In our work across the globe with Millennials and their spiritual leaders, we sometimes encounter well-meaning and well-intentioned leaders who LOVE what Launching Leaders is all about and it’s effective outreach to Millennials, but they say they simply don’t have the time to embrace another program.
Consider (or re-consider!) some facts from a Pew study and related research on Millennials:
Only…
- 50% are certain there is a God
- 38% view religion as important
- 28% attend a religious service weekly
A whopping…
- 62% do NOT engage in prayer
- About 1/3 are affiliated with no religious identity (nones)
A large percentage of Millennials…
- Base their faith on social or political views.
So what happens to boomer-age spiritual leaders when they see statistics like these? Often they go back to familiar and comfortable modes of thinking and ministering, trying to accelerate all the “tried-and-true” approaches that were once working, but now actually are not.
Just like Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, that kept producing rubber-only tires while radial tires were entering the market place, doing the same old thing didn’t overcome the new paradigm and they eventually had to sell to a foreign company to salvage what was left of their once legendary company. Why did they essentially ignore the new market conditions? They were locked into past inertia that had once worked, so they kept that going until it was too late. The fresh thinking that led to its initial success was replaced by a rigid devotion to the status quo.
Guess what – Millennials have been pushing hard against the status quo because experiences during their upbringing do not align with their view of how the world should be. It’s not that they don’t value the ethics of the past, but they have seen certain values ossify and become mundane (from the prior generations), and have not been taught in a way that invites their thoughts and consideration (see blog Four Ways to Invite and Not Incite).
There are some obstacles that MUST be overcome to engage with the Millennial generation and celebrate their journey. This will be the ONLY way that a bridge and connection between generations can be established (see blogs Dumpster Dive, The Times They Are a Changing, and Out of the Box). To connect, it not only takes time, but also the art of speaking their language (see blog Three Keys to Working with Millennials).
Any delay in accepting the urgency to change course in the approach to working effectively with Millennials will result in a lost opportunity as this fast paced world isn’t slowing down. Too much analysis will certainly lead to paralysis. For whatever blinders, worn out routines, or shackles of old inertia exist, let me suggest three things to consider to embark with urgency on the path of effective Millennial stewardship.
- See Beyond. I like to use the example of our initiatives in Launching Leaders. We often ask the question “Since you agree with and embrace the cause of reaching out to Millennials, are you willing to see beyond personal religious traditions and focus on the commonality of the cause?” They always say, YES, OF COURSE. In fact, they tell us this is the beauty of what we do. I encourage everyone to see beyond their own world or theological paradigms and see the vision of the whole for the good of all. This is exactly how our Millennials think—-we should all do the same.
- Embrace other’s gifts. As we visit many faith groups and their leaders, we see in each one gifts that are unique to them and needed by everyone. If we can learn to EMBRACE one another’s gifts in a common cause, THEN we can move forward without reservation or judgment. Don’t ignore the new radial tires being developed as Firestone did as they relied only on past inertia; rather, embrace every gift available as it makes the whole of the common cause more effective in every way. That is how the best rubber meets the road.
- Don’t be stupid. John Wayne famously said, “Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” I believe our time is quickly running out wherein we can discover, embrace, celebrate, and cherish all that the Millennial generation is and will become.
Let’s be a part of the journey and find the TIME to devote to such a noble cause. I express my deep gratitude to all who embrace this passion of ours, and invite all to join the Millennial journey in connecting faith with our everyday walk.
Don’t have time to consider a new approach to this problem? I would say time is running out!
