Is your church reaching out to millennials? We’ll look at some reasons they might not be.
Writing for Outreach magazine Frank Powell thinks the church has largely failed to take stock in the millennial generation because they are different……and he identifies several reasons why churches don’t reach many of the people born between the early 1980’s to the early 2000’s.
Powell is a pastor at Bayside church in Granite Bay, California and himself a millennial.
First, there is a strong resistance to change from older church goers. That’s not the case with millennials who don’t hold traditions close to their heart. In fact, for many, traditions are often the enemy because many churches allow traditions to hinder them from moving forward.
Next, a compelling vision is lacking. If creating an environment totally void of the next generation is your goal, especially those with any initiative and talent, refuse to cast vision in your church. That will send them running from your congregation.
Another reason is Mediocrity is the expectation. Millennials believe they can (and will) change the world. Good or bad, they have a strong desire for the extraordinary. Failure won’t attract them.
And finally, there is a paternalistic approach to leading millennials. Powell says if you want to push the next generation away from your church, don’t release them to lead. And don’t just give them a title, titles are largely irrelevant to the next generation.