EMQ » October–December 2022 » Volume 58 Issue 4
Engagement Strategies
The people who comprise Gen Z in North America are growing up in a post-Christian society. This poses a significant challenge for North American mission agencies which are recruiting the next generation of missionaries. However, by embracing new mobilization strategies, we can seize this opportunity to engage a committed remnant in God’s global mission.
By Jolene Erlacher
The oldest members of Generation Z (born between 1996–2010) are now young adults and the focus of many missions engagement efforts. For those considering missions, there are unique challenges to overcome and emerging cultural narratives to navigate. As leaders, mentors, and teachers seeking to engage and support Gen Z, we must understand significant trends impacting them and adopt practical strategies to encourage and equip them to thrive as they engage in missions.
A Post-Christian Generation
Many experts agree that for the first time in America we are mobilizing individuals out of a post-Christian generation.[1]There are several challenges and opportunities that emerge from this reality of a new post-Christian context in North America. As we think about missions engagement, the first reality is that the number of young people who are even willing to consider missions has substantially decreased. Barna has reported that “the percentage of people whose beliefs qualify them for a biblical worldview declines in each successively younger generation: 10% of Boomers, 7% of Gen X and 6% of Millennials have a biblical worldview, compared to only 4% of Gen Z.”[2]
The generational cohorts of Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z are similar in size, roughly 70–75 million each.[3] Assuming that only those with a biblical worldview would engage in missions, the number of Gen Z-ers who would even consider missions is around 40% of those who were potential missionaries from the Boomer generation. Gen Z also has increased sexual brokenness and mental health concerns which present additional challenges in mobilizing even those who do have a biblical worldview. As a result, we need to adjust our processes and goals to effectively equip the remnant that God is raising up from this generation. We also must embrace the reality that the quantity of engaged people will be lower than in previous generations.
Biblical Illiteracy
Biblical literacy is at an all-time low, despite unprecedented access to Scripture. A LifeWay Research study found that “about half of Americans (53%) have read relatively little of the Bible. One in 10 has read none of it, while 13% have read a few sentences.”[4]Barna Research reported, “Since 2009, Bible reading has become less widespread, especially among the youngest adults. Today, only one-third of all American adults report reading the Bible once a week or more.[5] As a result, when we engage Gen Z in missions, we need to be prepared to offer on-going discipleship and support that equips them to grow in their understanding and application of biblical truth. We want to help them develop a biblical understanding of missions that allows them to be faithful regardless of what opposition they might encounter.
For those young adults who do choose to engage in missions, they are doing so in a cultural context that does not always see global missions in a positive light. In their report on the Future of Missions, Barna explained the perspectives Gen Z confronts as they consider missions. “There is a stereotype … that has taken hold in the North American cultural imagination, of a “white savior” evangelist who exports their narrow, Western-centric version of faith with more passion than cultural competence.”[6]
While this stereotype fails to represent the full reality of the global missions story, it has influenced the perspectives of many young people today. Young adults considering missions often grapple with a history of Christian missions that has sometimes been associated with colonialism or disrespect and disruption of local cultures. As they navigate questions about missions and how they should engage, young adults are often ill-equipped to analyze the cultural perspectives they hear from a biblical perspective.
Tolerance and Truth
In addition to growing up with decreasing biblical literacy, Gen Z has been raised in a post-truth culture where absolute truth is denied in favor of a moral relativism that has permeated the society around them. Today’s young people have been taught to accept self-determined pluralistic views of truth, the idea that truth is based on how each individual perceives it, and that different views can be or ought to be treated as equal and valid.
In this context, a new form of tolerance has emerged as one of the highest values of younger generations. O.S. Hawkins explained, “Tolerance is the new buzzword and the new law of the land, and it has a different definition than it did just a few years ago. Tolerance used to mean that we recognized and respected other people’s beliefs and value systems without agreeing with them or sharing them. Today tolerance means that everyone’s values, belief systems, and lifestyles should be accepted.”[7]
As a result of living in a post-truth world, where tolerance is a guiding moral value, many young believers who are considering missions lack clarity regarding their personal beliefs. Guiding convictions to help them overcome challenges are also absent as well as an understanding of their identity in Christ to give them confidence. They need intentional discipleship regarding godly truth and how to apply that consistently and confidently in their lives.
Recognizing the Remnant
While difficulties exist as we seek to engage and mobilize young people in missions, exciting opportunities also exist. Young people growing up in a post-Christian world do not adhere to Christianity just because others around them are Christians, as sometimes occurred in previous generations. Gen Z-ers who want to follow God are making intentional, and often difficult choices to do so. In many instances, they face very personal social persecution for their decisions.
Consequently, young people who commit to God and his purposes are often more resolute than those of previous generations. Kinnaman and Matlock reported that “there is a countercultural 10% of young Christians whose faith is vibrant and robust.”[8] In my book, Daniel Generation: Godly Leadership in an Ungodly Culture, I refer to this group of young people as the remnant – similar to Daniel and his friends in Babylon – who God is using in these uncertain times.[9] We have an incredible opportunity to recognize and equip these resilient young believers whom God is raising up in this moment in history. However, the perspectives and strategies required to do so require adjustments to the processes and approaches we have used successfully in the past.
Strategies to Engage Gen Z
As we seek to engage a new generation in God’s global work, several mindsets and strategies can help us relate to the needs, challenges, and values of Gen Z more effectively.
Strategy #1: Longer Investment
Engaging fewer young people from North America in global missions may seem discouraging, but there is great reason for hope. God repeatedly uses a remnant to accomplish his purposes. In fact, many biblical passages point to a strong precedent for God using smaller numbers to achieve great results and demonstrate his glory.
Furthermore, North American young people are joining a global force of missionaries that God is raising up from all corners of the world. Research indicates that the cross-cultural missions force from the non-Western world is beginning to surpass the force from more traditional sending countries already.[10] It is an exciting moment as Gen Z gets to engage in the emerging Global Age of Missions.
Coming out of a post-Christian context, many young people today need ongoing support, encouragement, and discipleship as they consider the opportunity to engage in missions, and then pursue that opportunity. Our mindset in engaging Gen Z must be one of longer commitment and investment.
In many cases, we will need to begin a mentoring relationship with prospective candidates long before they fill out an application or actively pursue missions. The coaching and discipleship process will also need to continue years into their service on our teams or in our organizations. While the extended time and effort may seem considerable, it is a powerful opportunity to deeply equip the next generation of godly leaders for what God has called them to now and in the future.
Strategy #2: Collaborative Mobilization
As the number of young people with biblical worldviews and resilient faith decreases in North America, seminaries, churches, and missions agencies often find themselves competing for fewer and fewer young adults. The many opportunities available to godly young people can be overwhelming and lead to decision paralysis. Many young adults can benefit greatly from someone who is committed to helping them discover God’s plan for their life.
As we seek to engage Gen Z for missions, we need to adopt a collaborative kingdom approach, working together across churches, agencies, and organizations to find the best fit for them in serving God with their specific skills and passions. Our perspective must be one of considering God’s best for the young person we are engaging and discerning the next steps that will best serve God’s purpose for their lives, rather than focusing on positions or roles that we need to fill to meet an organizational or ministry need. Too many young people have been lost to ministry permanently because we focused more on meeting a specific need than developing the disciple who was willing to respond to that need.
Strategy #3: Intentional Discipleship
I have been a part of many conversations where people argue that it is not the responsibility of missions agencies, mobilizers, and team leaders to disciple young people engaging in missions. They make the case that this is the work of the local church. In a post-Christian society, however, every believer must actively engage in discipleship, regardless of the context in which we are serving. We must all be prepared to engage in the work of discipleship with young people we want to equip.
Many Christian young people find themselves in church less and less. Instead, they are busy playing sports, pursing academic achievements, or navigating changing social and family dynamics. Even churches with strong discipleship programs can find it difficult to consistently engage busy, anxious, and overwhelmed young people in their congregations.
As a result, young people who respond to a ministry call often lack the spiritual and biblical maturity that we hope to see in those pursuing missions. The mandate to make disciples needs to be one we are willing follow even as we engage the next generation to make disciples themselves.
The following are specific areas of discipleship that are needed as we prepare and support Gen Z:
- Biblical literacy: Be prepared to provide support for basic mentoring and accountability for reading, studying, and applying Scripture.
- Identity: Many young people are navigating questions related to gender identity, sexual orientation, the disintegration of families, or a lack of biblical conviction in a pluralistic culture. Whereas previous generations inherited many aspects of their identity, young people are now told they determine their own truth and identity.
As a result, they often lack a deep understanding of who they are and their purpose in Christ. Discovering and walking in the truth of our God-given identity is a foundational point of discipleship that equips the next generation to thrive in ministry.
- Sexual brokenness: The current culture in which young people live is full of sexual brokenness. In our new book, Mobilizing Gen Z, Katy White and I explained,
“As social pressures regarding identity are changing, America is undergoing a sharp transformation in its views on sexual and moral ethics. The social pressure for Gen Z young adults to disregard biblical views on purity is significant. The prevailing message of the culture is that biblical sexual purity is archaic and out of touch, even oppressive…. [S]exual brokenness can take many forms and we must understand that most of the young people we are mobilizing will need help finding healing so they are equipped to go overseas and thrive.”[11]
- Technology: While technology provides many benefits and opportunities, it may also negatively impact Gen Z-ers engaging in missions if they have not developed healthy self-management skills. For some, technology poses a threat to their contentment as they watch the social media highlight reels of others who are not in ministry. For others, the connection to friends and family back home can detract from relationships in new ministry contexts. Furthermore, access to pornography, unhealthy relationships, or the ability to escape by scrolling social media instead of engaging in difficult conversations are all ways that technology can detract from health and growth in ministry.
Engaging Through Quality Relationships
As we seek to engage and disciple the next generation for missions, we must recognize that for Gen Z respect and trust are not earned through titles, positions, or experience, but rather thru quality relationships. Young people respond to those who have proven that they care about them and who are honest and sincere. This frequently requires more time and energy than past missions engagement efforts, but it can be much more rewarding.
Gen Z-ers need experienced leaders to walk with them and help them process their questions, doubts, and hopes in a context that is increasingly post-Christian. They also need mentors and leaders who believe in God’s purpose for their lives and are willing to be consistent over time as they develop the skills needed to thrive in ministry. We have a powerful opportunity before us to equip the remnant God is calling from the next generation to take his message of hope to the world.
Jolene Erlacher, (Jolene.erlacher@leadingtomorrow.org) PhD,grew up as a missionary kid. She spent the past decade studying generational trends in ministry contexts. An author, speaker, and coach, Jolene works extensively with churches, mission agencies, schools, and other organizations on engaging the next generation. She also teaches graduate courses at North Central University and Bethany Global University. For more information on Jolene’s books, speaking, podcast or blog, visit www.leadingtomorrow.org.
Books and Resources for Deeper Learning
Dive deeper into this topic with these additional resources:
Daniel Generation: Godly Leadership in an Ungodly Culture, by Jolene Cassellius Erlacher (Vigil Press, 2018)
Mobilizing Gen Z: Challenges and Opportunities for the Global Age of Missions, by Jolene Erlacher and Katy White (William Carey Publishing, 2022)
Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the next Generation, a Barna Report
Produced in Partnership with Impact 360 Institute (Barna Group, 2018)
The Daniel Code: Living out Truth in a Culture That Is Losing Its Way, by O. S. Hawkins (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon, by David Kinnaman, Mark Matlock, and Aly Hawkins (Baker Books, 2019)
“The Surging Non-Western Mission Force,” by Bruce Koch, in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne (William Carey Library, 2009)
IGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood (and What This Means for the Rest of Us), by Jean Twenge (Atria, 2018)
The Future of Missions: 10 Questions about Global Ministry the Church Must Answer with the next Generation (Barna Group, 2020)
Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian
World, by James Emery White (Baker Books, 2017)
[1] James Emery White, Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2017), 11.
[2] “Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next Generation a Barna Report Produced in Partnership with Impact 360 Institute (USA: Barna Group, 2018), 25.
[3] Statista. 2022. U.S. population by generation 2019 | Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/797321/us-population-by-generation. Accessed 19 May 2022.
Twenge, J., 2017. iGen. [S.I.]: Atria Books.
[4] The Future of Missions: 10 Questions about Global Ministry the Church Must Answer with the next Generation (Ventura, CA: Barna Group, 2020), 17.
[5] Bob Smietana, “Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It.” LifeWay Research, posted: April 25, 2017, http://lifewayresearch.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it.
[6] “The Bible in America: 6 Year Trends,” Barna Research Group, posted June 2016, https://www.barna.com/research/the-bible-in-america-6-year-trends/
[7] O. S. Hawkins, The Daniel Code: Living out Truth in a Culture That Is Losing Its Way (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 72.
[8] David Kinnaman, Mark Matlock, and Aly Hawkins, Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 32.
[9] Jolene Cassellius. Erlacher, Daniel Generation: Godly Leadership in an Ungodly Culture (Southern Pines, NC: Vigil Press, 2018).
[10] Bruce Koch. The Surging Non-Western Mission Force. In Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, edited by Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne. (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009), 370.
[11] Jolene Erlacher and Katy White, Mobilizing Gen Z: Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Age of Missions (Littleton, CO: William Carey Publishing, 2022).
EMQ, Volume 58, Issue 2. Copyright © 2022 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: EMQ@MissioNexus.org.
