A growing body of research suggests Generation Y and Echo Boomers (age mid-20s and younger) are civic-minded and socially conscious as individuals, consumers and employees. They may be less radical than boomer activists of the '60s and '70s and due to the Internet are much more aware of the world. 61% feel personally responsible for making a difference in the world. 69% consider a company's social and environmental commitment when deciding where to shop, and 83% trust socially/environmentally responsible companies more. Many want to help their country by working for the government. Among Hispanics, the CIA, the State Department and the FBI rank only below Walt Disney (the #1 choice) as an ideal employer. Among blacks, the FBI ranked 2nd, the State Department 4th. The CIA rounded out the top 10. 66% of college freshmen believe it is essential or very important to help others in difficulty. Volunteerism by college students increased by 20% from '02 to '05.
This is a very important thing for churches to make a part of our DNA. There are two things that strike me here. First, I've been reading a lot this past year about how an entire generation is missing from the church, that being those in their twentys. And there are so many theories as to why this is. Some of these I agree with, some I don't.
The second eye-opener for me is the above paragraph...the fact that this same age group wants to be a part of changing the world. They want to be active in the world and in their communities, changing it for the better. They want to help others. Is it just me or does the church have a golden opportunity here? What other organization/mission is in a better place to make an impact on the world than the body of Christ?
It's sad to me that the very purpose the church was created for is the very thing people are hungry for, and the church abandoned it so long ago. Now, I do see churches being this all over the country. But unfortunately there are so many more that aren't. Many churches have homeless ministries, or they are reaching across racial lines, or they are providing father figures for the fatherless. It's awesome! But there's so much more to do.
When we had Facedown this past Sunday in downtown Augusta, I was amazed at the number of homeless that came. But why should I be? They are searching for something like the rest of us. And some of them found it. One gentleman had asked a church member for some money for food. The TNC'er told him to come to Facedown, the entire thing, and then afterward he would give him some money. Afterward, the gentleman was in the lobby and didn't seem to want to the money. His response was that he'd been feed in more ways than could be imagined! You see, that's what needs to happen more often. Meeting people's needs, showing them that we care about them. And through it all, showing them the love of Christ.
That's what it's going to take to bring back an entire generation...
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