Last night on on BlogTalkRadio we received an excellent primer for understanding millennials from two of our millennial leaders here at the Catch. Deborah Mullan and Elizabeth Shirk answered a number of questions about their peers, such as: What are millennials looking for in life? What are they afraid of? Why are millennials dealing with loneliness and anxiety? What would a real relationship with a millennial look like? What barriers do we have to overcome in order to be friends across the generations? What are the things that are most important to millennials?
This is important. These are the people who are walking into the new frontier and as the Catch Ministry we want to walk alongside them. So be sure and take the time to listen to the whole 38 minute interview, but here are some summary considerations to get you warmed up.
1. Millennials are seeking truth, honesty and authenticity. They are tired of always being sold something. They want genuine relationships and they want to be known. Trust is very important and it must be earned.
2. Millennials are looking for a safe place to be vulnerable. To a large extent, their immersion in social media has created a false sense of identity. You can be anything you want online, but that comes at the price of not being yourself anywhere. Thus the need for authenticity.
3. Anxiety is a real thing. Think of how the internet and the news is always throwing the worst of the world in your face. Mental illness, therapy and what anti-depressant you are on are all commonplace among millennials. They talk about these things all the time.
4. The way to build relationships across generational barriers is to find out what we have in common with each other. Elizabeth, a fourth grade school teacher, found another educator (a boomer) on one of our online studies and they now share an email relationship. We all need to learn to ask questions of each other and care about the answers.
5. What do millennials need the most? Family. Mental health. Caring and compassion. Like anyone, they want to be known. They want someone to genuinely care about them. They want someone to know them by name and miss them when they are gone.
6. Millennials love Grace Turned Outward because they are tired of being judged and they respond to the humility of grace. They care about social justice, the environment, the homeless and the poor, and what they can do to make a better world. They want to make peace, not war.
DON’T MISS OUR INTERVIEW WITH TWO OF OUR MILLENNIAL LEADERS LAST NIGHT. CLICK HERE.
John Fischer The Catch 
From what I read in this Catch, it is simple, millennials want to be loved. Let’s go do just that!!!
Read this Catch and it seems simple, Millennials just want to be LOVED!!! So do I, and I am before boomers, whatever that label is…..flapper????
Sorry about that, i thought that my comment had not posted.
According to [every] generation, people have always hated on the generations above and below them. It seems like everyone is quite ageist, but why? You’re no less or better of a person because of your date of birth.
Each generation was raised in a different way and the way each generation reacted to their upbringing varied. With separate world events, exotic ever-changing trends, new technologies, and varying ideologies/morals, each generation developed unique from one another. There is a reason why things happen. We can’t change how the past occurred, but we can alter the way we act towards each other.
[W]e can all learn to accept each other for who we are, thus with each new generation we can make humankind a better race to be a part of.
The current existing Generations include:
1. The Traditionalists (Other names for this generation include The Veterans, The Silent Generation, The Forgotten Generation, Radio Babies. and The Greatest Generation):
Born between the years of 1900 to 1945.
2. The Baby Boomers: Born in a huge flux between 1946 and 1964.
3. Generation X: Born between the years of 1965 and 1980.
4. The Millennials: Born between 1981 and 1995.
5. Generation Z: Born 1996 to 2010.
6. Generation Alpha: Born 2011 through to 2025.
Excerpted from an article written by Jennifer Taylor for “The Odyssey”:
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-differences-between-each-of-the-living-generations
“Each generation has distinct attitudes, behaviors, expectations, habits and motivational buttons. Generational differences need not divide us. Every generation has valuable lessons that they can teach…
When members of different generations are encouraged to work together, it builds understanding and trust, helping create a cohesive, yet diverse community.”
~ Miranda Allen (CEO of Radiofrequency Safety International)
Be a blessing. Be blessed.
Be of good will. Be cheerful.
Be courageous. Be encouraged.
Shalom, Peace…
Especially like that last quote about building trust and “helping create a cohesive, yet diverse community.” Exactly what the church is.Thank you, Bob, for this confirmation.
So true about Millennials and because of my job at the Warrior Inn at Nellis AFB meet many of them. Meet many folks of different ages but, many young folks want all that is mentioned most likely just like each of us long ago or not so long ago. Walking with the Lord is the best part of what each of us can do no matter our age and helps with understanding between folks of all ages.
Excellent, Toni!
In just four words, you’ve summarized the key denominator that links and aids generations in the very best way: “Walking with the Lord” .