YOUNG CHRISTIANS ARE LONELIER THAN EVER DESPITE BEING MORE CONNECTED
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YOUNG CHRISTIANS ARE LONELIER THAN EVER DESPITE BEING MORE CONNECTED
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Tech is a way of life for many Millennials and Gen Z-ers but it’s not filling the emotional gap and most pastors are not being proactive in teaching them how to use it wisely, research by Barna suggests.
Studies by the group show that a majority of pastors (85%) feel “very” or “somewhat” worried about the amount of time their younger congregants are spending on screens each day during the pandemic.
But a similar proportion (86%) said they did not have a specific plan in place to teach young Christians about how to be wise in their use of technology.
The findings have caused Barna to warn that spiritual input is “at risk of being drowned out” by other reasons for youngsters to switch on their screens.
Barna’s advice to churches is to adapt or else risk falling off young people’s radars. . . .
Young people may be more tech savvy and socially connected than any other generation before them, but Barna’s research also suggests that they are lonelier than ever.
In research conducted by Barna in May, a fifth (19%) of Millennials reported feeling lonely “all the time” and a quarter for at least some of the day. Only a third (35%) said they hadn’t experienced loneliness since the pandemic started, much lower than the half of Gen X-ers (those born between 1965 and 1980) and more than half (59%) of Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) who said they hadn’t felt lonely.
At the same time, a third of Millennials reported being in need of emotional support, far higher than the quarter of Gen X-ers, and just over one in 10 (13%) of Boomers who said the same.
But Barna’s analysis suggests that, in spite of the emotional need, young people are not looking to the Church for answers, with over half (59%) of 18- to 25-year-olds saying that “church is not relevant to me personally,” and nearly half (48%) agreeing with the statement “I find God elsewhere”. Over a quarter (28%) said they think they “can teach myself what I need to know.”
“The future of ministry to young adults, teens and children—and, when needed, the parents who raise them—continues to evolve,” Barna said.
“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.”
(Excerpt from Christian Today. Article by Jennifer Lee. Photo Credit: Dreamstime.)
Share your prayers for younger Christians to turn to God for connection. . .
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Father I lift our young people to you. Give your church and our pastors wisdom in how to reach out to them. May these young people learn to draw close to you and find fellowship with other believing young people.
As a grandmother I have seen that being involved in your own screen (games and conversations) limits your ability to communicate with those directly around you – such as members of your own family or others in the room, on the plane, subway, etc. It is sort of cutting yourself off from others. It is essential for churches to have fetching children’s programs that will hopefully continue to be a draw through the teen years. Prayer is key for the students and workers who truly love these young ones to Christ by word and example. Kids KNOW who loves them and they can usually spot a phony.
Agreed. Youth For Christ is a ministry that goes into the schools and draws, mostly, teens who are ignored socially or even rejected. Many of them admit they think no one really cares about them, including their families, and are therefore easily lured into drugs, online sex, and suicide. Youth For Christ goes right into this dark mission field, meets with these teens during school lunch periods, after school, and in homes of the ministry staf to teach them the Gospel. This ministry gets involved in the lives of these lonely, despairing teens as a mission, rescuing them by showing them the love of Jesus. As always, “the laborers are few,” and many more Christians are needed in this ministry that requires some sacrifice. There is much we could learn from this ministry that goes right into the schools, where confusion, lies, bullying, humanism, and every other sin daily attacks these young people. Social media has not rescued them and never can. As laborers for the Lord, we must “rescue the perishing, care for the dying. Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.” But we must go to them. Pray for Youth For Christ, pray about helping, and let God use you to save a poor young soul. God bless you. Love in our precious Lord, Cathy
Thank you, Cathy. I do pray for Youth For Christ – also Young Life, Navigators, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, CRU and for local youth pastors and the young lives they touch. In our everyday lives even a smile for a young person or a hello can be used by God to let them know they are valued and loved by God and us. All these organizations deserve our financial support as well and prayer for those involved in reaching beloved young people for Jesus.