What do Gen Zers and Millennials need?

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I was reading a Q & A in the paper answered by the financial guru Dave Ramsey. The questioner was complaining about millennials and Gen Zers. Ramsey responded by saying there are two types--"the ones who are unbelievably awesome and the ones who aren't."
 
He went on to talk about the necessity of them having meaning in their work, that they want to see that "their work connects to something that matters." They have inquiring minds, he tells us, and "most of them want to know why you do things the way you do them."
 
Ramsey goes on to talk about leadership and bosses--some push and others pull. The "do it this way because I said so" doesn't work so much with Gen Zers and millennials. Heck, I don't think it works with most people.
 
I thought the push/pull idea of leadership makes an important distinction. And it doesn't just apply in the work world. When it comes to attempts to spread the gospel and help others come to know Jesus, pulling (by modeling serving) is also the better choice. 
 
Maybe we need to ask ourselves:
 
Are we communicating WHY we follow Jesus?
 
How are we doing at expressing why faith matters?
 
I get so turned off by people who shout religious things at me. It doesn't make me want to learn more from them, but rather run away from them!
 
The challenge in expressing one's faith is that so often it needs to be done quietly, and on a small scale. Accompanying others along the path isn't typically splashy and impressive. 
 
God's movements in our lives are often over time, and can be painfully slow. That's not true for everyone, of course, but it is true for many.
 
And for those who want to see immediate results, that can be tough. Ramsey says you have to pull people into your mission, and I think that is universally true. Indeed, "bosses push while leaders pull."
 
Notice that Jesus was a leader. If you rejected him, he recognized he needed to give you the space to do it. So, if you are in ministry and trying to reach those who seem to be unreachable, keep this wisdom in mind.
 
As we officially begin a new year in church ministry (which is actually ongoing), may God bless you with the wisdom, insight, energy and patience to introduce those you serve, to the beauty of the faith, through your humble leadership.
 
Janet Cassidy

 

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