The Baby Boomer generation is often thought as the generation that worked hard, help get us where we are, and was the backbone of the 20th century. Now that Baby Boomers are retiring, many have asked the question, “Who will take their place?” Generation X? No.
Generation Y (the Millennials).
Within 5-10 years, Generation Y will be the largest generation of our time — some think it is already. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 60 to 78 million fall into Generation Y. The typical Generation Y’er is internet savvy, technology driven, socially linked, and was born somewhere between 1977-1995. Generation X is only third of the size of Generation Y.
Why should you care? This is why:
Members of Generation Y are charting their own course. They want to change the world, and they think they can. They are better educated, more affluent, and more ethnically diverse than any other generation. They define “office” as anywhere with Blackberry service and struggle to imagine a world where people or information cannot be reached in 30 seconds or less. They see a job as more than a means to a paycheck; they care about what companies stand for and expect corporate social engagement to be both a visible and accessible part of their employer’s DNA.
In the next 10 years , Generation Y will be the majority in the workforce. With such a change on the horizon businesses must adapt. Politics must adapt. The economy must adapt. And churches must adapt.
Yes, churches. Religion. The way we do church most likely will not change, but how we reach people will change. No longer will the typewriter or copy machine do the job. Computers, websites, social networking, Blackberries, cell phones, iTouch, Google, and Twitter are now reaching people. The key word 
in that last sentence is now. The churches that are attracting the generation that will replace the Boomers speak their language of technology and social concerns.
What is even more troubling is that 1 out of 5 in Generation Y — almost 20% — claim no religious affiliation or belief. That is the highest of any generation.
Churches now have to be better equipped with the latest the reach the masses. The key here in understanding the generational shift is not that generations change, just their tools. Before, the tools were more basic Now, the tools to reach everyone are evolving.
How to reach Generation Y? More google? More video projectors? Texting? More Twitter? No.
More relationships. Less programs. Everything behind Twitter, myspace, and Facebook is people. Those things are just about a faster way to share information, but if the people are not there on the other end, then those technologies do not work. BUT, if you do not speak the language of txt or Google you may get lost in the translation. This does not mean we must ignore the Boomers or Gen X’ers, but we must understand where our culture is and will be going.
Do not get caught up in the hype of flashy gimmicks to reach people. All you need is a genuine relationship to reach Generation Y, W, Boomer, or future generations.
BONUS: If you can understand this you are most likely from Generation Y:
gNR8N Y S d NKOTB
9 Comments
Dude this is exactly what churches need to hear and experience! I’m addressing this topic on a Wednesday this fall. Excellent work my friend.
You’re right…Boomers and Xers shouldn’t be ignored, and neither should Generation Jones (born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and Generation X) be ignored, especially relevant here since most GenYers are the offspring of GenJones parents.
Google Generation Jones, and you’ll see it’s gotten a ton of media attention, and many top commentators from many top publications and networks (Washington Post, Time magazine, NBC, Newsweek, ABC, etc.) now specifically use this term. In fact, the Associated Press’ annual Trend Report forecast the Rise of Generation Jones as the #1 trend of 2009. Here’s a page with a good overview of recent media interest in GenJones: http://generationjones.com/2009latest.html
It is important to distinguish between the post-WWII demographic boom in births vs. the cultural generations born during that era. Generations are a function of the common formative experiences of its members, not the fertility rates of its parents. Many experts now believe it breaks down more or less this way:
DEMOGRAPHIC boom in babies: 1946-1964
Baby Boom GENERATION: 1942-1953
Generation Jones: 1954-1965
Generation X: 1966-1978
Mark- Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. Wow, I did not even think about to do a topical series on it… good idea. Let me know how it goes for you. My congregation knows that they must keep pace, but they are wondering how to do it… as is the case with most mainline churches. I guess that is why they hired a young dude like me.
HD4020: trying to nail down dates is hard for some generations. Some social commentators vary on Gen X and Gen Y… Sometimes, Jones is one of those that tends to get less attention in light of Boomer, X, and Y. Thanks for the comments.
You better believe that’s why you were hired…Dude!!
Alan, I’m going to send you a copy of the upcoming JP release, nuChristian: Finding Faith in a New Generation by Russell Rathbun. It’s a practical, action-oriented response to the Barna book unChristian. We’d love to see a review on your blog!
Kim: Awesome! I would love to post a review on nuChristian. Look forward to to reading it. Thank you for the opportunity.
Alan, this is great. Let’s network on this. Maybe you, Mark and I can work up something for such a series. We have the technology. Let not the distance keep us from working together.
Tripp, wow that’s a great idea. I’ll ask Mark about what resource he is using or what his plan are.