the missing generation

A while ago I was reading a blog and came across this article http://21stcenturyministry.blogspot.com/2006/06/invisible-church.html

In it the author points out that there are very few of the 18-35 demographic in many churches. And I suppose since it was 18-35 a few years ago we can say that the 18-40 demo isn’t very strong.

Last Sunday night my church (http://www.heritagememorialchurch.org/) did not have service. We changed our service to Monday night so we could have it outside and watch fireworks afterwards.(And by service I mean litteral service, worship, preaching, testimony the kit and cabodle). So Pastor Joe and I went church hunting. We wanted to find a church that had a Sunday night service that perhaps we could learn from or at least glean an idea or two off.

We went to the first a strong church within our own denom … they have small groups on Sunday nights (during which I saw no one under 40 walk in); however the senior adults did get together for a service in another venue. Strike one. So we drove around the town, “Surely,” we were thinking “there must be a service someplace.” Well … there wasn’t really. Strike two. Finally we settled down at a Baptist church that was having a patriotic sing night. It was good time. A children’s choir sang, other groups got up and sang … but when I looked around I noticed something. There was one couple sitting in the congregation of 200, which was between the ages of 18-38.

Now I’m not lashing out at this church because I know the church, and I know that there are younger people that attend on normal Sundays, and they have a strong youth group. However, I think they are a microcosm for churches all over America.

Have we coddled the baby boomers for so long that we have lost the generation under them? “More programs!!” shout the boomers, “Yes!!” adds another, “and give us praise choruses, they want more choruses.” “Oh and be irreverent they love that!” pipes another from the corner of the room.” “But not irrelevant, that’ll kill ya” quickly adds his wife.

Is it possible that perhaps the 30-50 age group doesn’t really get this newer generation? Is there a reason are churches have a decent amount of that group (at least the more progressive ones, I realize many churches are of the 50 and up category), yet you can’t find a gen x’er to save your life.

So Monday night I looked out at my own congregation, “Watch out for the log in your eye” style. I nervously counted as I walked around the shelter house, and out by the volleyball court, and over under the trees. A few hear, a few there … hmmm this is better than I expected. So Pastor Joe and I sat down and started writing down names. Only ones we knew were there (so as not to be accused of cheating). So although the real number is probably substantially larger than this we named around 245 people. Then we broke down age groups. 70 were from the 18-38 age group. Another 79 were from the 18 and under. Wow, I thought, that’s not bad. On a Monday night when a decent sized group had gone to another location to watch the fire works we pulled around 29% from that "missing generation." (60 were from the 38-55, and 36 were from the 55 and up for those of you keeping score)

Now I don’t want to take any credit for this, because I had little to do with it. However let me tell you who did: Doug and Linda Miller. You see Doug and Linda (DL from now on) started a Sunday school class a few years ago. They recognized a need for another young adult SS class because the other “young adult class” was now actually a middle aged class, but they didn’t want to change their name. :-) The class started with a few couples, but they were tight. They had a Friday party once a month, played volleyball ever Friday they weren’t at the party, held baby showers, and girl’s nights out, as well as boy’s nights in. They went to movies together and played paintball together, all under the loving care, and watchful eye, of one couple with a dream.

DL didn’t even have any kids in that age range at the time (although they do now, and the two boys are doing very well in the group), no it was not for selfish reasons, nor numbers or growth, but for community that they reached out. What a thought … community. No big programs, no choruses, just solid, affirming love and community. Their relationships transcended church and Sunday school, and landed right down in the middle of real life.

This group celebrated new additions and mourned losses, fought and cried, laughed and loved, and everything in between … and they did it together.