2. Develop new ways to do life together.
Sunday school has been the traditional method of creating community within a church. Most congregations group people (usually by age) and surround them with others in similar life stages.
Nothing is wrong with this approach. But I believe more interaction must occur outside church walls. Millennial parents are looking for people to live their life with. They don’t just want a group that meets once a week for an hour.
Church leaders must invite people into their homes and spend time with them regularly, not just one-on-one but also in group gatherings. We can learn more about people in a two-hour period outside the church than during a whole year of Sundays.
3. Develop outreach that impacts lives.
One mark of millennial parents is their desire to positively impact the world around them. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. International mission trips are great, but millennial parents can have only limited involvement with such events without abandoning their kids or spouses.
Young families want to be useful at impacting their community. Creating a church culture of involvement and caretaking is a sure-fire way to motivate millennial parents to invest their time and resources.
4. Develop a community, not just a church.
This point relates to the previous ones. As a church, we should encourage members to function well both inside and outside the church. We should develop a mentality of community as a church body. As we live life together, the church should minister to one another’s needs. Millennial parents notice when they see people involved and making a practical difference.
5. Develop opportunities for growth.
Another major draw for millennial parents is knowing their church will provide opportunities to grow. They want additional training that will assist in that process. When young families feel as if they’ve reached their peak within a local body of believers, they may become disinterested and unengaged.
