Working with Millennials
I am the Youth and Young Adult Pastor at my local church and with the responsibility of
ministering to Millennials, and the Gen Z cultures through biblical principles and foundations.
While I understand the principle in which Solomon gives in Ecclesiastes “there is nothing new
under the sun” (Eccles. 1:9c [NIV]) I also understand that life is obviously different from the
Senior or Silent Generation to the Millennials and Z Generation.
I can substantiate what I believe to be four truths concerning the Millennial Generation
from the class presentation this week using the acronym EPIC1 and how considering these
characteristic in strategizing to contextualize each mannerism described.
Firstly, as mentioned in the presentation the Millennial Generation need a visual to help
them gain an understanding of biblical principles, but keep in mind this understanding comes
from a personal experience through teaching and preaching. For example, I purchased what I
thought was an hourglass for a sermon title “Time is Running Out” to present to our youth and
young adults. I flipped the glass over to begin the hour count down in front of the congregation, I
finished the sermon in about 30 minutes went to explain as I thought the “sands of time” were
still falling. But, to my surprise and through divine intervention the grains of sand had all fallen I
was blown away by the fact of what I thought I had in an hour was less than expected as I
explained to congregation. I believe that day God provided a great visual illustration through an
unscripted Experiment on my part.
Moreover, the Millennial Generation is a generation with a characteristic of being
Participatory within church activities. Our youth and young adult classes use curriculums that
1 Burrell, Dan. “Presentation Notes for Ministry Across the Generations” PowerPoint Liberty
University, Lynchburg V.A., January 3, 2008.
2 Chan, Francis, and Mark Beuving. Multiply: Disciples making disciples. David C Cook, 2012.
require them to become interactive within the lesson discussing the curriculum content and
sharing there thoughts accordingly. Thirdly, the Image driven characteristic would involve
conveying the truth of God’s word in a way that millennials could relate and understand in a way
that would appeal to their life experiences through metaphor. Finally, Millennials are Connected
through the digital world and if you want to engage them, you have to go where they are. I often
contextualize with them social media, and digital gaming to get them engaged in conversations
or issues of life to help gain an understanding of where their minds are concerning God’s word,
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to, an icebreaker to gain their attention, trust and
confidence and to let them know I understand the age we are in now.
In conclusion, we have a saying about the Millennials and the Gen Z that saying is that
they are a microwave generation with a characteristic of no patients to sit under the word of God
as did past generation. They require things at a rapid pace and their attention span is minimal to
say the least, however our Christian responsibility is to meet them where they are with love and a
mind of discipleship.2 Even Jesus went into Samaria (Jn.4:9) to preaching the gospel of peace as
would the disciples would do later following Jesus example (Acts 8:25). No matter what
Generation it is, we must meet them where they are just as Christ has.
IN HIM
Patrick Scales
