Mentoring - Next Generation Ministry

Barna and WorldVision recently tag-teamed to produce a study called the “The Connected Generation” which documented interviews with more than 15,000 adults ages 18 to 35 in twenty-five countries and nine languages. The research was quite extensive and has been ten years in the making.

As next generation leaders, I think it is vital that we pay attention to a study that offers this much depth. You can look over key findings of the study at this link: https://theconnectedgeneration.com/key-findings/

Of all the information covered, however, the one statistic that I cannot get out of my head is that only one out of every three young adults said they had someone in their life that believed in them.

This statistic literally breaks my heart. I have had countless number of people in my life invest and believe in me. This sad statistic forces me to look in the mirror and ask myself, “Am I believing in someone in the next generation?”

The next generation is often criticized, but if they have no mentors, no coaches, isn’t that somewhat of an indictment on the next generation’s leaders? I think it is.

As this latest study revealed, Millennials and Gen Z aren’t the next generation; they are the now generation! They are not an add-on to the church, but rather an active agent; not a consumer, but rather a contributor.

So, the question becomes, “How are you preparing future leaders for the arts and sciences, for economics and politics, for business and ministry?” Vocational discipleship is extremely important to the next generation and they are looking for coaches and mentors at church. Your job is to help facilitate this new reality: the workplace has become the new church.

This past Sunday, a young man approached me and asked me to mentor him. For starters, I was honored to be asked. It might now work this way for you. You might be the one who needs to ask a young man or woman if you could mentor him or her.

So, how will I mentor this new protege of mine? I have learned the last thing to do is give my mentee a book and tell him to go away. That practice does not do either party any good. You must first start by understanding that mentoring is a way for you to grow as much as your mentee.

So, how will I mentor this new protege of mine? I will take him along for the ride of his life. I will let him do ministry with me. He will do what I do. He will feel what I feel. He will see what I see and he will hear what I hear.

Wasn’t this the way of Jesus? Didn’t he tell some guys to come and follow him? Really, what Jesus told his disciples was “come and take a walk with me.” But, this was no short walk. This was a journey, a day-by-day walk beside Jesus and trusting him that he was taking them exactly where they needed to go. For one disciple, it led to the most unexpected place-hanging on a cross, upside-down. Thank goodness Jesus did not tell Peter this news on Day 1. This ride may not always be fun, but it will be worth giving up your very life for.

What the Next Generation Is Missing and Found Wanting?

Miyagi

The past generation has something the next generation is looking for. The past generation received something from the generation that preceded them that the next generation is still waiting to be handed down.

If the past generation needed help in finding a lost puppy, they were given it. The next generation is a lost puppy and is getting very little help.

Before I tell you what it is that the next generation desires, I want you (if you’re old enough to remember) to turn back the clock with me. I love everything 1980’s. To me, the 80’s represented the greatest in music, movies, games, and television. So that I do not plumb the depths of everything 80’s, let me just scratch the surface by touching on the 1980’s category of “movies.”

In the 1980 Rocky movies, Mickey (before he dies) trains an upstart boxer, taking his protégé from chump to Champion of the world. In the original Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi mentors young Luke Skywalker in the ways of the force. In Back To The Future, a teenager named Marty McFly receives help from a scientist named “Doc” and in Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi, an instructor, teaches Danielson life lessons learned through the value of hard work.

The one common theme reflected from movie life in the 1980’s is the theme of mentoring. Young people desired for and asked to be mentored and mentors were happy to and found joy in embracing the call to mentor. My fear today is that there are some from the next generation who are not seeking a mentor and some from the previous generation not wanting to mentor. The reasons can vary and in some individual cases may even be justified. But what cannot happen and what must not happen is a total abandonment by a previous generation to the next generation as it relates to mentoring. Mentors should be warned upfront that Generation Z (2001-2018) is complex, has short attention spans, and would rather use symbols or images, such as emojis to communicate.

That being said, I would like to give some sound advice to mentors from this generation who have not yet given up on the next. My advice comes from adaptations from and additions to suggestions made by Dr. Tim Elmore and Dr. Alvin Reid.

1. Let Generation Z be who they are, especially as it relates to their technology. Motivate and encourage them to learn using the devices they love.

2. Impart virtues such as perseverance, passion, dedication, and discipline.

3. Life map with Gen Z and help them set goals in order to give them purpose and realize potential. Gen Z does not know how to plan.

4. Teach them to serve and teach them life-skills and do this at the same time if possible.

5. Help them to see that life is bigger than themselves. Allow them to travel the world and to see the big picture.

6. Increase their interpersonal communication and critical thinking skills by helping them to focus on the person in front of them and or the task at hand.

7. Give students a cause and assist them in finding their call.

8. Be there. The next generation desires weekly feedback.

9. Introduce the next generation to other successful adults you know. You can do this over dinner. Allow the other adult to share his or her life story.

10. Don’t tell them what to do. Tell them why and show them how. Guide the orphan. As you go, take them with you (teach them how to wash clothes, how to cook, how to fix cars, etc.).

In the OT, Moses mentored Joshua (Num 27:15-21) and Elijah mentored Elisha (2 Kgs. 2:1-17). In the NT, Paul mentored Timothy (2 Tim 4:1-8) and both older men and women are told to mentor younger men and women (Titus 2:4-8). Will you take the time to mentor someone today?