What Churches Can Offer Generation Z

When it comes to reaching Generation Z, there are a lot of hard truths that your church must comes to terms with:

 ·       Your church’s worship team can’t offer better music than the indie band playing in a cool concert venue downtown on a Friday night.

·       Your church’s cafe cannot prepare better lattes than the hipster coffee shop down the street that has organic coffee beans and a one thousand dollar espresso machine.

·       Your pastor cannot preach a better sermon than the hundreds of Ted Talks available to stream for free on YouTube from the comfort of a bedroom.

 But instead of trying to compete with the “latest and greatest,” churches should instead focus on what Gen Zers need and want the most: authentic community and the chance to transform the world. Fortunately, these are the things the Church does best and can offer Generation Z.

A Chance To Practice Unity, Not Uniformity

Generation Z is actually drawn to diversity and eclecticism, not homogeneity and uniformity. When the Church is living into its mission and true narrative, it is a community of diverse and eclectic folks. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul and original church planter founded church communities composed of people made up of different races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and previous religious experiences. They all came together for a common purpose of worshipping and following the risen Christ. What made them a community was this shared sense of unity, not a uniformity based on background, gender, or race. Fortunately, this gift of unity without uniformity is something the Church can graciously offer Generation Z. 

An Invitation to Something Larger

When the earliest Christian believers came together, they sacrificed everything for the larger community. They sold their homes and their properties so that no one else in the community would go without. They believed in a purpose larger than themselves. This invitation to something bigger is compelling to members of Generation Z who are also looking for purpose and meaning. They too are driven to be a part of a bigger story. Like these early Christians, Gen Zers are willing to sacrifice to help others: taking part in protests and marches for human rights; sacrificing a better paying job for the non-profit role in a helping profession; paying a little bit more to make sure their goods are ethically sourced. If the Church can tap into this drive to be a part of something larger, they can connect with Generation Z in a way the larger world cannot.

An Offer to Transformational Community

The Church does not exist for its own sake; it exists to change the world and make it more like the Kingdom of God that Jesus spoke about: a place where the least of these are cared for and where the first will be last. This grand vision is enticing to Generation Z who is also looking to transform the world. The Church’s greatest offer to Generation Z is to partner with them as a transformational community. How can your church community come alongside Gen Z activists and say, “Let’s make the world look a little bit more like the Kingdom of God together?”