Where are the Younger Generations?

The Day of Missions went great today. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone who spoke, and the chance to meet some of our newest missionaries--Mike and Jenny Burtnett (wonderful couple!), Anna Geivett, and Jami Fiedler. I'll write more about the event later. But right now it's midnight on Saturday, the Suns just won their series against the Lakers, Tom Hanks is hosting Saturday Night Live for his 8th time, and I'm tired. How all of those things relate--you figure it out.

Alan MacDonald - Gary Dilley.jpgI do want to comment on something Alan MacDonald said. (That's Alan on the right, talking to Global Ministries director Gary Dilley.) Alan MacDonald works with Wycliffe, serving as a laison to government and United Nations officials. It's a pretty important job, one which fascinates me. Alan is highly respected within Wycliffe. I've enjoyed hearing him speak over the years and reading his writings, because he has a wonderfully insightful view of world missions, and a strategic vantage point.

Today he mentioned some changes in missions. One, he said, was that the post-WW2 generation which really accelerated the cause of world missions is aging. Those people, he said, provided a great deal of prayer support for missionaries. But as they die out, and younger generations don't carry the same burden for praying for missionaries, something extremely important will be lost. That's not exacely what he said, but it's the gist with some Stevely amplications.

This was evident in the people who attended. It was very much a graying group of people--my parents' generation. My own generation, the Baby Boomers, was largely absent, to say nothing of the Baby Busters and Gen-Xers--a few representatives, but very few. While the retirees were out in force. The people who came out to learn more about missions and interact with missionaries were NOT the people who will need to carry the ball in the future. So where were they?

The people in today's audience, I realized, were the people who not only faithfully pray for missionaries, but who send them cards, raise money through bake sales and other events, and otherwise keep alive their church's interest in missions. This generation will be greatly missed if they are not replaced. And it doesn't look like they will be.

On the other hand, many of those grey-haired people have probably never ventured overseas. The younger generations go on mission trips and do other types of foreign travel, even as part of their youth group. My generation, and the younger generations, have experienced much more of life in other countries. We've gotten our hands dirty. And yet, we won't come to an event like we held today. And I greatly doubt that we'll be prayer warriors like those people sitting in today's audience, people who have silently undergirded the missionary force of today and yesterday with their faithful remembrances. We want to experience things for ourselves. We're not so good at supporting and cheering from the sidelines. What are we to make of that? Is there a positive spin I'm missing?

Posted on May 6, 2006 08:52 PM|

Comments

The word that comes to my mind is "duty". The Builders are all about duty, whereas younger gens need motivation that is more personal. The founder of the mission agency I'm with is a Builder. He often comments on the disciplines of our community life by saying, "I never want to go, but after its over, I'm glad I went". Whereas younger gens just won't go to begin with. One 20-something recently excused her absence at one of our meetings by saying that "I needed to spend more time with Jesus".

Does the Day of Missions reflect "old" ways of doing things? Do we need to learn how to attract younger gens? I've been encouraged by certain aspects of the younger generations. Every year now there are Passion conferences where about 20,000 college students gather to worship - that's all they do. I've recently heard of some mini-revivals breaking out at various campuses, etc.

So here's my question: Does the Day of Missions show that the younger generations aren't up to par with those who've gone before, or does it merely indicate that we haven't yet figured out how to attract a crowd of younger people? Both?

Posted by: Dave Datema | May 7, 2006 07:26 AM

Crowds of young people regularly gather at Urbana to hear about missions. How much long term impact it has I am not in a position to say but at least they are there.

Since there seems to be a hunger for worship gatherings as per Dave's comments above maybe it is time to more blatently connect John Piper's theology with these worship gatherings. Which is to say God is best glorified when the world knows what He has done.

Posted by: Randy Fennig | May 8, 2006 04:13 PM

I think there is much to learn from the older generation, but I'm not so certain there is a lack of concern for the world in younger generations. I see a shift in the way missions is being defined, and a greater support among my generation for parachurch and humanitarian organizations rather than denominationally driven missions. It certainly isn't that younger people aren't thinking about these things. At least not the people I know.

Posted by: Erinn Caley | May 9, 2006 05:05 PM

I don't claim to speak for anyone but me, but I was very excited when I first read about the Day of Missions on the UB website, only to be disappointed that the nearest one was several hours away and took place in the midst of my law school exams. Probably I'm not the only person who just couldn't make it because of schedule conflicts. Retired folks often have a much more flexible schedule, even if they are just as busy as the rest of us. So don't give up on us young folks entirely! :)

Posted by: Joni R. Michaud | May 11, 2006 12:08 AM

Hey Steve, I was just thinking about your observations about committment to missions and had a thought (first one today!) or two. I've actually noticed an increase in concern for missions in young people over the past few years. Our students faithfully and regularly give to missionaries, when they are prompted and reminded of the importance. Our mission trips (even the local ones) are also the most highly anticipated and attended of all our events.

This is where I think we have dropped the ball. I think the problem lies in the "handing of the baton." I have to tell you, I think missionary presentations may be the most boring messages I sit through. It's a shame because the work and the stories of God working in peoples lives are far from that. If I am really honest about it, I think the only missionary update/presentation that I've enjoyed, maybe ever, was one David and Melissa gave a couple of years ago.

I really believe that young people have a heart for the mission field and want to give and even participate. I think what they avoid is sitting through a lecture (which sounds exactly like the past 20 with the exception of the country names) that really tells them what they already know. I believe we are missing out (not just in the area of missions) across the board on connecting our young people to those who have lived, worked for, and experienced God. We need to come up with more creative ways to show some real excitement about the workings of Him.

Denny Miller has posed the question numerous times, "Why does the song 'Amazing Grace' sound like a funeral dirge?" I think quite often our mission reports fall into the same category. I think perhaps the disinterest lies mostly in our means of reporting and less in the ministry that is happening.

Posted by: Joshua Good | May 11, 2006 08:50 AM

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