Q&A on Millennials with Thom and Jess Rainer
In an email exchange, we asked the Rainers a few questions about how the church can respond best to Millennials. Here’s what they told us.
YouthWorker Journal: You interviewed Christian and unchurched Millennials. How do they view the church?
Thom and Jess Rainer: Most Millennial Christians view the church as business as usual. These Millennials look at churches as organizations that are inwardly focused, desiring to satisfy the wants and needs of those who are members. Millennial Christians desire to see a church that is focused on reaching out to its community and the nations. While there are churches that are successful in attracting and maintaining America’s largest generation, there are many churches that are not successful in reaching Millennial Christians.
Non-Christian Millennials view the church as another organization amid the countless number of non-profit or charitable organizations. According to the non-Christian Millennials, religion is another aspect of life that one can choose to be involved in and to what degree they are involved. These non-Christian Millennials neither are jumping at the opportunity to be involved in a church, nor are they running away from the church as quickly as they can. Non-Christian Millennials are simply indifferent to church or religion.
YouthWorker Journal: Millennials talk about changing the world and serving their neighbor, but many are so busy multitasking that they don’t have time. How can churches address the busyness of their members to generate the people power needed to be missional and incarnational?
Thom and Jess Rainer: You will find that many Millennial Christians are very devoted to the work of the local church. While work/life balance is very important to Millennials, those who are involved with church life want to be involved with church life. They do not consider carrying out the work of the local church as another item to add to their agendas.
Additionally, being outnumbered greatly by non-Christian Millennials, Millennial Christians are fervent in their faith and specifically desire to reach the lost. Millennial Christians are radically committed to the community. If a church desires to connect with Millennials, the church must be radically committed to the community and have a love for the nations.
YouthWorker Journal: The Millennial Christians you interviewed are critical of churches that focus on meeting the needs of their members instead of being involved in the community. Because many church members today struggle with job loss and other problems, shouldn’t the church try to take care of its own first before reaching out to the community?
Thom and Jess Rainer: Millennial Christians are not opposed to a church taking care of its own members. What Millennial Christians do not support is a church that chooses to focus its resources inwardly or specifically on church members. Millennial Christians desire a church to be a part of its community. Church life and community life are not to be separated. When this connection occurs, Millennial Christians see the community as part of the church. When churches neglect the needs of the community and the nations, Millennials see this as ultimately neglecting its own.
YouthWorker Journal: Do Millenials who are active in churches ever suspect the motives of churches wanting to help their community?
Thom and Jess Rainer: Millennials have good judgment about whether or not something or someone is genuine. Church leaders have to demonstrate transparency, humility and integrity. Millennial Christians want leaders who are an open. They understand pastors and teachers are just as human as they are. If there is this sense of false humility, Millennials will discover this trait quickly. In return, Millennials want to be open and honest, as well. The openness of Millennials carries through a lot of the work they complete. Most communities enjoy seeing younger generations involved in the life of community.
