Millennials: Now That We're Young Adults..?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010About ten years ago, a book was written about a generation graduating from high school and the impact this group would have on the cultural landscape of our nation. Millennials Rising:The Next Generation, written by Neil Howe and William Strauss, was a groundbreaking work that introduced us to the first youth generation of the 21st century. Since that time, other books have been written, research conducted, news programs aired, and TV shows have all highlighted the positives and negatives of the generation we know as Millennials, Gen Y, Netgen, Generation We and countless other names that have been given but have all been rejected by this age group.
Now, ten years since Millennials Rising, we are seeing the first youth generation of the 21st century move into the middle of their young adult years. They are in their late twenties, some married, a few with children, and all are doing their best to make these rough economic times as painless as possible. We are finding that they have similar aspirations as their parents but with their own twist. They expect to be home owners before their first child is born. A well paying job that they enjoy going to every morning. Family (whether their own or connection with parents) is extremely important to their overall adult experience, and they are hoping to achieve, if not more, as much as their parents did at their age.
What are they finding? Well, this isn't their parent's world. Owning a home is not as easy as the Home & Garden channel lets you to think. Jobs? Highest unemployment since the Cubs won the World Series. The family is still important, especially since many have had to move back home because of financial difficulties. And that "living better" then mom & dad dream is quickly turning into a nightmare. What they are finding is the feeling they are in a rut. Moving forward is a little tricky right now and they sense that it's not going to get any easier. What they really are looking for is a way through all this unknown. A guide to walk them through the tough times. Someone to be a sounding board of their thoughts. A Yoda.
As we move into a new century with all its perplexing world views, the Church is debating its role to a younger group of adults and its significance it has in their lives. With the continuing urbanization of America's suburbs, the decline of religion in our country (we do see an increase in going to church but that tends to rise during crisis), and the shifting ethnicity of our culture, the Church is changing and giving young America many options of "doing & being" church, but not many of these options seem to be sticking. To be sure, not all that they believe is necessarily right, and they know this. They are searching for answers, even if the way they search is new to an older generation of church goers.
I have a very deep love for this age group. It mostly comes from knowing so many of them because of my youth pastor years, college staff days, and high school ministries I led. It's all coming full circle for me. Many of them are in their mid twenties and early 30's. Some of them are very close friends. All of them are adults and I can relate to much of what they are going through. I don't think it is up to me to create the church for the 21st century, their Church, and even if I did, once I leave this planet they would redesign it to fit their world. I do believe that it is my responsibility to walk along side them and to help them to walk deeper in Christ. College-age ministries has a shelf life. We can only stay in that time of life for a short period and then we move on to adulthood. The Church needs to be a part of that time of transition for this age group. We can help them through their college years into the next phase of their lives. Call it what you want, passing the torch, handing off the baton...how we mentored and discipled a younger generation will be clear to see for generations to come.
