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What's Wrong With Kids These Days? Generational Stereotypes and What the Next Gen Needs · Empowered Homes Podcast

0:23
SPEAKER_00: Hey friends, welcome to the Empowered Homes Podcast.
0:25
SPEAKER_00: The purpose of this podcast is to grow strong families by connecting church and home.
0:30
SPEAKER_00: And today we are talking about uh Gen Alpha or Gen Z, uh, all the new cool slang for the new generation.
0:40
SPEAKER_00: But really, the question is um, what does this generation need from caring adults?
0:46
SPEAKER_00: And I'm joined in studio by my pal Meg.
0:49
SPEAKER_00: Hey friends.
0:50
SPEAKER_00: And we have a special guest.
0:51
SPEAKER_04: Yes, we do.
0:52
SPEAKER_04: And Robin is no stranger to the Empowered Homes podcast and also a partner with us through the YMCA.
0:58
SPEAKER_04: Um, Robin is the executive director of Christian Principles for the YMCA of Greater Houston, and you've become a friend.
1:04
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and a friend of Empowered Homes, but also a friend to me.
1:07
SPEAKER_04: And so we are so glad that you're here.
1:09
SPEAKER_04: Welcome.
1:09
SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
1:09
SPEAKER_03: I'm so excited to be here.
1:10
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
1:11
SPEAKER_04: We're excited about our conversation.
1:12
SPEAKER_04: And you know, this is kind of born out of we had coffee recently and we were just talking about, you know, the the next generation.
1:19
SPEAKER_04: We have kids in the next generation.
1:20
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, they're in the next generation, but but sort of like the culture around that and all that.
1:24
SPEAKER_04: And so I'm so excited for us to be able to have this conversation too.
1:27
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
1:27
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I'm excited.
1:28
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
1:29
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be fun.
1:30
SPEAKER_04: That's right.
1:31
SPEAKER_00: So, Robin, for the listeners who may not know you, just share about your family and all that good stuff.
1:36
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
1:37
SPEAKER_03: So, my husband and I have been married for like 22 years now.
1:41
SPEAKER_03: So we we had the privilege of meeting in high school when we were little bitties.
1:45
SPEAKER_03: Um, but we have one son, and he is 17 years old.
1:49
SPEAKER_03: So we're kind of in the thick of it with like the whole teen years, but also kind of like that transition into adult, like young adulthood, and like um I had a friend of mine saying like the slow tearing away, you know, they're more with their friends and hanging out and less at home.
2:03
SPEAKER_03: So that's the kind of stage of life that we're in right now.
2:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we we have all the different age groups or everything, but I guess everything kind of falls into what we label Gen Alpha.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: Um would would all of your fit under Gen Alpha as well?
2:22
SPEAKER_00: 2010, I think, is the cutoff for Gen Alpha too.
2:25
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
2:26
SPEAKER_03: So my I think my son is a young Gen Z actually.
2:29
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, he's 2009.
2:32
SPEAKER_03: Um so he's just before the Gen Alpha break.
2:35
SPEAKER_03: Yes.
2:35
SPEAKER_03: Um yeah.
2:36
SPEAKER_00: Megan, these generation things, they confuse me.
2:40
SPEAKER_04: I know.
2:40
SPEAKER_04: Well, and and there's I feel like there's a discrepancy on sometimes the the years and the ages and all that.
2:46
SPEAKER_04: But the idea is that there is a difference with kind of each generation that comes up and they try to like delineate.
2:54
SPEAKER_04: Um, but it's kind of funny because I'm considered a millennial, 81.
2:58
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, you know, but I'm like right on the cusp.
3:00
SPEAKER_04: And then I I feel like there's just people that are in a generation that they're like, that's that doesn't find me.
3:05
SPEAKER_04: That's not me.
3:05
SPEAKER_00: So you know, I feel like I'm I'm a boomer.
3:09
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
3:09
SPEAKER_04: I'm an old soul.
3:10
SPEAKER_04: You are an old soul.
3:11
SPEAKER_04: That's good.
3:12
SPEAKER_04: I'm gonna call you that from now on.
3:13
SPEAKER_04: Don't just kidding.
3:15
SPEAKER_04: Well, what I love, Robin, is that you know, at the YMCA, you primarily your job is to help elevate that Christian principle within the mission of the Y, but a part of that work really does involve the younger generation and the next generation.
3:30
SPEAKER_04: And so, you know, just give us a peek into what that side of your job um is all about and how you get to engage with young people.
3:37
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
3:38
SPEAKER_03: So one of this kind of staples programs that we've had for quite some time is the Christian Values Conference.
3:44
SPEAKER_03: Um, and that particular program focused on entering into high school and kind of graduating out of it.
3:50
SPEAKER_03: And so every summer we have the opportunity to go to uh Blue Ridge Assembly, which is out in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
3:57
SPEAKER_03: Um, and so that's every July, and we take a group of about 40 teenagers, which is all I can really handle at a time, um, to make our way to um North Carolina to experience this week-long um just faith journey.
4:10
SPEAKER_03: You know, they get to explore their faith, but also kind of ask questions and just kind of learn and listen.
4:15
SPEAKER_03: And so um it's one that I'm really uh excited that we get to have, but also kind of looking into the future and how we're gonna build on that and transition our teens into young adulthood and how we engage with them and support them along in their next season of life.
4:28
SPEAKER_03: So I'm excited about the possibilities of building young adult mission trips and things like that.
4:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
4:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
4:34
SPEAKER_04: Well, and we talked about one of the trips.
4:35
SPEAKER_04: Did you say that you you see a lot of black bears when y'all are out there?
4:39
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so yes.
4:41
SPEAKER_03: I was not prepared if you know, with that being from Texas, and I did not know they actually know how to open the doors like with their hands, like straight up yogi bear kind of actions.
4:51
SPEAKER_03: So I was very surprised with that.
4:54
SPEAKER_03: So you've got forty 40 young adults, young kids, and we're like bear watch, you know, work walking together, you know, don't stay out by yourself kind of thing one year.
5:04
SPEAKER_03: So it was pretty interesting, but they've calmed down is the last I heard.
5:07
SPEAKER_03: Oh, okay.
5:08
SPEAKER_03: Not so much present.
5:08
SPEAKER_04: Well, yeah, and I love that that you get to, you know, take take students to a place that is beautiful and that is adventuresome, and that you know, you get to get a peek into you know their lives, and and really that's what we want to talk about today.
5:26
SPEAKER_04: But before we get into that, I have a little game that I want you all to play.
5:30
SPEAKER_04: Usually Bobby's driving our games, so I'm sure this is driving him crazy because he doesn't know what I'm gonna do.
5:36
SPEAKER_04: I have no idea.
5:36
SPEAKER_04: And I'm gonna make y'all guess.
5:38
SPEAKER_04: Okay, let's so we're gonna call we're gonna call it name that generation, and I'm going to give you a description of a generation, and you're going to guess which generation it is.
5:46
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
5:47
SPEAKER_04: It'll fall into either baby boomer, Gen X, Millennial, Gen Z, or Gen Alpha.
5:52
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
5:52
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
5:52
SPEAKER_04: All right.
5:53
SPEAKER_04: All right.
5:53
SPEAKER_04: So, first one.
5:54
SPEAKER_04: We drank from the garden hose, rode bikes without helmets, and came home when the streetlights came on.
5:59
SPEAKER_04: Gen X.
6:01
SPEAKER_04: Good.
6:01
SPEAKER_00: Gen X.
6:03
SPEAKER_00: Gen X.
6:03
SPEAKER_00: Gen X.
6:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:04
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
6:04
SPEAKER_00: But that was my life, and I'm a millennial.
6:06
SPEAKER_00: That's true.
6:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
6:07
SPEAKER_04: Well, there you go.
6:08
SPEAKER_04: See, it there's some cross-ups.
6:09
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
6:09
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
6:10
SPEAKER_04: Um, we'd rather text than make a phone call, use subtitles for everything, and can communicate an entire emotion with one meme.
6:19
SPEAKER_04: Gen Z?
6:20
SPEAKER_04: Gen Z.
6:21
SPEAKER_04: Gen Z.
6:22
SPEAKER_04: I know.
6:22
SPEAKER_04: It is.
6:23
SPEAKER_04: I feel like there's some like millennials that do that too.
6:26
SPEAKER_04: Or just because our world's so digital now, it's starting.
6:29
SPEAKER_04: But it is Gen Z, yes.
6:31
SPEAKER_04: We knew how to use an iPad before we could read and before we could tie our shoes.
6:36
SPEAKER_04: And somehow watching someone else play a video game is entertaining.
6:39
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, totally alpha.
6:40
SPEAKER_04: Genital phone.
6:43
SPEAKER_04: Okay, Bobby.
6:44
SPEAKER_04: This one's for you.
6:45
SPEAKER_04: We believe in handwritten thank you notes, picking up the phone instead of texting and telling you how much things used to cost.
6:51
SPEAKER_00: That's my love.
6:52
SPEAKER_00: Is that you?
6:53
SPEAKER_00: I'm a boomer.
6:55
SPEAKER_03: Next time we should send you a thank you note in writing.
6:58
SPEAKER_03: No email.
7:00
SPEAKER_00: I wrote thank you notes today.
7:01
SPEAKER_00: So this morning.
7:02
SPEAKER_04: Oh it's a good practice for all people.
7:05
SPEAKER_04: But I'll be honest, as a millennial, my mom would try to make me write thank you notes and I hated it.
7:11
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
7:12
SPEAKER_04: Hated it.
7:14
SPEAKER_04: Um, this generation had dialed up internet, burned our own CDs, and had to wait until we got home to see whether the picture we took was actually good.
7:24
SPEAKER_02: Millennials.
7:24
SPEAKER_04: Millennials.
7:25
SPEAKER_04: Millennials.
7:26
SPEAKER_04: I know.
7:26
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
7:27
SPEAKER_04: All right.
7:27
SPEAKER_04: You're gonna get this one totally.
7:29
SPEAKER_04: If we didn't get a good picture, the event basically didn't happen.
7:33
SPEAKER_04: And please don't post anything until I approve that photo.
7:36
SPEAKER_04: Gen Z and Alpha.
7:38
SPEAKER_04: Alpha.
7:39
SPEAKER_00: Alpha and Z.
7:41
SPEAKER_00: It's like my children.
7:43
SPEAKER_04: I know.
7:43
SPEAKER_04: Well, and that's the thing.
7:44
SPEAKER_04: You and I have kind of talked about this too, with that next generation and the and the digital space that they interact in and how it's like become their reality.
7:53
SPEAKER_04: All this.
7:53
SPEAKER_04: This is not our discussion necessarily today.
7:55
SPEAKER_04: However, I find it fascinating.
7:57
SPEAKER_04: This whole thing of like if they don't get the perfect picture of it, then they're basically like, this didn't happen.
8:05
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
8:05
SPEAKER_04: And I'm like, what?
8:06
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
8:06
SPEAKER_04: Oh my goodness.
8:07
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
8:08
SPEAKER_04: And I mean it is, it's the world that we live in now with Instagram and all the things and how many times.
8:13
SPEAKER_04: And then I do watch people take pictures, not just Gen Z and Gen Alpha, take pictures over and over and over and over again.
8:20
SPEAKER_04: And I'm like, oh wow.
8:21
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's a bit much.
8:22
SPEAKER_03: It's a thing.
8:23
SPEAKER_00: Well, I don't know if it's because I'm friendly, but anytime we're out and I see like a family want to take a picture.
8:29
SPEAKER_00: Like I'm always, yeah, hey, you want me to take that for you?
8:31
SPEAKER_00: Same.
8:32
SPEAKER_00: And I've learned to be like, hold hold on.
8:34
SPEAKER_00: And then the mom or whoever's in charge check this before anybody moves because we're probably gonna have to retake it.
8:41
SPEAKER_04: Are you good at taking pictures for people?
8:43
SPEAKER_04: Because that's a there's pressure now.
8:44
SPEAKER_03: It is like are you getting the right angles, you know, distance, all that stuff?
8:48
SPEAKER_00: I've got some I got an eye.
8:49
SPEAKER_00: I've been I've been trained by some creative types.
8:52
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, Christian has helped me.
8:58
SPEAKER_00: But it's it's super fun.
8:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
9:00
SPEAKER_04: Anyway, that's all that I had.
9:02
SPEAKER_04: You did good.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: It goes back to what's wrong with this generation, you know.
9:08
SPEAKER_00: What what uh I think every generation has always kind of looked at at the young generation and and we've said that or seen that.
9:15
SPEAKER_00: It's like, man, these kids are are crazy.
9:17
SPEAKER_00: They're out of these days.
9:20
SPEAKER_00: It's nuts.
9:20
SPEAKER_00: So let's jump into the the question of like what does this generation need um from us?
9:28
SPEAKER_00: So let's start with what do we misunderstand about Gen Alpha, Gen X?
9:33
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's a great question.
9:35
SPEAKER_03: I think one of the things that I noticed, especially like with my son and his friends, is they're fantastic collaborators.
9:41
SPEAKER_03: Like, I don't know if you've seen this like with your kiddos, but they will do some major collaboration, even when it comes down to like food.
9:48
SPEAKER_03: So they're gonna be like, um, I'm gonna buy this package of food and I'm gonna buy this, and we're gonna sit down and share it and split it together.
9:55
SPEAKER_03: Um, and they are always like working to solve and to collaborate.
9:58
SPEAKER_03: And I think they do that so naturally well.
10:01
SPEAKER_03: I don't know where it stems from, but it's one thing that I'm noticing about them is that they're figuring out the dynamics of like their small group and they're collaborating to get something done, which I'm not sure that you know, millennials have done a great job of that or any other generation, but it's one thing that I noticed uh that they do well that I think that we could probably like maximize on and use, especially in group settings, workplace and in ministry and things like that.
10:26
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, fantastic collaborators.
10:29
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and I think, you know, to to kind of push back against that that age-old question of like what's wrong with this generation, and you know, every generation has a stereotype, every generation has its high things that they I guess society or people around them would be like, wow, this generation was great at this.
10:47
SPEAKER_04: And then they have the the stereotypes that they're known for that people tend to kind of like lean towards negatively or whatever, and and that kind of puts people in a place of like, oh, you know, what's wrong with them?
10:59
SPEAKER_04: And and there's some truth in some of those stereotypes, right?
11:02
SPEAKER_04: Of of like part of, okay, so yes, they're collaborators, but then some people will say, Oh, well, you know, they're not very resilient anymore, you know, and they and they don't want to work.
11:11
SPEAKER_04: And um, and you know, what what generation was everybody was saying snowflakes, like right?
11:16
SPEAKER_04: They were they just like can't, you know, and so there's there's all these um kind of generalizations that happen, and I think it's it makes it difficult because I think ultimately instead of saying like what's wrong with this generation, we're asking the wrong question.
11:33
SPEAKER_04: Sure.
11:33
SPEAKER_04: And so really that question is like, what does this generation need given sort of what we know about it, you know?
11:40
SPEAKER_04: And so that kind of comes to this question of like, what do kids, what does Gen Alpha and maybe Gen Z, what do they need from adults right now?
11:49
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think one thing that I'm also experiencing in my role is I I do see that they want mentorship.
11:56
SPEAKER_03: Um, they're even asking for it.
11:59
SPEAKER_03: And I think it may be a little bit different than what we're used to mentoring ship looking like um for them and from my experience and in mentoring other uh young adults is that it's more of like a friendship base, right?
12:10
SPEAKER_03: Because they are a generation that they want realness, they want you to be genuine, they want you to be honest about the things that you experience and how they can walk along in that.
12:19
SPEAKER_03: And so I am seeing that there is a desire for mentorship, for someone to walk alongside them in their careers, in their faith journey, but also be more real with it.
12:29
SPEAKER_03: So it's more of like a genuine friendship that develops through that mentorship.
12:33
SPEAKER_03: And so I think that's something that's really key and important for us to kind of take advantage of and walk along with them.
12:38
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
12:39
SPEAKER_04: Would you say there's anything that they need less of that adults are placing on them or or sort of projecting?
12:45
SPEAKER_03: That's a great, that's another great question.
12:48
SPEAKER_03: And I I find that I may like be reserved to answer that because I'm thinking of it from a parent's perspective.
12:53
SPEAKER_03: And I'm like, they probably want us less to come to say and tell them what to do, but right, they they need that guidance and they need that support.
13:01
SPEAKER_03: But maybe it's a it's how we say it, you know.
13:04
SPEAKER_03: Maybe it's a conversation where they're able to digest and to understand and take apart the experience or the question so that they can rationalize it and develop their own thought process in it.
13:14
SPEAKER_03: And so maybe it's not so much of I'm gonna tell you what to do as opposed to let's have a conversation about why this is the best path or why this decision is better in this direction.
13:25
SPEAKER_03: So that's what I'm thinking.
13:26
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: And you know, as your dedicated boomer, they need less, they need less brain rot, they need less just mindless stuff.
13:36
SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
13:37
SPEAKER_00: So I'm wagging my finger with just the the silly things that they spend their time in energy.
13:43
SPEAKER_00: Oh gosh, I think that would that would be a lesson in my book.
13:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: Well, not to kind of nerd out, if you will, but I've done a lot of research recently and trying to develop some some resources and uh according to Pugh's research um on a 2023-24 religious landscape study, what's been interesting is if you go back a hundred years, so you got the s the greatest generation, which is World War I, that that generation, if you look at three elements, you have home life, church life, and community life.
14:18
SPEAKER_00: Uh that generation, all three, was pretty well molded together.
14:23
SPEAKER_00: And then you transition to the next generation, silent generation, where it's community is is is less involved, where you still have a pretty good home and church where faith is transferred.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: Then you get to uh baby boomer, and we start to see for the first time in a hundred years where home is less important and church is more priority.
14:45
SPEAKER_00: And then you get to Gen X where home is almost non-existent for faith transfer, it's all church, and that's 65 to 80.
14:53
SPEAKER_00: And I've talked to some older folks, some seasoned folks, they're like, is this true?
14:57
SPEAKER_00: You grew up this and they were like, Yeah, I mean the church was so vital, booming, there was revival all through the 70s.
15:04
SPEAKER_00: That's true, but then the pendulum starts swinging.
15:07
SPEAKER_00: Millennials, it's still um mainly the church, but the home is starting to increase back into faith transference.
15:15
SPEAKER_00: Then Gen Z, we see this resurgence of home and church, and now with Gen Alpha, all the research is pointing to back to the three components home plus church and community, because it's become more of a global thing to openly discuss and talk about your faith.
15:34
SPEAKER_00: So that was a long explanation to get to this question.
15:38
SPEAKER_00: But uh, how can we give more young give young people more opportunities to wrestle with their questions of their faith, uh, knowing that it's happening at home, it's happening at church, and it's happening in their communities that that they're involved in.
15:53
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
15:53
SPEAKER_03: I think we have some really great organizations that are out there that are doing the work like FCA and Young Life.
16:00
SPEAKER_03: So they're in the schools and creating these spaces for our youth and teens to be able to have these conversations and these in the dialogue.
16:08
SPEAKER_03: Um, one of the things that I think w will be key to that is these mentorship relationships because you know, at the end of the day, when we have questions, it is hard to ask those questions in group settings, even if it's only five or ten people.
16:22
SPEAKER_03: And so I I feel like those mentorship, those one-on-one relationships will really be a key into having deep, meaningful conversations when it comes to faith and faith exploration for young people.
16:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think that goes along with what research is showing because they're getting some mentorship, discipleship at home, they're receiving it at church, and now there's outside community resources that are also fostering those faith conversations and that development.
16:49
SPEAKER_00: And the more we can plus onto that, as parents, you know, our kids want to go to FCA or or they want to go to Young Life or to the Y.
17:00
SPEAKER_00: Like a lot of times we're like, oh, we don't have time for you to add one more thing to your schedule, but it's a it's a it's expanding their their faith development, and then hopefully they come home and then we get to talk about it at home as well.
17:13
SPEAKER_00: It's a huge thing.
17:14
SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
17:14
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, well, and I think too, you know, thinking through well, one, I you know, we've been doing a lot of research in in sort of digging down into some of the reports about about the upcoming generation, and and you know, one thing that Fuller Life Institute they came out with recently was that what what kids are really searching for too are adults who will listen without judgment.
17:38
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
17:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
17:39
SPEAKER_04: You know, and so thinking through like mentoring relationships, thinking through even even as a parent, yeah, like what does that really look like when your kid comes to you wrestling through their faith and and bringing some really honest questions, or or maybe they have honest questions that they aren't even asking, you know, and and what does that really look like to be discerning without jumping in as judgmental?
18:03
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
18:03
SPEAKER_04: And what does it look like to guide them without like wanting to like, what were you thinking?
18:10
SPEAKER_04: And why are you why would you say that?
18:11
SPEAKER_04: And that's not what we believe in, and that's not who you are, and all those questions that yeah, I mean, we're all parents here, like we get that you you feel that, like, what in the world is happening, you know.
18:20
SPEAKER_04: But it's just so interesting.
18:21
SPEAKER_04: And this this study is what what students are saying, this is what teachers are saying.
18:25
SPEAKER_04: We're looking for adults who are willing to listen to us without judging, yeah, you know, and so that I feel like speaks to that.
18:32
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it's like the um have you guys seen online it's the we listen and we don't judge thing that you know has been circulating.
18:40
SPEAKER_03: So it's it's intertwined in it.
18:42
SPEAKER_03: And so basically, two people sit down and they say things that they wanted to say, but because they've made this declaration, it doesn't matter what how crazy or off table it is, but yeah, you know, we listen and we don't judge.
18:53
SPEAKER_03: And so I think that's kind of reminiscent of their culture, like that generation's culture of wanting to be able to openly express um concerns or ideas or questions, but also to not experience that judgment in it.
19:05
SPEAKER_03: So I definitely could see that.
19:06
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, well, and I think remaining curious, right?
19:08
SPEAKER_04: But remaining curious too, as the adult across the table, maybe, or or embarking upon a relationship with a young adult of like, I'm gonna lead with curiosity.
19:19
SPEAKER_04: It doesn't mean that we're not gonna get to a place where I'm gonna be like, let's really think through this, or or or are you sure that that's you know is that really what you stand for, or something like that, you know?
19:30
SPEAKER_00: It's not that you're not gonna give guidance, but yeah, it's it's balancing not attacking their character or identity, but but really addressing the truth.
19:41
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
19:41
SPEAKER_00: Um, and and not shying away, like it's not a judgmental thing.
19:45
SPEAKER_00: I'm not judging you, I love you, you're my kid, but but there's truth that we have to to have as a foundation.
19:52
SPEAKER_00: I think the other interesting part of that research article, and correct me if I'm wrong, I think it says 37% of teens who are active in their church, 37% um have differing differing theological things with their parents, but they don't want to talk about it.
20:10
SPEAKER_00: Oh wow, okay.
20:11
SPEAKER_00: Which that number seems low, but it also can seem very high.
20:14
SPEAKER_00: That 37% of church kids have uh a differing theological understanding of something that's probably something big, but they won't they they don't want to talk about it with their parents.
20:26
SPEAKER_00: But maybe another caring adult or or uh youth leader or or something like that.
20:32
SPEAKER_00: And so being curious, Meg, to your point of like we can uh uh go after that 37%, we can help them shape them and to let them ask the the hard questions because a lot of them I would assume they don't know how to even approach those things.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: Like I think differently than my parents, but I don't want to talk about it.
20:53
SPEAKER_00: But how do I as parents we move to their direction and and have those conversations?
20:59
SPEAKER_00: It's really good.
20:59
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
21:00
SPEAKER_04: So thinking through in terms of you know digitally saturated generation, um social media, three second attention span, which is not just alpha, you know, I mean it's just like but thinking through that idea of like entertainment or this like this this sort of dopamine hit that we all kind of like crave now because of the way that social media and and and digital spaces have kind of framed that for us, you know, what does it look like to kind of move from feeling the need to maybe entertain kids or maybe the pressure as an adult, like, oh, I have to be cool or I have to entertain them in order for them, you know, to feel like they can trust me.
21:42
SPEAKER_04: How do we move kind of from that like entertainment space more to the like formation space?
21:46
SPEAKER_03: Yes, that's so good.
21:47
SPEAKER_03: So I think about that, even in the space of like our Christian values conference, where it's like a week long and there's like fun parts, but there's also this really in depth, meaningful group time, which they call family time, where they get to go.
22:00
SPEAKER_03: Through and have information.
22:01
SPEAKER_03: I think it's probably something that like student ministries struggle with, right?
22:04
SPEAKER_03: You want to get them through the door, you want them to have fun and you want to engage them because we know that you know the culture has created this intention attention span that's really short.
22:15
SPEAKER_03: But I think as we're building programs and in ministry and even in the nonprofit world at the YMCA, is asking that evaluating question of like what what I'm putting together, this event or this gathering, what do I ultimately want them to take away from this time?
22:29
SPEAKER_03: Like what is the one thing that I can say, yes, we've gathered together, we've done this.
22:34
SPEAKER_03: I want each one of these students to have the opportunity to take X, you know, home with them.
22:39
SPEAKER_03: Um and so I think it's sitting down to make sure and to evaluate what we're the programs we're putting together to make sure that they are meaningful.
22:47
SPEAKER_03: They're not just intended to create, you know, this exciting, fun space, but that that's the part that gets them in.
22:54
SPEAKER_03: And then it's something that's deeply meaningful and engaging, that it gives them something to take away to build them up in their faith walk.
23:01
SPEAKER_03: So yeah.
23:02
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
23:02
SPEAKER_04: And I think adults shouldn't be afraid to step into like the spaces where they're like, well, uh, you know, I'm not cool.
23:11
SPEAKER_04: I I don't offer, you know, I don't know all the slaying things to say, and they're gonna think I sound silly because I say the wrong things or whatever, you know, there there can be that like intimidation.
23:23
SPEAKER_04: And I think well, I think we all just crave authentic relationships, authentic people.
23:30
SPEAKER_04: And so, you know, if as as a next generation, you know, as an older generation and then beyond, you know, even me, like I think don't be afraid to just like be available, yeah.
23:41
SPEAKER_04: And and you don't have to be anybody but who you are, because like I think I think most young adults are just craving authentic people, not cool people who can show them how cool they are because they're really not, right?
23:52
SPEAKER_00: Like it and this generation by far, uh and I've kind of said this in in the past, but I I think even more so can sniff out fakeness, yeah.
24:04
SPEAKER_00: So much like I we're what watching a AI video and they're like, Dad, that's AI.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: Yes, like how do you know?
24:13
SPEAKER_00: You can tell by this, this, and that they can just sense it, they want authentic voices in their life, they're longing for it.
24:20
SPEAKER_00: And so I know for me and my kids, I have hope for this generation.
24:26
SPEAKER_00: Um what gives you hope when you look at this next generation with the students and folks you've been working with?
24:32
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think uh one of the things that we sometimes forget is that uh the great of greatest movements throughout history uh were led by young adults, young people.
24:42
SPEAKER_03: I mean, we look at the YMCA, it was established as a young men's Christian association.
24:48
SPEAKER_03: We think about uh the civil rights, the student-led civil rights movements of the 60s and um even Passion Conference, which started in the 90s.
24:56
SPEAKER_03: I think in 2024 it said it had like 55,000 young adults that it gathered at that conference.
25:03
SPEAKER_03: And so um, those are the things that I'm like always like, okay, yes, these movements have been led by young adults.
25:09
SPEAKER_03: And then we look at, you know, my favorite, the Christian movement, uh, which was established and by young people.
25:15
SPEAKER_03: Like Jesus started his ministry, I think, around the age of 30, right?
25:19
SPEAKER_03: And a lot of scholars and to um mentioned that the disciples were between the age of 13 and 30.
25:26
SPEAKER_03: Um, and so what that means is that they're looking at, like, for example, I think it was in Matthew chapter 17, the temple tax, where Jesus goes and tells Peter to um go and pay for two of us.
25:37
SPEAKER_03: And it's actually in I think verse 27, it says, But so we won't offend them, go to the sea, cast it in a fish hook, and take the first fish that you catch.
25:47
SPEAKER_03: When you open its mouth, you'll find a coin, take it and give it to them for me and you.
25:52
SPEAKER_03: That's just two.
25:53
SPEAKER_03: And so what the theologians believe based on the Mosaic law was that anybody that was 20 and older were required to pay the temple tax.
26:02
SPEAKER_03: And so then the theory is that the other disciples were under 20.
26:07
SPEAKER_03: And so, if we think about like the Christian church, our the movement of our faith was led by young men.
26:14
SPEAKER_03: And so for me, that's just like wow, if we sit back and think about that in today's context, what does that mean for us?
26:20
SPEAKER_03: And I think that means that we can't invite young adults to be at the table, right?
26:25
SPEAKER_03: We should create the space for their voice to be heard, especially in the church.
26:30
SPEAKER_03: And I think that that means that in that, in that way, we also provide mentorship, right?
26:36
SPEAKER_03: We're not just saying, okay, here's a space to do what you like, but they are also wanting that mentorship.
26:41
SPEAKER_03: So us walking alongside them as we're creating this space is to invite them uh to the table and to give them a space for their voice.
26:48
SPEAKER_03: And I think that when we do that, we will see so much growth from this generation.
26:53
SPEAKER_03: I think I'm hopeful for their leadership.
26:56
SPEAKER_03: Um, I like what I see, and I think it's going to be fantastic.
26:59
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, amen.
27:00
SPEAKER_03: That's good.
27:01
SPEAKER_04: Well, and I think I when I hear you say that, I hear instead of saying, What is the matter with this generation?
27:07
SPEAKER_04: What is wrong with this generation?
27:09
SPEAKER_04: saying, What is this generation capable of?
27:11
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, you know, like what is the Lord doing through this generation?
27:15
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
27:16
SPEAKER_04: And um it's good.
27:18
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, it's good.
27:18
SPEAKER_04: It does make sense.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: I like I said, because my kids are in this generation, I have so much hope.
27:25
SPEAKER_00: I tell them all the time, you're gonna change the world something.
27:27
SPEAKER_00: And I believe it, I want it.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: And uh God's God's got something special with this generation.
27:33
SPEAKER_00: He's gonna use them um for for amazing things, but a part of that is parents who are leading the way, having these conversations, getting them plugged into community and and allowing God to do his work.
27:47
SPEAKER_00: You know, at the end of the day, as parents, like the Holy Spirit does the work, not me.
27:50
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
27:51
SPEAKER_00: I just want to be a facilitator for for God to be able to do his thing in this generation.
27:57
SPEAKER_00: So, Robin, yeah, thank you so much for your time.
28:00
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for all you do at the Y and for young people.
28:03
SPEAKER_00: Uh Meg, thanks for all your research and prompting of all of this.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: I know we're gonna have resources coming because we're both working on a lot of things, especially with Gen Alpha, but also with how parents can relate and connect and and with ministry leaders, how we can equip our kids better.
28:21
SPEAKER_00: So be on the lookout for those resources.
28:24
SPEAKER_00: But if you have any questions or want any more information about these resources, how we can help you win at home, uh, always go to empoweredhomes.org.