The Potential
Gen Y! The young adults of Sydney (18-30): optimistic, loyal, confident, sociable, educated, tolerant, multicultural, highly interactive, for whom SMS and all web- based communications are the hub of life.
Having been raised to have opportunities by parents who spared nothing to give their kids options " music, sport, arts, education, technology, their childhoods were spent in a whirl of activities. Prepared to take initiative and to get the most out of life they value leaders who recognise their potential, who respect the contribution they can make and who give them the chance to lead and to make a difference. They have creativity and flair and they are impatient for opportunity to show and use their capacities.
Valuing a balance between work and life, to the frustration of their parents, some happily trade full time work for part time employment so that they can pursue their own diverse goals. For others, work can consume life.
The first generation to be truly educated by the evolutionary philosophy of life, they are the "new humanists'. Exclusivist messages (e.g only one way) offend them. They have an aversion to institutional religion particularly Anglican and Catholic. Yet, despite this, these young adults have an eclectic range of spiritual beliefs and they support leaders who demonstrate integrity of word, action and life.
Our society has never before seen the like of such a group of young adults! What potential!
The Puzzle
How do we reach these young adults who have the capacity to be the leaders of churches?
As we well know it is the Pentecostal churches that have had some success in attracting this group. While still an institutional religion, Pentecostalism projects a de-institutionalised image - soft on liturgy (though there is definitely a format) engaging music, and a message that satisfies.
Like all of us, Gen Y'ers are interested in the future, their personal wellbeing, their financial security. The Pentecostal message answers their question: "What's God doing for my life?'
The Challenge
Christians seeking to follow the example of Jesus, to demonstrate that astounding integrity of word, action and life, have an immediate affinity with this group. Gen Y respect leaders and people of integrity. Given the opportunity to hear the words of the only man of whom "integrity' can be rightly used, Gen Y will stop and listen.
How do we provide those opportunities?
1. It always begins with networking and listening. Gen Y will log onto websites that interact with the questions they are asking. Google will do the rest and make that site accessible! Gen Y adults can set up and manage such sites. They love this stuff!
Network through the parents of Gen Y and if we have contact with college students, network their networks.
2. Talk to the church leaders who are in touch with this group.
3. While there is some place for intergenerational church meetings, accept that these meetings just can't address the mindset or cultural conditioning of each generational group. Nor can services and sermons be cloned across the day.
4. If we accept point 3, then we need teams of men and women to help each church leader provide meetings that are relevant and effective for the different groups. Churches will need a mix of ordained and lay teams, full time, part-time, paid, voluntary. To enable this to happen, the diocese will need to keep addressing the standards that may have to be modified enable such teams to exist.
5. Find the Gen Y adults who can be encouraged to become leaders in the church. Make their training a priority and get them leading outreach to Gen Y.
6. Keep de-institutionalising the look of buildings and the formality of services. But make sure the service continues to have biblical depth, engagement, and focus on the full revelation of God through Jesus.
This article was informed by The Spirit of Generation Y Report. and Rachael Kohn's ABC Radio National program "The Spirit of Things'.
