The Millennials are Coming/LEAVING!
The below is a roadmap to understanding the Millennials depicted in statistics. May this serve as your roadmap as you chart new territories with today's largest generation. Venture on.
The Millennial Generation
A new breed of American is about to impact everything you hold sacred: from giving orders, to your starched white shirt and tie. They are called, among other things, "millennials." There are about 80 million of them, born between 1980 and 1995, and they're rapidly taking over from the baby boomers who are now pushing 60.
They were raised by doting parents who told them they are special, played in little leagues with no winners or losers, or all winners. They are laden with trophies just for participating and they think your business-as-usual ethic is for the birds. And if you persist in the belief you can, take your job and shove it.
TECH Savy, Multitasker, Clever Resourceful and ready to change the world
* Approximately 10,000 Millennials turn 21 everyday in America. [TIME] The Millennials are the largest generation on our planet.
* By 10/2013 Millennials accounted for 1/3 of the Adult population in the United States
* will transform society as it passes through.
Millennials are Consumers
* By 2018, Millennials will have the most spending power of any generation.
* Their annual spending in 2015 is expected to be $2.45 trillion and by 2018, they will eclipse Boomers in spending power at $3.39 trillion.
* 41% of Millennials have already made purchases with their smartphones.
Millennials are Students
* Millennials are the most educated generation in American history with over 63% of Millennials having a Bachelor's Degree.
* 50% of Millennial college students say they don't need a physical classroom.
* 53% believe that online colleges are reputable. 39% view the future of education as being more virtual. What does that say about Sunday schools, worship centers?
Millennials are TECH SAVY
Millennials are Entrepreneurs
* Millennials are capitalizing on their talents and passion with today's technology and connected economy. Find your side hustle.
* 90% of Millennials surveyed think being an entrepreneur means having a certain mindset rather than starting a company. [Odesk]
Millennials are the New Employee/IW's
* By 2025, 3 out of every 4 workers globally will be Millennials. [Time] Why not starting building your company culture to appeal to Millennials now...since it's going that way anyway.
* Millennials would prefer to choose when and where they work rather than being placed in a 9-to-5 position and will choose workplace flexibility social connectedness over pay.
Millennials are the Next Leaders
* 63.3% of U.S. executives will be eligible to retire in the next 5 years. Many Millennials will have to leap frog into these positions. Have you prepared them?
* In the last 5 years: 87% of Millennial workers took on management roles, vs 38% of Gen X & just 19% of Boomers.
Millennials are often viewed through a Negative Lens
But Did you Know. . .
* 96 percent of Millennials believe they will do something great with their lives?
* Millennials define greatness as serving others, rather than as making money or seeking status.
Millennials are leaving the church in record numbers.
LifeWay Research found seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 who went to church regularly in high school quit attending by age 23. A third of those had not returned by age 30. That means about one-fourth of young Protestants have left the church.
BUT
28% The percentage of Millennials who stay in church who have an intentional (usually "mentoring") relationship with an older Christian.
Only 11% of Millennials who leave have a mentor.
Mentoring was identified as the #1 most appealing "form of leadership development for young adults. "People in their 20's and early 30's are actually more likely than are older adults to think of themselves as leaders--and they are much more likely than mature generations to want additional training to become better leaders."
Barna.org
So. . . How do we reach them?
Unleash the boomers as undercover mentors.
Crete, Paul and Titus.
The Situation in Crete.
Titus 1:5-6
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished . . .
Heard the gospel at Pentecost.
Acts 2:7-12
Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Paul may have visited after being released from prision in Rome
The church was doing poorly in discipleship and was failing to impact it's culture.
Titus 1:10-13, 16
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach -- and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true.
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Creteans had a terrible reputation
Paul's Strategy for Crete.
Send a proven man
Titus was proven (but not an apostle).
In the interval between the writing of 1 and 2 Corinthians, Paul sent Titus to work with the church at Corinth (2 Cor. 8:16-24). Paul had absolute confidence in Titus' integrity and faithfulness (2 Cor. 12:17-18).
2 Cor 8:16-24
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
2 Cor 12:17-18
17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he?
NIV
Titus has the right heart
Embraced the challenge
Took action of his own initiative
Walked with integrity
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (fix it)
Paul sent a proven man of God to change a culture.
* What would happen if we did it again.
Many of you have been proven in your faith, in your walks just as Titus was.
The Millennials are here. And they are leaving the church in number.
Who will reach them, proven men and women of God.
