Understanding Generation Z

THE XYZ OF DISCIPLESHIP:
Understanding and Reaching Generations Y & Z
By Nick and Marjorie Allan
Malcolm Down. 232 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 912 863 433
(Available from www.xyzdiscipleship.com
where there are supporting seminar videos.)

Do you want to see young adults in your church and from outside your church come to Christ and go on with Him as devoted disciples of Jesus? If so, this book is essential reading.

Nick and Marjorie Allan bring 20 years of fruitful experience, with the last four years at The Well church in Sheffield, to bear in this very practical book.

They use the phrase ‘emerging adults’ to describe the process of transitioning from late teens to late 20s of Generation Z, born 1997–2014. Their values, the culture they are immersed in, and the pressure that brings, are significantly different from those of earlier generations, and unless the church understands and works into those we are in danger of losing a generation.

This book carefully and thoroughly describes their worldview and explains what needs to be done to disciple these young adults. They are characterised by work-on-the-go, constantly in touch via technology, with flexible and fluid lives. They yearn for purpose and meaning, establishing their identity, both to themselves and others, and dream of possibilities with an entrepreneurial spirit. But this brings uncertainty, ambiguity, fears and worries, loneliness and manipulation in a post-truth world.

The book is divided into four sections. The first is entitled Obstacles or Opportunities? If the church is going to reach these young adults then our church culture must actively welcome them and be authentic, meaningful and intentional in doing so. ‘What does your church culture feel like to a 16–25-year-old? How do your congregation or people feel about the young generations?’ It is not about numbers or the young adults as commodities, but about journeying with them, forming faithful relationships with them, giving them real community and treating them as family, and mentoring them through their journey so Jesus can transform them.

The second section deals with the question of identity. How does the world see me? Through the selfie, I project the image I want the world to see of me. What really counts is our identity in Jesus. With Him there is nothing to lose and nothing to prove. The church has that message. For the loneliness of interconnectedness without relationship the church can offer community and family – an invitation to come home. It’s not ‘Ask Jesus into your life’, but that He invites you into His life, a place where your vulnerabilities can be positive, not damaging. The third section deals with truth in a post-truth world of fake news, echo chambers, and living with intolerant tolerance. Stories and experiences count more than facts with Generation Z and being told by experts does not work. We have ‘a better story’, the story based on the Bible as the true foundation. The Allans discuss: asking the deep questions; encouraging reflective practice; learning to discern; as ways to lead our young adults to the truth in Jesus. At this stage in life there are many decisions to make – choosing jobs, changing jobs (which may occur often), choosing partners, etc. The book covers how to help them discern in decision-making and encountering the paralysis of the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) and ‘you only live once’ (YOLO) thinking. There are ‘faith gaps’ that only Jesus can fill as they come to trust God fully and commit to Him.

The fourth section is ‘our response’. Our churches need to become places where young adults are respected, accepted and taken seriously. Take a risk with them, include them, give them real genuine responsibility, even including a place on the church leadership! And support them in a safe space where they can try things, and if things don’t work out they are helped to pick themselves up and move on with Jesus. The question for any disciple of any age is: ‘What is God saying to you and what will you do about it?’ Generation Z will form the church for many years to come and outlive many of us in the church today, but that will only be true if we disciple them today. The question is: ‘Will we do something about it?’. This book is the best handbook I can recommend to that end.