The Story of Jonathan Stockstill

ut we should give them authority
and influence.”
As they do, pastors must understand
that millennials no longer see a career
spelling a three- to four-decade tenure
in one location. Instead of long-lasting
assignments, they foresee seasons that
will take them through 10 or more projects,
Lomenick says.
He says this reality partially explains the
advent of church-planting movements the
past 15 years, with many new churches
started by young adults unwilling to wait
for their chance to lead.
Not only do pastors need to create an
environment where young leaders can
do something, he says they must accept
the likelihood that after they grasp their
assignment, these protégés may leave for
another opportunity.
“I once heard Andy Stanley say, ‘This
won’t be your only job; I just want it to
be your best job,’ ” Lomenick says. “This
is changing the state of loyalty and what
teamwork looks like.”
As pastors grapple with a new generation
of leaders, they also have to develop
their understanding of young faces in
the audience.
While not everyone “gets it,” the
Lightstock
Barna Group’s David Kinnaman sees an
increasing awareness among pastors of
changing lifestyles; particularly the challenges
of reaching young adults who
are later leaving home, marrying and
having children.
The author of two books about millennials,
the president of the research firm
says the shifting realities of 20-somethings
mirror the past century’s rise of the
“teenager,” a relatively modern concept
that redefined what it meant to be a
maturing person.
Just as the Christian community altered
its ministries to young people in that
phase of life, the same innovative mindset
will be needed to reach today’s generation,
the author says.
Yet Kinnaman sees obstacles ahead,
such as pastors struggling to close the gap
between work and faith, which the Barna
Group labels “vocational discipleship.”
“Most churches still have very little
or no effective efforts to help millennials
understand the deep connections
between calling and their faith,”
Kinnaman says.
“This is an area that could dramatically
benefit the spiritual development of
today’s teenagers and young adults—and it
March // April 2015 MinistryToday 45
“The New Living Translation
communicates the good news
of God’s promises and will
leave a lasting impact on
whoever reads it.”
Greg Laurie
pastor / evangelist
harvest christian fellowship
& harvest crusades
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