Finding the ‘missing generation’

Between 1985 and 2005 the numbers of those in their 20s more than halved.  Despite encouraging recent signs of growth during the pandemic, many churches struggle to connect with young adults.  Why is this generation such a challenge and what can we do about it as a church?  A resource launched today doesn’t have all the answers, but does suggest it has the right questions we need to be asking.

For us as the Evangelical Alliance, we share with IVP a passion for communicating the gospel and strengthening the church.  This area of young adults has become an area of interest and focus for us, especially as reaching young adults is a top priority for 96% of church leaders, but only 11 % feel well-resourced to do so. Over the last few years we have been listening to God, to leaders in churches and young adults themselves to explore what is needed. As we have done so, several themes have emerged repeatedly. These form the basis for the young adult conversations resource that we launch today.

7 Conversations has been designed to facilitate and focus a discussion for leaders in local settings around how to reach, disciple and engage young adults.  We hope that thousands of churches across the UK use it to increase their fruitfulness in this vital area of ministry.  It’s been tried and tested in all kinds of contexts and denominations and can help all sizes and styles of church families.

7 Conversations does three things:

1.  Gives a broad overview of the dramatic cultural changes that have impacted this generation and the implications for evangelism and discipleship in church life.

2.  Provides defining questions to help you consider what might help you be more effective in this area of ministry and invites you to discuss these as a leadership team.

3.  Tells stories and gives examples through case studies of ideas and innovations that we hope inspire you to think about your own context and practices.

The setting for the resource is a house.  Each conversation is mapped onto a room.  Our invitation to you is to spend some time as a church in our home, watching the videos, reading the blogs and digesting the 36 page booklet.  As we emerge slowly from the pandemic, it seems like an appropriate time to ask the deeper questions of why and how we do what we do and think about the future of evangelism and church life.

So, allow me to open our proverbial front door and warmly usher you in. Thank you for stopping by. My prayer for you as I greet you on the doorstep is that you are deeply encouraged by the opportunities we will talk about and that our conversation results in a stronger intergenerational church and many young adults encountering Jesus.  Welcome home.

Phil Knox is the Head of Mission to Young Adults at the Evangelical Alliance and author of Story Bearer. 

This blog is part of the 7 Conversations resource that will equip your church to reach, disciple and engage young adults.