For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5

A generation is defined as a people born and living at about the same time - shaped by the same culture and events

Builders (prior to 1946) Boomers (1946-1964) Generation X (1965-1979) Millennials (1980-1995)

Generation Z Born Between 1996-2010 (2000-2015)

Also Known As iGeneration net-gen digital natives mobile natives

Recent Stats on Generation Z

Market Research Educational Research

youthministryinstitute.org/resources

Meet Generation Z by James Emery White

Growing Young by Powell, Mulder, & Griffin

Meet Generation Z

Largest Generation Sparks & Honey. Meet Generation Z: Forget Everything You Know About Millennials

Nearly of the world population (1.86 billion) 1/3 Nearly of the world population (1.86 billion)

From Generation Z’s perspective has always existed The Mindset List: 2019 List, Beloit College

From Generation Z’s perspective Email is formal Texting is casual The Mindset List: 2019 List, Beloit College

From Generation Z’s perspective You’ve never needed to lick a stamp The Mindset List: 2019 List, Beloit College

Compared to 1-2 for Millennials Use 3-5 Screens Compared to 1-2 for Millennials

Prefer “Snackable” Content

Connecting with Generation Z 1 Connecting with Generation Z 1. Focus on One Topic but Vary Teaching Methods

Ask Yourself: What’s the one thing I want my students to understand today?

“Take Jesus’ Message Seriously”

“How would you describe the central message of the gospel?”

Ask Yourself: How might I teach that one message in a variety of ways?

Seemiller & Grace. Generation Z Goes to College Relational & Collaborative Seemiller & Grace. Generation Z Goes to College

Prefer Face-to-Face Communication

Connecting with Generation Z 2. Engage Students Face-to-Face

True Discipleship can only take place in the context of Relationships

“Fuel a Warm Community”

Connecting with Generation Z 3. Less Lecture and More Group Discussion

Facilitated Learning & Group Work

Can I Ask That?

Using these scriptures respond to the following: Is Jesus really the only way to God? John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Phil. 2:10

Social Activist who want to join a Cause Vallone, et. al. Agents of Social Change: A Model for Targeting and Engaging Generation Z across Platforms

Connecting with Generation Z 4. Link Ministry to Social Issues

“Be the best neighbors”

“What is it about your church that makes it effective with teenagers?”

Nearly 60% responded “service practices, missional practices, being outward oriented”

The Problem

78% believe in God Seemiller & Grace. Generation Z Goes to College and Northeaster University. Innovation survey

41% attend weekly religious services Seemiller & Grace. Generation Z Goes to College

8% cite a religious leader as a role model “Innovation Imperative: Meet Generation Z,” Northeastern University

anti-homosexual judgmental hypocritical old-fashioned “Innovation Imperative: Meet Generation Z,” Northeastern University

The Countercultural Church

To be Countercultural we must be Christlike

What might God do in and through this generation?

dodom@nobts.edu yminobts.edu