What the Future Church May Look Like

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Keith Drury teaches at Indiana Wesleyan University. Lately he has been studying his students to get some hints on what the next generation of church leaders might look like. He offers 25 prominent characteristics of the coming wave in the church. Here are a few that caught my eye.1. From larger churches, yet value smaller ones. The last study we did showed our [ministry] students came larger churches—the median home church was 700. Yet they really value smaller churches. We’ll see if they value them enough to actually work in one. Or what they means about how they’ll approach their work in larger ones3. Expect lots of structure. They “never went out to play” on their own. They were taken on play dates, to organized sports, to dance lessons, to clubs after school. They expect directions and instructions and supervision and help. When they are told “there is no syllabus or assignments in the church” it terrifies them. They don’t seek a job “where the pastor leaves me alone” but want plenty of structure and mentoring.10. “Journey conversion.” They were raised in youth groups that expected them to be saved but offered them dozens of times for commitments and recommitments and they assume that conversion is a journey more than an event. Their approach to evangelism is thus helping others on that journey step by step.12. “Organic.” They like simple things, authentic stuff, being real and they expect everyone to confess their sins even publicly on their blog. To hide a sin is a bigger sin than the sin itself. And they don’t like fancy—many complain about super-super video streams running behind the choruses and call for a simple white screen—they think lots of boomer worship is fake and almost all bands are too showy. Some even argue that the band should be in the back of the church.15. Minor concern for evangelism. They have a tiny bit of concern for the lost. Mostly their “evangelistic” concern is a pre-evangelism concern for how the world views loud Christians who noisily scold the world for things. They’re embarrassed by the past scolding activism of the church and think the church has more confessing to do to the world than visa versa.19. Leisurely approach to getting started in life. Most expect to get settled in life and ease into life by age 30. My denomination’s ordination system (college plus two years of service then ordination) is designed for my generation not theirs. They feel rushed by such a system and many want to settle their calling by age 30 or so.24. Woefully trained in “life skills.” Many have never learned how to balance a checkbook or file their income taxes or make a budget. When they get their first apartment off campus they are shocked to discover that they have to pay for water. “Water??? Why would I have to pay for water?25. Not afraid of holiness. While many of their parents have hidden the term under the bushel they are keenly interested in the call to holiness and many really think it is possible to become a “fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.”It’s all very fascinating, including these online responses to the column. As with every generation, it’s a mixed bag of positives and negatives. If I could add my own two cents, I find myself very excited about the twentysomething generation. To be more specific, I am very impressed by the generation above us–the Builders, the Greatest Generation–because they laid the foundation and did the hard work that resulted in the post-World War II explosion of the evangelical movement. They led the schools, pastored the churches and founded the parachurch ministries that produced the evangelical renaissance. And when I look to the up-and-coming generation–the young men and women Keith Drury is talking about–I see a passion for Jesus and a hunger for God that goes far beyond anything I saw or experienced when I was their age.God is up to something with the twentysomethings. He is birthing a new generation that may make as big an impact as their grandparents.Comments, thoughts, questions? What do you think of the 25 characteristics? What would you add? Do you see the same passion I’m seeing? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future as these young men and women take the reins of spiritual leadership in the next two decades?

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April 5, 2007, 8:11 AM Brian Bill says:
	This was encouraging. Here’s part of an article I wrote for our local paper a couple years ago… Millennials Rising Pastoral Perspective Rev. Brian Bill 2/15/03 “Teenagers are so rebellious today!” Maybe you’ve never uttered this exact phrase, but admit it – you’ve thought it. Contrary to popular belief, research shows that the Millennial generation (born between 1982 and 2000) may be headed in some very good directions. According to a new book called, “Millennials Rising,” there’s a revolution under way among today’s kids. This generation is rebelling by behaving better, not worse. Authors and historians Neil Howe and William Strauss, well-known for their examination of American generations, describe millennials as “…a new force of history, a generational colossus far more consequential than most of today’s parents and teachers dare imagine.” Teenagers are demonstrating a new trust in parents and are less violent, vulgar, and sexually charged than the pop culture that adults produce for them. They are forging a new youth ethic of teamwork. And they talk more about faith and do more with it than most people realize. According to a special report on WGN News earlier this month, more than half of high school students say they are virgins and many of them are making purity promises so they stay that way until they’re married. This trend may pick up more speed since President Bush recently approved $135 million for abstinence education. This past Sunday night, during “Cross Training,” our high school ministry, the Director of the Caring Pregnancy Center of Pontiac challenged students to chastity and many signed commitment cards. USA Today has reported that the U.S. abortion rate has been declining in part because there are an increasing number of young people abstaining from premarital sex. In a recently published book called, “The New Faithful,” Colleen Carroll traces the grassroots movement of a new generation of teenagers who reject abortion and sexual license. Two months ago, Newsweek did a cover story called, “The New Virginity: Why More Teens Are Choosing Not to Have Sex.” This is great news! The new sexual revolution going on right now is being fueled for the most part, by Christian students who understand this truth: the exalted lordship of Christ leads to expressions of love and to an ethic of life. As more people surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ and commit to sexual fidelity, there is no doubt that the abortion rate will go down even more drastically. Following the message and testimonies from a recent “Youth Sunday” at our church, a long-time church member commented, “Those kids are doing better than we are!” In many ways they are. A pre-adolescent girl turned to her mom later that day and said, “It doesn’t seem like teenagers are doing ‘it’ as much anymore.” What a great message she’s receiving as she looks up to some healthy role models! I think that’s what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote to young Timothy: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Are teenagers rebellious today? Some are. But many others are revolutionary in a good way. As one millennial puts it: “We’re the kids who are going to change things.” We can move aside and watch them live out loud alone, or we can join them through example and encouragement. Are you ready for a revolution?
April 5, 2007, 11:40 AM Debbie says:
	I was not raised in a Christian home…my children were. All three of the boys are in their 20’s now and seem to fit the “stereotype” presented here..in a good way! They are roommates, live chaste lives and, yet, live in a city on the other side of the country known for its cultural liberalism.All 3 are actively involved in a church in the denomination in which they were raised(PCA)…(that is the biggest surprise to me)! One way they differ from the picture presented above is that they are “street smart” when it comes to life skills…they are doing a great job managing their bills..not perfect, just great! “Organic” is the trait that jumps out at me about the boys and their friends…Authenticity is their hallmark.I would add loyal as another trait of the millenials. They are loyal to their friends, family, church and others with whom they have relationships. Maybe committed is a better word. Anyway, I know we are gratified and grateful to the Lord for what we see in their lives..and yes, G-d is doing something with these twentysomethings…It’s exciting to watch. And just think, we thought the Boomers were going to change the world..
April 5, 2007, 2:44 PM Helen says:
	This is an interesting list - the scariest one to me is: 3. Expect lots of structure. They “never went out to play” on their own. They were taken on play dates, to organized sports, to dance lessons, to clubs after school. They expect directions and instructions and supervision and help. When they are told “there is no syllabus or assignments in the church” it terrifies them. They don’t seek a job “where the pastor leaves me alone” but want plenty of structure and mentoring. Are we raising a generation with no leaders? I sure hope not.
April 6, 2007, 9:49 AM Pastor Chris says:
	I’ve been reading Dan Kimballs “They Love Jesus, but not the church” which is his take and research on the 20 somethings. I hang out with 20-30 somethings and I find his book an accurate description of what I encounter. #10 above, the journey conversation is for me a very helpful metaphor, and I encounter it alot. Pastor Chris EvangelismCoach.org
April 6, 2007, 9:17 PM Jo-Ann says:
	Im am tremendously impressed by what the future church will be like… We still have time to pray for these believers to learn life skills and have a thirst for evanglism. On the positive side….I will be a senior in a congregation pastored by someone who focuses on holiness, living an honest life, confessing sin and willing to take the time to accompany somone else on their journey to Jesus and life in Him. This is very encouraging and I can hardly wait.
April 14, 2007, 4:00 PM Ray Pritchard says:
	Debbie, I liked the word “organic” also. It speaks to view of life that doesn’t put Jesus in a compartment apart from the rest of life. Helen, I think we will see and seeing plenty of leaders from the twentysomething generation, but they won’t be like our generation. They emphasize teamwork and community more than our generation does. They want to do things together and they don’t want to leave anyone behind. Will some of this idealism rub off? Probably, but I hope they keep most of it. Pastor Chris, thanks for linking to this article on your weblog. Much appreciated! Jo-Ann, I agree. Let’s keep praying for them. And let’s believe God for a spiritual awakening led by the younger generation. I truly believe it could happen. And I hope that I’m still around when it does. Ray
May 2, 2007, 7:16 AM Ray Pritchard says:
	Rick, I can see why you love Keith Drury. He has some of the best observations on contemporary American church life. I check his columns just to keep up with what’s going on that I wouldn’t know about if Keith didn’t write about it. Ray