{"id":33347,"date":"2022-09-10T20:45:21","date_gmt":"2022-09-11T01:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/i-cant-figure-out-millennials-3-reasons-to-stay-connected\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T20:45:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-11T01:45:21","slug":"i-cant-figure-out-millennials-3-reasons-to-stay-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/i-cant-figure-out-millennials-3-reasons-to-stay-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"I Can\u2019t Figure Out Millennials: 3 Reasons to Stay Connected"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Steven A. Hitz, Launching Leaders Worldwide<\/p>\n

In a conversation recently with one of my friends who works with pastors and religious leaders to engage Millennials (young adults), a\u00a0pastor said, \u201cI can\u2019t figure them out, I\u2019m done with em.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d our friend said in reply.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re just gonna give up on connecting to 77\u00a0million people?\u201d<\/p>\n

I found this conversation very intriguing.\u00a0I wonder how many faith group leaders feel the same way, that their ability to connect to 20- to 30-somethings is difficult and perhaps the juice isn\u2019t worth the squeeze.<\/p>\n

I am fully aware that many in the Boomer era (for example) have mischaracterized the Millennials and are at odds with their lifestyles and practices.\u00a0 But I celebrate this wonderful generation, and have determined that any lack of positive connection is due to an inability to learn, love, and appreciate them.<\/p>\n

There is a growing disconnect with Millennials because of the stereotypes many people hold about them.\u00a0I have had enough personal experiences, and have read enough studies, to simply say that those who label this generation are usually as wrong as chocolate syrup on steak.\u00a0I believe that with relevant and accurate information, we can sew the fabric of the generations and faith together.<\/p>\n

As I pondered the statement \u201cI can\u2019t figure them out, I\u2019m done with em,\u201d I boiled down my thoughts to these reasons to stay engaged.<\/p>\n

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  1. LOVE.<\/strong>\u00a0For Millennials, so much of their DNA is relational.\u00a0 That is, they are enlivened by relationships that engage and empower, not demean and judge.\u00a0 Loving this generation is really natural and easy IF you first take a step back and admire the lives they are leading.\u00a0 If you are a boomer reading this, do you remember how rebellious your parents thought you were when you wore bell-bottom pants and platform shoes?\u00a0 Now the trends include piercings, tattoos, hair designs of all types, apparel (or not), and so on.\u00a0When one looks upon the heart and loves people for their unique nature FIRST (without judgment), then the anecdotal stuff evaporates like dew in the sun and is replaced with holistic respect and genuine care.<\/li>\n
  2. LEARN.<\/strong> Personal engagement is the best source of knowledge.\u00a0 I became a pilot once, and when I actually took my first solo flight, my hands-on learning took on a whole new meaning.\u00a0No longer was I watching someone else fly a plane on video or in the passenger\u2019s\u00a0seat. You can study\u00a0the Millennials by various\u00a0means in all of their forms; but you can only authenticate that knowledge by spending time with them.\u00a0 As you learn more about them, it becomes much easier to connect.\u00a0Why?\u00a0Because they make sense.\u00a0The package they came in is as unique as a snowflake, and by learning more about them, it is\u00a0easier to love them. \u00a0As I said in a recent blog post, \u201c3 keys to working with Millennials,\u201d you need to\u00a0learn their language. Take the time to learn about them and really know them.<\/li>\n
  3. APPRECIATE.<\/strong> Maybe the number one key is\u00a0don\u2019t try to fix them. \u00a0Part of the appreciation we ought to have for them is centered in recognizing the amazing things they are teaching us and appreciating the authentic lives they are living.\u00a0 Appreciation is most often communicated in the eyes and by expressing gratitude.\u00a0This real time generation is motivated by feedback and recognition.\u00a0 Appreciate them enough to communicate with gratitude\u2014and mean it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I believe any frustrations in establishing a positive connection with Millennials can be answered by these three reasons to stay engaged.\u00a0This generation is teaching us great lessons in questioning the status quo, not judging, seeking understanding, and living lives with purpose.\u00a0 I for one want to establish deep community with them, sincerely LOVE them without an agenda, LEARN about them and from them, and APPRECIATE their value and worth by authentically celebrating who they are.<\/p>\n

    Learn more about engaging your Millennials in their faith through the Leader\u2019s Portal of Launching Leaders, and through Steve\u2019s book, <\/em>Leadership by LIGHT: Principles That Empower.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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    By Steven A. Hitz, Launching Leaders Worldwide In a conversation recently with one of my friends who works with pastors and religious leaders to engage Millennials (young adults), a\u00a0pastor said, \u201cI can\u2019t figure them out, I\u2019m done with em.\u201d \u201cReally?\u201d our friend said in reply.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re just gonna give up on connecting to 77\u00a0million people?\u201d I … Continue reading “I Can\u2019t Figure Out Millennials: 3 Reasons to Stay Connected”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33347\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}