Pastor's Reflection 2024-09-26
When I directed the United Methodist Church’s Asian American Language Ministry Plan (part of the General Board of Global Ministries) one of my goals was to connect with as many of the Asian American churches across the country, as I could. In my first year I quickly discovered that every church wanted the same thing: they all wanted more young people and young families to attend their churches. This is understandable. Since the mid 1960’s church membership in the United Methodist Church has been declining.
It goes without saying that if churches don’t intentionally try to engage young people and young families, they will risk aging out and losing their long-term vitality. Thus, the survival and growth of our churches depends upon attracting and welcoming the next generation into the fold.
To reach out to the next generations, we cannot use methods like newspaper ads, the yellow pages or flyers. These are not effective with the next generation. Today’s youth, especially Millennials (26-39) and Gen Z (under 25), live in a digital age where social media shapes their ideas and interactions. Gen Zer’s spends an average of 6-8 hours per day on their phones mainly looking at social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In fact, nearly 74% of Gen Zer’s say they get their news primarily from social media platforms, compared to only <14% of Baby Boomers (ages 57-75), who still tend to rely on TV or print news. This generational shift means that if churches want to engage with younger people, we have to meet them where they are— on those social media sites. So while Baby Boomers might see a TV ad and consider visiting a church, the Gen Z er is more likely to be intrigued by a short, engaging video on TikTok or a visually captivating post on Instagram.
Pastor's Reflection cont'd from p.1
And it is about more than just changing where we reach out; it is also about how we present ourselves. A fresh-looking, rebranded logo or an updated website may seem like minor adjustments, but they signal that Wesley is a vibrant community and we are part of the world today. These visual updates help younger people feel like the church isn’t stuck in the past but is evolving, open to change and can be responsive to their needs.
To this end, we would like to invite you to our final Rebranding Town Hall meeting on October 20, from 11:30am to 12:30pm in the Sanctuary. We will get a recap of the progress that we have made up to this point of refreshing our message and how we present ourselves to the world. We will get a chance to review and vote on a new fresh-looking logo for Wesley!
As we move forward, it’s also important to recognize and know that our message of faith, hope, and love remains the same, but our methods must adapt to ensure that we are reaching the next generation. By embracing new social media platforms, and refreshing our visual identity, we can create a welcoming space for younger people to connect with God and community in ways that resonate with their everyday lives.
It goes without saying that if churches don’t intentionally try to engage young people and young families, they will risk aging out and losing their long-term vitality. Thus, the survival and growth of our churches depends upon attracting and welcoming the next generation into the fold.
To reach out to the next generations, we cannot use methods like newspaper ads, the yellow pages or flyers. These are not effective with the next generation. Today’s youth, especially Millennials (26-39) and Gen Z (under 25), live in a digital age where social media shapes their ideas and interactions. Gen Zer’s spends an average of 6-8 hours per day on their phones mainly looking at social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In fact, nearly 74% of Gen Zer’s say they get their news primarily from social media platforms, compared to only <14% of Baby Boomers (ages 57-75), who still tend to rely on TV or print news. This generational shift means that if churches want to engage with younger people, we have to meet them where they are— on those social media sites. So while Baby Boomers might see a TV ad and consider visiting a church, the Gen Z er is more likely to be intrigued by a short, engaging video on TikTok or a visually captivating post on Instagram.
Pastor's Reflection cont'd from p.1
And it is about more than just changing where we reach out; it is also about how we present ourselves. A fresh-looking, rebranded logo or an updated website may seem like minor adjustments, but they signal that Wesley is a vibrant community and we are part of the world today. These visual updates help younger people feel like the church isn’t stuck in the past but is evolving, open to change and can be responsive to their needs.
To this end, we would like to invite you to our final Rebranding Town Hall meeting on October 20, from 11:30am to 12:30pm in the Sanctuary. We will get a recap of the progress that we have made up to this point of refreshing our message and how we present ourselves to the world. We will get a chance to review and vote on a new fresh-looking logo for Wesley!
As we move forward, it’s also important to recognize and know that our message of faith, hope, and love remains the same, but our methods must adapt to ensure that we are reaching the next generation. By embracing new social media platforms, and refreshing our visual identity, we can create a welcoming space for younger people to connect with God and community in ways that resonate with their everyday lives.
Posted in Newsletter 2024-09-26