ipod Generation

This past week my wife and I, and Joey, headed out to the Cape for our annual Minister's retreat. We had a great time meeting other minister's, hearing their stories, and learning about the changing world that we live in. Dr. Earl Creps (earlcreps.com), director of doctorate studies for AGTS, was the featured conference speaker. I truly enjoyed hearing him give us insight into understanding the emerging ipod generation.

So many things have changed so quickly in one generation. I mean, I still remember records (and I'm only 34.) That was like revolutionary at that time. Now we have tiny devices that can hold thousands of songs. I don't even own an ipod yet, and when I finally do, something else would have already taken its place.

What God has been speaking to me, and to the churches in Southern New England is that in order to reach our cities, we must change our approach to ministry by using different methods and different forms. What used to work for the "record" generation is not going work with this ipod generation. In the 1950's, 95% of Americans practiced the religion of their parents, with 75% attending services weekly. This year, one adult in six will change religious affiliation, with about 40% claiming to attend worship regularly. Slowly, the United States is migrating towards a post-Christian status. Earl Creps says, "Historical monotheism has a new companion and competitor: personal spirituality." Actress Alyssa Milano (Sam from Who's the Boss) exemplifies this condition when she states, "I believe in everything. I was raised Catholic, but now I'm more Buddhist, but I don't practice anything specifically."

When I became a Senior Pastor at the ripe old age of 26, I opened my "AG play book," which told me how to have "church" only to figure out that the way we have been doing "church" for so many years was not working. I thought it was simply an issue of execution, only to find out the harder I worked, the more I became disappointed with myself when there were no results. God has finally worked in my heart and life and has led me to understand that it is going to take more than going through the liturgy of a Sunday morning to see lives being changed.

I am on a journey. That journey is to hear what God is saying to the Church. I want to hear His voice as He gives me direction as to how to reach this new ipod generation, and at the same time minister to the needs of the "AM radio" generation of Christians. My life, my passion, my desire is to see people experience the life changing power of Jesus Christ. Old methods, old forms, and old traditions alone are no longer going to make this happen. What we need is to rediscover old time Pentecost, in a new post Christian world.