What generation are you? Boomer? Gen X? Millennial? Each generation has a story to tell, a different experience in the world, different gifts and priorities. Each one brings new energy to our communities.
What does our community look like right now? The graph shows us who our neighbors are in the Howard-Suamico area now. 80% of our neighbors are Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z/Homelanders. 80%! That means that 80% of our neighbors are under age sixty. 60% are under age 45.
Wow. So much energy and youth!
So what? What does this mean for our church?
If 80% of our neighbors are under age 60, what music do we use? What schedules do we plan? What activities do we offer? If our purpose is to bring people together, to help people grow with Jesus and make a difference in our community, where do we need to be in our community to be building relationships with these younger generations?
In Genesis 17:7, God promises to keep a covenant with generations to come: I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.
In Psalm 22:30, we are reminded that future generations will be in relationship with God: Future descendants will serve him; generations to come will be told about my Lord.
Future generations will only know, love and serve God - if we tell them about God. If we help them build relationship with God.
What is God calling us to do right now? I think maybe God sent this community study to us to open our eyes and hearts to the new generations around us who are hungry for God's love and grace. Can we accept God's challenge to start expanding our ministry to connect with new generations of believers? Can we support ministries that help new generations grow with Jesus? I think we can, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Please pray with me for God to open up new ministries and opportunities for us to connect with our neighbors.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
November 8, 2023
Click here for the complete demographic study of our Howard-Suamico community.