Bridging Generational Divides in Your Church

Here are five quick tips to help change your church’s language, approach, and programming:

Church LifeShannon GreeneSeptember 24, 2020Generations, Church Ministry, Millennial Ministry, Generation Z, Generation X, Baby BoomersComment

Interview with a Gen Z Pastor

In a recent conversation with this Gen Z Pastor, we discussed what she would like other church leaders to know about reaching members of her generation, along with her own hopes as new pastor.

Generation ZShannon GreeneAugust 4, 2020Youth Ministry, Church Ministry, Church Community, Church Leadership, Generation ZComment

Passing on the Keys of Leadership to Younger Generations

In their book Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church, authors Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, and Jake Mulder studied churches that were highly successful in engaging emerging generations. They define keychain leaders as “pastoral and congregational leaders who are acutely aware of the keys on their keychain; and intentional about entrusting and empowering all generations, including teenagers and emerging adults, with their own set of keys” (53).

Guiding Generation Z to Lead in Your Church

Many church leaders have great intentions about involving Generation Z college students and teenagers in leadership roles within their churches. However, practically speaking, what does this look like?

Generation ZShannon GreeneJuly 21, 2020Generation Z, Ministry, Church Leadership, Church MinistryComment

Creating Collaboration in Your Community

Reaching millennials means we need to get out of the status quo. The routine life of a local church is not connecting with the non-religious millennials. In our movement out, collaboration becomes essential.

Church communityBurlapOctober 25, 2019Collaboration, Community, Generational Ministry, Generations, Church Ministry, Nones, The Nones, MillennialsComment

Tim Cook to Gen Zers: "My generation has failed you."

Baby Boomer Tim Cook made a frank admission to Generation Z, “In some important ways, my generation has failed you.” He made these remarks on May 18 at commencement exercises for Tulane University. You can watch Cook’s full remarks here.

Generation ZBen SimpsonJune 28, 2019Gen Z, Generations, Communication, Gospel, Millennial Ministry, Church MinistryComment

What Do You Call People You're Trying to Reach?

Your church wants to connect, serve, evangelize, and equip emerging generations. You know Millennials and members of Generation Z are increasingly disconnected from Christianity. Perhaps children who grew up in your congregation are now “de-churched.” Maybe you are concerned with reaching the “unchurched.” What do you call the people you are trying to reach?

Missional churchesBen SimpsonOctober 24, 2018Nones, The Nones, Church Ministry, Millennial Ministry, Generation XComment

5 Values of Generation Z

What does Generation Z value?

That’s a big question. It is also one your church wants to address. Your community may already align with the values of Generation Z in significant ways. If so, your next step is to point them to spaces in congregational life that show how following Jesus Christ meets their deepest longings.

Generation ZBen SimpsonAugust 10, 2018Ministry, Church Ministry, Generational MinistryComment

Gen Z and Physiological Needs

This blog post is the second in a series on how churches can think creatively about addressing the needs of Generation Z. We are using Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a springboard to consider how Christians can assess and address the physical, emotional, social, and aspirational needs of emerging generations, moving from the basics on up to the need for self-fulfillment.