Comments on: The Lost Generation? http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/ Trying to be strategic. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard H http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1852 Richard H Mon, 02 Oct 2006 20:48:59 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1852 Another comment. Back int he days when I was in youth ministry, I frequently felt guilty for not being one of the hyper energetic charismatic overgrown junior high guys who had a booming, exciting youth group. That just wasn't my personality. Sometimes I was tempted to fake it, but whenever I was about to give in, I'd think, "Nah, it's not worth it." So we spent lots of time in bible study - some pretty heavy duty. We took about a year and a half to work through a book of the bible (the curse of having a PHD student as their leader). One of our youth retreats was centered on a detailed discussion of Colossians (though we also had fun playing on the mountain!); another centered on training in evangelism - including extended prayer sessions for their pre-Christian friends; another was just for graduating seniors and focused on preparing to live as a christian at college (when they had the freedom to do and be whatever they wanted). I couldn't judge the quality of my youth ministry by the quantity of kids showing up (though I sure did want a large quantity!). I told the church leaders that the best way to judge a ministry was to see where the kids were in ten years. I feel good about that ministry. It's now 11 years since I left that church. 2 youth from the group who married each other were pastors for a while and are now bible translators in the South Pacific. His brother is on staff at the church. Another is a pastor at another church. Another has left her job at Boeing and spent the past year in Iraq and is preparing for a life of mission work. A couple of others are teachers and musicians and see themselves as being "in ministry" even though it's not their title. In light of this experience I'd argue for two things. 1. Think long term. 2. Have high expectations. Don't sell your people short. Give them your best and expect their best. Another comment. Back int he days when I was in youth ministry, I frequently felt guilty for not being one of the hyper energetic charismatic overgrown junior high guys who had a booming, exciting youth group. That just wasn’t my personality. Sometimes I was tempted to fake it, but whenever I was about to give in, I’d think, “Nah, it’s not worth it.”

So we spent lots of time in bible study – some pretty heavy duty. We took about a year and a half to work through a book of the bible (the curse of having a PHD student as their leader). One of our youth retreats was centered on a detailed discussion of Colossians (though we also had fun playing on the mountain!); another centered on training in evangelism – including extended prayer sessions for their pre-Christian friends; another was just for graduating seniors and focused on preparing to live as a christian at college (when they had the freedom to do and be whatever they wanted). I couldn’t judge the quality of my youth ministry by the quantity of kids showing up (though I sure did want a large quantity!). I told the church leaders that the best way to judge a ministry was to see where the kids were in ten years.

I feel good about that ministry. It’s now 11 years since I left that church. 2 youth from the group who married each other were pastors for a while and are now bible translators in the South Pacific. His brother is on staff at the church. Another is a pastor at another church. Another has left her job at Boeing and spent the past year in Iraq and is preparing for a life of mission work. A couple of others are teachers and musicians and see themselves as being “in ministry” even though it’s not their title.

In light of this experience I’d argue for two things.
1. Think long term.
2. Have high expectations. Don’t sell your people short. Give them your best and expect their best.

]]> By: Shelley http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1851 Shelley Mon, 02 Oct 2006 14:22:11 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1851 So many churches think in groups like Singles, Collegiates, 20-somethings. Perhaps try looking for a name that is more inclusive... or not. At 30, unmarried with no kids, but engaged, I find I am too young to hang out with the 30+ group and too old and unsingle to hang out with the 20 somethings. And couples all seem to be with kids or so young. Maybe the secret is we should stop trying to categorize people. But it is so natural to do so... tough questions Tony, I would like to see it working for real. So many churches think in groups like Singles, Collegiates, 20-somethings. Perhaps try looking for a name that is more inclusive… or not. At 30, unmarried with no kids, but engaged, I find I am too young to hang out with the 30+ group and too old and unsingle to hang out with the 20 somethings. And couples all seem to be with kids or so young. Maybe the secret is we should stop trying to categorize people. But it is so natural to do so… tough questions Tony, I would like to see it working for real.

]]> By: MJ http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1850 MJ Mon, 02 Oct 2006 09:08:16 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1850 My church is successfully reaching this demographic. One of the main reasons we have been so successfull is that most of the OLDER generation in our church have said, "We don't understand it; the music, the visuals, etc. But we do understand the church growing and young people and young families coming to know Christ!" There are those who left for a more traditional style of worship & church. We have been blessed with some SERIOUS lovers of the Word and Will of God in wanting to reach the "unchurched". The message is sacred, not the delivery. My church is successfully reaching this demographic. One of the main reasons we have been so successfull is that most of the OLDER generation in our church have said, “We don’t understand it; the music, the visuals, etc. But we do understand the church growing and young people and young families coming to know Christ!” There are those who left for a more traditional style of worship & church. We have been blessed with some SERIOUS lovers of the Word and Will of God in wanting to reach the “unchurched”. The message is sacred, not the delivery.

]]> By: Dennis http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1849 Dennis Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:06:32 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1849 I've been thinking about this for a long time, as I see former youth group students growing up and forming part of this demographic. They may be leaving church, but in my case, it hasn't been that they are leaving their faith. It is just evolving beyond the "churchianity" that they followed as teenagers. I think part of ministering to them is sticking with them, although not always easy. Anyway...good post to get some thoughts going. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, as I see former youth group students growing up and forming part of this demographic.

They may be leaving church, but in my case, it hasn’t been that they are leaving their faith. It is just evolving beyond the “churchianity” that they followed as teenagers.

I think part of ministering to them is sticking with them, although not always easy. Anyway…good post to get some thoughts going.

]]> By: Bumble http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1848 Bumble Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:09:00 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1848 I've been working with this group for 15 years now. Basically we progressed from student ministry into a church plant within a church (co-location)... I’ve been working with this group for 15 years now. Basically we progressed from student ministry into a church plant within a church (co-location)…

]]> By: David TURNER http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1847 David TURNER Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:37:31 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1847 The older generation tends to think that the younger crowd (20-40) must fit into a more traditional mold to be for real. They don't take younger people seriously. I'm praying that God will use me to reach this under-served segment of our population. They want more than a wwell-spoken sermon. They want their lives and their communities to be changed. The older generation tends to think that the younger crowd (20-40) must fit into a more traditional mold to be for real. They don’t take younger people seriously.
I’m praying that God will use me to reach this under-served segment of our population.
They want more than a wwell-spoken sermon.
They want their lives and their communities to be changed.

]]> By: Richard H http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1846 Richard H Sun, 01 Oct 2006 16:25:58 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1846 How are y'all doing at Granger in reaching & keeping these folks? Anything you've found especially helpful? Anything you thought would work but didn't? How are y’all doing at Granger in reaching & keeping these folks? Anything you’ve found especially helpful? Anything you thought would work but didn’t?

]]> By: Ashley http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1845 Ashley Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:10:38 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1845 Ministries I'd like to see...(I'm in this age group) Financial/Budget help for set up Parenting help (older parents giving tips on how they raised their children) Apologetics-learning how to intelligently defend the faith that we believe. A way to interact with older people and how they have lived their life for Christ in their everyday lives, workplace, neighbors, etc. How to learn about integrating our faith into our lives, instead of always wanting to do the "church" thing..."oh, i have to try to get this person saved, because my pastor said so." How to learn more about people in general...being in college has taught me about different personality types, etc., definitely been key on how to relate to people..I want others to know about that stuff. Basically ministry just needs to be a place where we can plug in and be accepted with where we are at in life. I feel as a 22 year old, that I just don't fit into churches anywhere, because me personally, I love to grow and learn, and ask questions...most churches aren't okay with that...it'd be nice to even have a ministry where we can come and just discuss theology, ask the hard questions, then look at how to answer them biblically... Just some thoughts... Ministries I’d like to see…(I’m in this age group)

Financial/Budget help for set up

Parenting help (older parents giving tips on how they raised their children)

Apologetics-learning how to intelligently defend the faith that we believe.

A way to interact with older people and how they have lived their life for Christ in their everyday lives, workplace, neighbors, etc.

How to learn about integrating our faith into our lives, instead of always wanting to do the “church” thing…”oh, i have to try to get this person saved, because my pastor said so.”

How to learn more about people in general…being in college has taught me about different personality types, etc., definitely been key on how to relate to people..I want others to know about that stuff.

Basically ministry just needs to be a place where we can plug in and be accepted with where we are at in life. I feel as a 22 year old, that I just don’t fit into churches anywhere, because me personally, I love to grow and learn, and ask questions…most churches aren’t okay with that…it’d be nice to even have a ministry where we can come and just discuss theology, ask the hard questions, then look at how to answer them biblically…

Just some thoughts…

]]> By: Jonathan http://tonymorganlive.com/2006/10/01/the-lost-generation/#comment-1844 Jonathan Sun, 01 Oct 2006 11:25:39 +0000 http://tonymorgan.updatable.cc/?p=765#comment-1844 Great post - the sad reality is that over 80% of churches in America are either plateaud or declining; cul-de-sacs for the Kingdom. I don't believe that the majority of existing churches are willing to sacrifice sacred cows in order to become missionaries to this generation (which is where the change begins). The solution? Welcome to my world - the world of church planting! :) Great post – the sad reality is that over 80% of churches in America are either plateaud or declining; cul-de-sacs for the Kingdom.

I don’t believe that the majority of existing churches are willing to sacrifice sacred cows in order to become missionaries to this generation (which is where the change begins).

The solution? Welcome to my world – the world of church planting! :)

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