Good Friday morning friends,
Earlier this week, Halifax resident Kim Stacy sparked a controversy, as she blamed “younger workers” for the failure of her restaurant, “Emma’s Eatery.”
Posting on Facebook, Stacy writes, “… during the nine years the eatery was open, young employees demanded to be “paid dearly” for working shifts that did not interfere with their social activities, hobbies and cellphone use.”
Those Millennnials again!
Millennials are broadly defined as those who were born somewhere between the early 1980’s and the early 2000’s. They have been studied. They have been stereotyped. They have been painted with a broad brush. But have they been listened to and understood?
As the father of four millennials (with three millennial daughter-in-laws), I care about this demographic, want to hear them and to understand them. I want to see them flourish in their faith and in life.
Yesterday, I joined a gathering of younger LPD pastors. All, but one present were millennials – you can guess who :). This discussion was both rewarding and challenging. From time schedules to worship services, things are changing. Some churches, especially suburban and rural might not feel the impact so acutely, but there is a shift in how people view and engage with church, how people choose to serve and what people aspire to in their faith.
Younger people might question the value and purpose of gathering to sing, to sit and listen to a sermon, and to be entertained each week. Is this real and authentic? Are the people real and authentic? Is this transformative?
To some of us, the typical church structure and schedule is all that we have known. We might wring our hands that things don’t seem to work like they used to. We might be tempted to “blow off” millennials as “just not being committed,” rather than understanding that they are very committed, but not to an institution. They can be radically committed to Christ, to a cause that they believe in and to helping others. Maybe, we older ones have not challenged them to be committed to the right things.
Millennials are looking for those who will serve as mentors and coaches to them. They are not looking for those who will talk down to them and to seek to push them to conformity. They are looking for those who will listen – really listen; to those who will share their life experiences and failures, and for those who will honestly answer their questions. They seek those who know what it is to humbly follow and serve Jesus, and who lead by example.
I am optimistic about millennials and learn a lot from them. As I see our younger pastors and staff, I do not care to simply conform them to current and existing ministries. I want to dream with them, to listen to them and to the Lord, and to partner with in new expressions of ministry and church (along with the traditional). The vehicle of LPD Church Planting Missionaries enables us to serve together as we loan the benefits of our district “structure” to birth the “unstructured” and fresh works of God.
I would encourage you and your church leadership to take time to listen to the millennials in your lives. They are not a simply a demographic with challenges. They are a demographic that value authenticity in faith and life; they value more balanced priorities, and they commit to causes that are purposeful and serve others.
The “problem” with millennials is not millennials. The “problem” might be may be that we “non-millennials” have failed to listen, to understand, to learn, to adjust and to mentor.
Here is a resource for you to begin the dialogue in your church!
SPEAKING OF MENTORS AND COACHES, at our upcoming LPD Conference on March 4,5 at White Rock Community Church, we are providing a COACH workshop. This will be a day of equipping in coaching and mentoring tools for discipleship and service. You can register by mail or online at our LPD website under the Pastor Resources tab.
Please see the attached information, and plan to join us for the workshop on Friday, March 4, celebration dinner on Friday evening and a Saturday morning conference session and meeting. Please see the attached brochure and information. Conference registration includes the Friday COACH workshop and participant manual, so plan to join us for this and to learn and grow with your leadership team, and other church leaders and delegates from our district. Please note: Workshop participant manuals are available in Chinese!
Please continue to join with others in ministering to refugees:
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Upcoming Events:
May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, and trust him for his good work through the week ahead.
In Jesus,
Rob
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In 2016, our Lower Pacific District trust to continue assisting in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money. To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals. You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See LPD website for more info.
