A Discussion About Next Gen Leadership

Millennials are the most technologically savvy generation. This generation is truly Digital Natives. They are immersed in a world of wearable devises streaming music, videos, and online communities. After all, they created much of the technology that we now use daily. This generation is creating virtual reality apps, engineering AI, and redefining how we work and play.

This generation has lost the boundaries between online and offline. Both realities exist simultaneously. There offline presence is a byproduct of their online activity. They assume that your online presence matches your offline presence. To illustrate the seamless nature of online/offline worlds consider the following.

In 2018 NBS Stars Lebron James and Stephen Curry started a 4^th professional league – NBA2K. This basketball game is not played on the hardwood, but rather on the Play Station. Players are drafted and signed to real teams that compete virtually. More than 1.6 million e-sport enthusiasts devote 10 per week or more to the basketball e-league.

As the church world laments and resists changes in technology, the NBA seems to find additional revenue streams. This begs the question, “Are sporting organizations more prophetic and optimistic than Christian leaders and churches?

The challenge for churches is to understand that technology is a language not a tool! Therefore, religious online services are not to be viewed as “add-on’s” but to allow them to become authentic communities. This generation is not interested in watching church services. They have and are leaving the church because it is being seen as irrelevant. A serious investment into authentic online expressions that allow the online/offline world to flow seamlessly.Isn’t interesting that Scriptures tells us to GO into all the world….! Technology allows the church to do this in new ways with Digital Natives that understand the rules of engagement in the social media world. For the church to embrace and use technology effectively we are going to need to change the paradigm of authority and move more toward collaboration. Pastor Windle of Australia stated Millennials do not want a “cool church” where modern productions are a thin veneer plastered over and old Baby-Boomer culture. They seek something they can relate to.”