However, the research does suggest that those who practice their faith experience more “connectivity” or community than those of no faith.
The Majority of Millennials View the Church Positively
Globally, the majority of this generation holds a positive view of the church. For instance, 55 percent of millennials feel the church is good for people and 52 percent believe it’s important to society. Only 20 percent believe the church is harmful to people or detrimental to society (22 percent). While these numbers represent a global average, when looking at post-Christian nations such as the U.K. or Canada, the research is not so positive. Perceptions of the church are the worst in these post-Christian nations, with as many as 30 percent of respondents saying Christianity is detrimental to society.
Only a Third of Millennials Feel Someone Believes in Them
A lot of the leaders who gave input in Barna’s webinar found this point of the research to be disheartening: Only 32 percent of the global respondents said they feel someone believes in them and 33 percent said they feel “deeply cared for by those around me.” Jo Saxton said this feeling of loneliness is “reshaping a generation.”
As far as some of the negative labels that have been affixed to the generation, Saxton says it doesn’t help to focus on a person’s or a generation’s negative qualities. She also questions whether those labels are true. “Is it any wonder we don’t see potential [in this generation]?” she asks rhetorically. “Because you’ve already decided the limits of that potential, you’ve already framed it,” she argues. Saxton is convinced that Millennials display greater innovation and entrepreneurship than other generations, and this should excite leaders who get to work with them.
Advice for Church Leaders
A strong emphasis was placed on the need for leaders to invest in younger people and give them opportunities to lead. Additionally, the connected generation needs to know, in a tangible way, that Christianity is good and helpful. “Young adults don’t merely want to see that Christianity is true; they also want to understand that it is good.”
Sayers had some practical applications for church leaders who work with and minister to young adults. Considering the increasing anxiety he sees in his congregation, Sayers has come to this conclusion: “I have to be a person of peace and I have to be a peaceful presence.” He tries to “bring the presence of Jesus” in his persona. This, he says, can only be done if he himself is doing the things that will help him experience peace and God’s presence in his own life.
Sayers also believes that given the cacophony of information we are subjected to day in and day out in our connected world, the role of a pastor also has to include some element of being an interpreter for people. People are looking for help discerning culture and seeing the big picture that’s going on. Sayers does this by helping his congregants answer the question “How do we fit into the bigger Christian story?”
Finally, Sayers sees the need to demonstrate a “lived community” for people. He says the digital Babylon where we live is a “disembodied place.” People need to be seen and be known just like we always have, regardless of how much of our lives we live online. This, he says, is something the church can and should model.
