of you send me that TL;DR message.

The Journey from the Drive-In to Social Media

The old adage, the grass is always greener on the other side of fence, is not lost on teenagers.  The good looking girls and the cooler guys always seem to go to a different school or live in a better neighborhood.  It was the case when I was a teen and still that way today.  To expand our social network my friends and I would hang out at drive-ins along Eight Mile Road in Detroit.  In those days even the McDonalds did not have in-door seating.  You ordered your food through a window and ate your burgers and fries in the parking lot.  They were places to gather with your friends and mingle with the kids from other schools and neighborhoods. It has been quite a journey from the drive-ins of the 60's to the social media of today.  

The desire to expand their network of friends is what drives many of today’s teens to social media.  Through Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook teens seek to meet and network with others who share their interest and passions.  While we sought to meet kids from other schools and neighborhoods, today’s teens want to identify new friends in other cities, states and even countries.  Such is the gift of social media.

Social media is a part of my world.  I use Facebook to stay in touch with my family.  It also allows me to network with friends and peers throughout the country and even the world.  One of the real blessings is to get a glimpse into the lives of former students and members of my youth groups.  We not only share stories, but mourn, grieve and celebrate together.

It does require discipline.  It is real easy to allow social media to control our lives.  We can find ourselves going back again and again to see how many people have “liked” a particular post or “commented” on a picture or story.  Then, there is also the danger of comparing our lives to the lives of the “rich and famous,” or at least that is the image we get online.

In ministering to today’s teens and young adults it is vital that we not only model positive use of social media but help them continue to mature in the manner in which they relate to the world online.  While social media can be a gift from God, used wrongly it can have a negative impact on our lives and the lives of those precious kids around us.  It means seeing it as another tool as we try to pass the torch of faith to the next generation.