5 Trends Shaping the Next Season of Next Gen Discipleship

2020 has been a year of disruption, to say the least. From the pandemic to a movement of demonstrations for racial justice to the looming presidential election, U.S. residents—along with many of their global neighbors—are living in a state of uncertainty. And younger adult generations (in our research, Millennials and Gen Z) are facing some of the greatest challenges in this moment.

The outlook for young adults and teens—which, data show, was already starkly different than that of generations past—has been further altered in light of recent events. Young people are questioning their place in this new reality. Further, half of pastors say they are struggling in their ministry to kids and youth right now. How can the Church come alongside emerging generations right now and help them navigate change?

In this article, we’ll take a look at five trends—illuminated by decades’ worth of Barna research, including studies conducted during the COVID-19 response—about engaging with and discipling the next generation.

The Church Must Help Younger Generations Wisely Navigate Screen Time
Well before this period of social distancing, young generations (and their parents) have had to contend with mounting device usage. In “Digital Babylon”—a term Faith for Exiles co-authors David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock use as a framework for the high-tech era 15-23-year-olds are living in—spiritual input is at risk of being drowned out by other forms of screen time. Innovation in youth ministry in the current moment requires creatively connecting with “digital natives” on their turf. For context, in a recent Barna study, Guiding Children to Discover the Bible, Navigate Technology & Follow Jesus, engaged Christian families reported using media for entertainment an average of eight hours per week. Other weekly activities included spending time with family in conversation or play (10 hours), reading books, participating in extracurricular activities and attending church activities (three hours each) and socializing with other children in-person (one hour)—but even these activities, at this moment, are also likely done from a social distance or through a screen.

Reports confirm that Millennials and Gen Z admit to significant increases in their daily screen usage during the pandemic. Barna’s own research shows the majority of pastors (85%) is concerned about this shift—but a similar percentage (86%) says that, despite the signs of more screen time, their church does not yet have a plan in place to teach on wise tech usage.

The Church Must Integrate Its Response to Injustice into Student Ministry
Years of Barna research show that teens and young adults are willing to listen to stories of injustice and hopeful to be a positive change in the world. But they are also looking to the Church to answer some of their questions. At this time, during a national conversation about discrimination and inequity following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, this is particularly true when it comes to racial injustice. Though data show that the U.S. Church in general is divided on these issues, Millennials and Gen Z—more ethnically diverse and more politically progressive than their elders—are tuned in to disparities between white Americans and communities of color.

Recent data show that over half of Millennials (51%) and Gen Z (54%) would say our country “definitely” has a race problem, with another two in five Millennials (38%) and a quarter of Gen Z (38%) admitting this is at least somewhat true. Most in these younger generations also express motivation to address racial injustice in their society (75% Millennials, 68% Gen Z). They are certain that the history of slavery still impacts the United States, and while they are hopeful to see the Church step up, many believe that the Church does not have the best reputation for addressing justice.

The Church Must Address Issues of Loneliness and Anxiety in Young Adults
According to data from a global study of more than 15,000 18–35-year-olds, despite being part of the most digitally connected generation, young adults and teens are prone to feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Concerns around the mental health of both old and young generations have grown since the pandemic’s disruptions began. Whether due to financial stress, ongoing social distancing or the loss of loved ones, U.S. adults are reporting higher levels of psychological stress amid the pandemic.

In Barna’s Caring for Souls in a New Reality webcast, Kinnaman reported on the needs and concerns of young adults since the virus outbreak, comparing their responses against those of older generations. As of late May, one in three Millennials reported being in need of food and supplies (35% vs. 24% Gen X, 21% Boomers), emotional support (33% vs. 25% Gen X, 13% Boomers) and financial assistance (32% vs. 31% Gen X, 12% Boomers). One in five (19%) said they were feeling lonely “all the time,” a quarter (25%) for at least some of each day and 21 percent at least one day a week. Only one in three (35%) hadn’t faced loneliness as opposed to half of Gen X (50%) and Boomers (59%). Due to low sample size, we are unable to report on Gen Z data.

Now, more than ever, young adults are longing for meaningful connection—something young people are hoping the Church will offer. A plurality of 18–35-year-old Christians (19%) agrees that friends are missing from their worship community.

The Church Must Support and Encourage Resilient Disciples to Grow Their Faith
Historically, Gen Z and Millennials are less likely than older generations to be connected to a church. In Faith for Exiles, Kinnaman and Matlock share that the church dropout rate among 18–25-year-olds has increased from 59 percent to 64 percent in the past decade. Data featured in Gen Z also sheds light on the fact that the emerging generation is less likely to see church as important, with those who hold this perspective admitting “Church is not relevant to me personally” (59%), “I find God elsewhere” (48%) and “I can teach myself what I need to know” (28%).

Over the last few years, Barna has invested in listening to young people and figuring out what makes for a holistic faith that lasts, in an effort to help pastors and parents partner with young adults in their spiritual walk. Data from Faith for Exiles highlight that most fall into the categories of habitual churchgoers (38%) or lapsed Christians (30%). One in five young adults with a Christian background (22%) has left the faith. However, there is much to learn from the 10 percent of Christian twenty-somethings who are what Barna refers to as “resilient disciples” and who counter the trend of leaving the Church.

The Church Must Reframe the Notion of Outreach and Faith-Sharing with the Next Gen
In the new report The Future of Missions, Barna presents 10 conversations church leaders and parents should be having with the next generation about global ministry—a key one being about whether there is a place for missions at all. Data show that while seven in 10 teens (71%) and young adults (72%) would say that missions is very valuable, there are still many who question missions’ ethics or who are wary of the way missions has traditionally been discussed and conducted.

These findings reflect young adults’ general hesitancy to share their faith with others. In the 2019 Barna report Reviving Evangelism, we found that almost half of practicing Christian Millennials (47%) say evangelism is wrong. Kinnaman says this highlights a need for Christians to bolster their confidence in certain convictions—among them, the belief that “evangelizing others is good and worthy of our time, energy and investment.” There might be more opportunity for these conversations than some people of faith assume; non-Christian young people are more curious and open to having spiritual discussions than are older adults.

So what can the Church do to not only grow resilient faith in Millennials and Gen Z, especially during a time when in-person discipleship is a rarity?

The themes above offer a glimpse into the complexity of discipling the next generation, a growing challenge as the U.S. rebounds from the COVID-19 crisis. The future of ministry to young adults, teens and children—and, when needed, the parents who raise them—continues to evolve. It is more important now than ever for leaders to check in with the young people in their church to understand what they are facing right now and how best to engage with and disciple future Church leaders.

Check out Barna’s Next Generation channel on Access Plus to learn more about discipling kids, teens and young adults.