Millennials? Igniting the Spark of Conversation

Is it supposed to be “ministry to millennials” or “ministry for millennials” or “ministry with millennials”? Are we supposed to be getting millennials to come to our church or going out to find millennials with whom we can do church? What do we do if don’t have any millennials in the congregation? Do we worry about this or focus our attention on other forms of ministry?

These questions are something of a caricature of a typical congregant, and most of us are not quite so clumsy in our conversations. However, assuming even a caricature has some truth attached, I hear in the above questions a couple of things: (1) we tend toward confusion bordering on cluelessness regarding what to do and how to move forward (not to be too unkind!) in this area of ministry; (2) our heart’s desire is to connect in authentic ways to, for, and with a younger generation (and for all the right reasons, too!); and (3) we need help engaging this conversation.

            Enter Zach Yentzer.

Zach is a millennial raised in Tucson, the son of a pastor, an entrepreneur – a barista with a business degree, and author of the book Creative: Designing Churches that Engage Generations Together. Zach will present our Ignite the Spark! workshop from 9:00 – 4:00, with lunch provided, the day before each presbytery meeting: Green Valley on October 20 and Sun City West on November 3. You can register HERE.

You might find Zach’s message surprising. He doesn’t advocate ministry to millennials as an age-specific endeavor; no youth ministry for twenty and thirty-somethings. Rather Zach proposes something completely radical: intergenerational ministry. He audaciously suggests that ministry connect people across the generations, that churches seek to congregate rather than segregate folks, that we learn to build bridges of age diversity rather than boxes of age conformity. As I have listened to Zach speak, whether in church or over coffee, I have thought to myself, “Hey, that’s something even Presbyterians can do!”

            Zach gives me hope.

Our Ignite the Spark! workshops will not and cannot transform your congregation; they are not designed so to do. Rather they are designed to ignite the spark of conversation, fan the flame of creative engagement in what ministry might look like in a tumultuous era for Christian ministry. I invite you to join in this conversation. Learn from Zach about the Creative Church and the power of incubation, mentorship, and investment. Not sure what I mean by these words? Come November 3 to learn what they mean. (Participants get a copy of Zach’s book!)  Don't wait to register- See you there!

Choosing hope in the face of fierce evidence to the contrary,
Brad Munroe