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October 17, 2018

Youth Ministry to Gen Z Teens: Are we Hitting the Mark?

In our continuing series, we’re reviewing research from the Barna Group and Impact 360 Institute over the trends emerging in the Gen Z culture (those born from 1998—2015).  Last time, we examined how a sizable number of parents felt ill-equipped to disciple their teen children, and how the church must disciple the parents in order to reach their children.  Today, we’re going to review research examining youth ministry to today’s Gen Z’ers.  Is it effective and impactful?  What can we learn? The authors and editors at Impact 360 Institute (their book, Gen Z) surveyed a number of parents and youth […]
August 7, 2018

Discipleship in a Gen Z “Anxiety Culture”: Key Realizations

In previous blogs, I have highlighted some important new research on the Gen Z population (those born between 1999-2015) given to us by the Barna Group and Impact 360 Institute. They paint the portrait of a new generation that struggles with their own identity, swims in an ocean of moral relativism powerfully influenced by social media and YouTube, and often hides behind devices (phones, tablets, etc.) rather than connect directly with others in interpersonal ways. Today, we look at another central element that defines this culture: ANXIETY and how the Church can disciple them. Gen Z “screenagers” have never felt […]
February 14, 2018

Understanding the Worldview of the Gen Z, Post-Christian Culture: Astonishing Findings

Last week, I began a new series of blogs highlighting the recently released research of the Barna Group and Impact 360 on our newest generation (born 1998 and after) called “Gen Z” and their beliefs, perspectives, and outlook on life.  In this blog, I want to spotlight the shifting worldview that this new teenage and early-college era generation possesses, and what this means to reaching and discipling this new population (and by default, their parents and grandparents) with the gospel.  I will first highlight the culture-at-large, then zoom-in to Gen Z. Of the total population, in Barna Trends 2018 (available at […]
February 7, 2018

Reaching a Gen Z, Post-Christian, “Screenage” Culture: Understand Technology

A few days ago, I enjoyed and greatly benefited from listening to a simulcast sponsored by the Barna Group and Impact 360 Institute who just released some cutting-edge research on today’s “Gen Z” youth culture, in their two books, Gen Z and Barna Trends 2018, available at www.barna.com/resources.  In the forthcoming weeks, I will highlight a number of findings from this research that I pray will help ministry leaders, pastors, and other believers know how to reach this current culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Although this research is focused on those born since 1998, I have found that […]