​This month, Katy White and I are celebrating the 2-year anniversary of our book, Mobilizing Gen Z (check out our latest podcast for new insights on this topic)! It is also the 10-year anniversary of my first book, Millennials in Ministry! What a journey it has been this past decade working with all of you as we seek to encourage and equip the next generation. 

As I reflect on all that I have learned in over a decade of researching generational trends, I am struck by the fact that the best practices for connecting across generations are contained in a list written many centuries ago by the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the Galatians, he lists traits that many people of faith often refer to as the "fruits of the Spirit." They are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If you go to Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he talks about three things that will last forever: love, faith, and hope. 

These insights from Paul's letters, penned long ago, hold great value today. In a society where cancel culture and polarization inform perceptions and behaviors, young people are desperate for patience, faithfulness, and kindness. When 24/7 news leaves us feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, young people need to see peace, self control, and hope. 

As leaders, mentors, parents and teachers, we have an amazing opportunity to model those things that will last forever. They often seem extinct in many parts of our culture, which only makes them more impactful when the young people around us experience them in our lives.

How can you model what Paul wrote about to the young people around you today?  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about one-third of businesses survive to their 10th year. We are thrilled here at Leading Tomorrow to have celebrated this milestone this past month! For the rest of this year, we will be highlighting key resources, providing new content, and having special offers to say “thank you” to those of you who have supported and worked with us over the past decade! This month, I reviewed my current Top-10 Picks for Next Gen Resources (see below). I hope you find these helpful! You can also listen to me discuss key takeaways from each resource in this month’s episode of The Leading Tomorrow podcast.

Marching Off the Map by Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak
This book was published in 2017 but continues to be my go-to resource for teaching and training strategies for Gen Z & Gen Alpha. My favorite is the EPIC model — experiential, participatory, image-rich, and connected (relational). This is how young people today learn best!

Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business—and What to Do About It by Jason Dorsey & Denise Villa
This is the best book I have found on understanding the workplace expectations and needs of Gen Z. Practical strategies are presented for every step of onboarding a Gen Z team member, from recruiting, to training, to retention.

The Culture Translator by Axis
This weekly email on what is trending in culture and the lives of teens is gold. For example, did you know that in teen slang “Bop” means a really good song, “Cheugy” means awkward or cringey, and “Finna” means you are going to do something? Axis also has a podcast and many other resources for anyone wanting to understand the music, movies, shows and social media trends impacting today’s youth.

Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch and Amy Crouch
My favorite all-around resource on creating a family/home culture that helps manage technology in healthy ways. A great quote from the book states: “Technology is in its proper place only when we use it with intention and care. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered about technology, it’s that it doesn’t stay in its proper place on its own; much like my children’s toys and stuffed creatures and minor treasures, it finds its way underfoot all over the house and all over our lives. If we aren’t intentional and careful, we’ll end up with a quite extraordinary mess.” Another convicting quote: “An awful lot of children have been competing with their parents’ screens for attention their whole lives.”

Family Media Plan Tool by the American Academy of Pediatrics
This tool walks parents and other family members through a practical list of questions to consider in creating a media plan for the young people in our lives. I appreciate how the template generates good considerations for how to help all of us manage our devices.

The Anxious Generation: How the Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
This one was just released in March of 2024 and is already creating some powerful dialogue regarding how childhood has changed, what young people need, and how adults need to be intentional and unrelenting in creating environments for the next gen that counter the mental health epidemic and related challenges.

Kids’ Brains and Screens: A ScreenStrong Student Course by Melanie Hempe
Finally, a practical resource for educating and equipping young people to understand the impact of screens on their developing brains and lives. While most resources on technology speak to adults, this curriculum is designed for middle school students and presents information in a fun and engaging way. ScreenStrong has other resources as well.

Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents - and What They Mean for America’s Future by Jean Twenge
Dr. Jean Twenge is one of the most noted researchers on generational trends. In this, her latest book, she highlights key factors that contribute not only to the perspectives and behaviors of the youngest generations, but the trends that have impacted all of the living adult generations today.

Touch the World Youth & Young Adult Mission Training and Trips
Committed to equipping the next generation to live on mission every day, everywhere, Touch the World has some of the best training materials and programs out there for engaging Gen Z in missions. They offer in-person and online training, as well as short-term trips, internships, and a gap year program.

Gen SeXYZ: Love, Sexuality and Youth by Jeff Grenell
In the opening chapter, Grenell states: “One of the cultural realities of the Millennial and Gen Z sets is that they are living in a real and historic sexual revolution. Maybe the most staggering society-shifting tsunami to ever hit the shores of youth.” He continues to unpack the sexual revolution occurring today and offers practical strategies for anyone mentoring the next generation.

It is often noted today that our society and especially younger generations lack GRIT. So, what is GRIT? GRIT is a combination of passion and perseverance. It’s not necessarily strength, but rather the ability to persist in the face of challenges and setbacks, to always move forward. Sometimes, there are other words that are used interchangeably, like resilience, but GRIT and resilience are quite different. Resilience is the idea of learning from something, whereas GRIT is about continuing to move forward, no matter what. 

GRIT is not something that we’re given, it’s not an intelligence that we have, It’s not a talent we’re born with. It’s a mindset and a skill set that must be cultivated; it’s something that must be grown.

GRIT is a predicator of success, more than just natural ability. GRIT helps make long-term success happen. Embracing failure is key to developing this type of perseverance. Younger generations often need encouragement to view failure as a steppingstone to improvement.

So, what are some indicators that young people in our lives need to develop GRIT? Here are a few indicators to consider:
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1. Is a challenge, or anything related to it, being avoided? Sometimes, if it looks hard, sounds hard, then we don’t even attempt it. Sometimes people have called Gen Z lazy. If anything, that’s the complete opposite. Often, they’re very calculated, they’ll look at a situation and assess it so much more than perhaps other generations have. As a result, they often choose to avoid challenges or potential failure. When we see this occurring, we can offer encouragement to step into a challenge or try something difficult. We can also provide support through the process.
2. Is a young person in your life quick to give up, quitting sports, jobs, or hobbies very quickly? When this happens, we can encourage them to finish what they start. It is helpful to provide a listening ear where they can process emotions, frustrations, and recognize what can be learned through this situation. Asking good questions that help them reflect goes much further than just telling them what we think they need to understand.
3. Is there a lack of passion or interest in activities? We really want young people to explore many different things as early as possible to get them interested in different aspects of life. A lack of passion might be a warning sign that our kids need to develop GRIT. 

​Often, we can be prone to “rescue” young people around us from challenges or difficulties. We want to minimize their stress and struggle. However, offering consistent encouragement and support as they persist in working through challenges is a powerful gift that helps equip them to be successful.

Below is a list of resources with more insights and tips for encouraging GRIT in the young people we lead, teach, mentor and parent. The excerpt above is from my most recent podcast interview with James LaLonde. Check it out the full conversation on our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A Growth Mindset for Teens by Sydney Sheppard
Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens
Grit for Kids by Lee David Daniels
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I was recently asked if I had ever developed a top 10 list of Gen Z traits. The following is not a comprehensive list, but these ten traits stand out to me as important for us as leaders, parents, teachers, and mentors to understand about the next generation.

1. Individualistic: Gen Z is probably the most individualistic generation alive today. Technology has allowed them to customize their experiences and represent their individual perspectives and preferences instantaneously. Since childhood they have been encouraged to “you be you!” The resulting focus on self—personal development and happiness—often takes precedent over social norms or group rules.
2. Authentic: Gen Z has grown up in the era of “fake news,” where it is hard to know what is accurate. They value authenticity in themselves and others. Unlike older generations who may have sought to “fit in,” Gen Z is okay being unique. Identity is important.
3. Connected: This is a generation that has watched global events unfold via a device in their back pocket. They feel connected to needs, injustices, and tragedies in places and with people far away. As a result, they often have empathy for people who are treated unjustly and passion for important causes.
4. Anxious: Watching global tragedies, school shootings, and online breakups via social media, while surrounded by a culture of fear from the time they were born, this generation often struggles with anxiety and other mental health concerns.
5. Lonely: Many young people today have been competing with devices for the attention of parents and trusted adults since birth. In addition, virtual connections with their own friends do not allow for the emotional connection needed. Many young people today feel lonely and deeply desire a sense of belonging.
6. Tech Reliant: Often both tech savvy and tech addicted, the invasive nature of technology in the lives of young people today has created significant noise and distraction, as well as connection and opportunity.
7. Distracted: The constant distraction of dings, beeps, and buzzing has resulted in shortened attention spans for many of us today. Many Gen Zers need help creating intentional time for silence and reflection that result in peace, problem solving, and greater self-awareness.  
8. Openminded: Tolerance (understanding, respecting, accepting, affirming, and celebrating everyone’s point of view as equal and valid) has emerged as one of the highest values for this generation. As a result, many young people need help processing their own convictions and beliefs.
9. Biblically Illiterate: This is a generation that has grown up without a solid understanding of the Bible, clear definitions of truth, or clear moral guidelines. We can offer guidance and encouragement as they seek truth.  
10. Creative: This generation is willing to ask “how?” and see opportunities for innovation. They can be risk averse as well, so benefit from support and encouragement that creativity requires appropriate risk, and that failure can result in learning.

For more on these Gen Z traits, check out this month’s episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast.

Biblical understanding and engagement among today’s Gen Z college students is at a crisis point. In their 2018 Gen Z Report, Barna indicated that “the percentage of people whose beliefs qualify them for a biblical worldview declines in each successively younger generation: 10 percent of Boomers, 7 percent of Gen X and 6 percent of Millennials have a biblical worldview, compared to only 4 percent of Gen Z.” This correlates with the decline in biblical literacy. The American Bible Society reported in their 2023 State of the Bible Report that Generation Z is the least likely to turn to Scripture (30%), as compared to older generations.

Kinnaman and Matlock, in their book, Faith for Exiles, indicated that church attendance is also in decline among Gen Z. “Today, nearly two-thirds of all young adults who were once regular churchgoers have dropped out at one time or another (64%).” They explained that today’s society is “especially and insidiously faith repellent, making resilient faith tougher to grow today using the discipleship and teaching methods we relied on throughout the twentieth century.”

Elmore and McPeak, in their book, Marching Off the Map, indicated that students today are EPIC learners: Experiential, Participatory, Image Rich (visual), and Connected (relational). 

While students have always learned best through experience over lecture, this is especially true today in a world where young people are inundated with information. Furthermore, participation is key to metacognition and ownership in learning where students are constantly engaging and interacting in processes, conversations, and content curation. As students today live in a visually rich environment, where images and videos are a primary form of learning and information, effective education must include visual elements, as well as connection and collaboration with others, both mentors and peers. These principles, which are being applied in many educational settings, can be applied in biblical literacy and discipleship efforts as well.

Here are some key implications for those who seek to encourage biblical literacy in the next generation:

1. Gen Z does not learn the way previous generations learned. We must be willing to adapt methods of Bible training, spiritual formation, and discipleship in order to effectively engage this generation. 
2. Despite statistics on biblical illiteracy and disengagement from the church, Gen Z is open, and even desiring, to understand and engage with the Bible and spiritual truth. They need opportunities to learn and interact in ways that are meaningful and effective for them.
3. Gen Z can move toward a deeper understanding and appreciation for biblical truth when engaged in experiential, immersive, visual, and interactive ways.

We have an opportunity to inspire and encourage biblical literacy in the next generation by being willing to understand how they learn, engage, and communicate; to discern how God is preparing them to engage and serve in the culture and context in which they live; and to adapt our teaching and discipleship methods for twenty-first century learners. 

For more on this topic, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast. 

For years, the attendance of young people in worship gatherings has been in decline. The American Survey Center reported that Generation Z is the least religious generation yet. More than one-third (34 percent) of Generation Z are religiously unaffiliated, a significantly larger proportion than among Millennials (29 percent) and Generation X (25 percent). Fewer than one in five (18 percent) Baby Boomers and only 9 percent of the Silent Generation are religiously unaffiliated. But these numbers do not tell the entire story. 

Springtide Research Institute's most recent report on The State of Religion and Young People: Exploring the Sacred, indicates that young people are looking for sacred experiences . . . they just might not be finding them in places of worship. The report also highlighted that it is not always the physical place that matters most for young people to have a meaningful spiritual experience. Instead, in this study, young people describe sacred moments as interrupting daily life— moments that are characterized by truth, wonder, awe, gratitude, and a sense of interconnectedness. Springtide reported that three main dimensions emerged in young people’s definitions and descriptions of sacred moments: personal, relational, and extraordinary. This is a critical insight as we consider how to engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha in spiritual formation and growth. The importance of understanding individuals, engaging in meaningful and ongoing relationships, and facilitating extraordinary experiences (rather than prioritizing programs) are key takeaways from this study. You can find the full report at Springtide Research Institute. 

One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

As we head into the holiday season, many of us will be spending quality time with family and friends. This is a chance to give the unforgettable gift of making those around us feel seen, heard, valued, and appreciated. Especially as we engage the young people in our lives, there is an opportunity to connect in ways that encourage them to persevere through struggles, anxieties, or disappointments. Many of them may just need to know that our family, our friendship, or our community is a place where they belong. Some may be feeling uncertain or scared and need encouragement to pursue a new opportunity or try something that feels daunting. I have found that sometimes even a short 10–15-minute conversation where someone feels heard and has a chance to process what they are thinking, can result in the encouragement and insight they need to take an important step.

The good news is that to have this type of impact, we do not need to possess extraordinary knowledge, experience, or expertise. We simply need to engage those around us with empathy, taking time to ask good questions, listen, and provide specific encouragement. However, this can be difficult because it can require intentionality and sacrifice.

Today, with the constant noise and distractions of social media, news feeds, podcasts, music and notifications, we often give things our partial attention. This can become a habit that inhibits our ability to listen fully to those with whom we are interacting.

Active listening requires sacrificing our desire to share our own thoughts and experiences, and discipline to ignore distractions and fully focus on the person in front of us. Here are a few other elements of active listening:

​• Ask good, open-ended questions.
• Focus your attention on the speaker. Make eye contact.
• Consider body language, facial expressions, tone, and emotions.
• Do not interrupt or assume a conclusion before the speaker has finished.
• Do not think about what you are going to say next.
• Listen to what they are saying and react without judgment.
• Reflect what you are hearing and ask clarifying questions.
• Provide specific encouragement and affirmation.
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Listening requires a lot of self-control as we prioritize the other person, their experience and feelings, and manage our own responses and reactions. However, the value of listening is significant. Businessman Nido Qubein offers a good reminder as we engage others this holiday season: “Listen twice as much as you talk, and others will hear twice as much of what you say.”

The demographics of the workplace are changing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that by 2031, Millennials and Gen Z will make up three fourths of the labor force in America, with Millennials currently the largest generational block in the workplace. As young employees begin their careers and new generations step into management and leadership roles, it is important to understand how to engage and motivate individuals across generations. 

Today, younger employees are more likely to want to interact with colleagues and leaders, to engage in discussion around important topics, and have permission to ask questions. Employees want to know they have a voice, that they belong and are valued in their organization. 

While fair compensation is important to all generations, younger employees are also motivated by their emotional needs being considered. Authentic relationships are important, as is understanding how different individual roles contribute to a greater purpose. 

Consider the following as you look to motivate different generations on your team:

• How does healthy dialogue occur regarding important topics and decisions? Are questions openly invited and engaged? Are there additional ways to do this on your team? 
• Do team members of all ages share thoughts and ideas with you, and the rest of the team? If not, consider how to intentionally communicate that everyone's voice and input are valued.  
• How does your team currently prioritize and communicate the value of authentic relationships and healthy team development? How could this be done more intentionally? 

Younger generations are growing up with unprecedented access to news, images, and information often portraying traumatic experiences and situations. In addition, they are connected 24/7 to friends and family members who may be struggling with trauma, mental health issues, or other concerns. The result is that many Gen Zers, in addition to experiencing trauma in their own lives, are coping with vicarious trauma. 
Vicarious or secondary trauma occurs when exposed to someone else's trauma--trauma you have not experienced yourself, but learned about from other people or sources. In the past, vicarious trauma was especially notable in professionals working in the medical field, counseling, social work, emergency services and similar fields. Today, however, the constant exposure to information can result in an increased risk of vicarious trauma for anyone, especially for young people who are still developing their understanding of the world, self awareness, and self management skills.

On this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow podcast, I am joined by James LaLonde to discuss how we can help protect young people, and support them when they are experiencing the effects of vicarious trauma. Some of the strategies discussed include:

• Increasing our awareness and understanding of the young people in our lives
• Developing our own emotional intelligence (EQ) 
• Teaching young people skills to be self aware and alleviate stress
• Modeling healthy behaviors around technology use
• Encouraging professional help when needed
• Creating an environment in our homes, schools, and workplaces that promotes physical exercise, trying new activities, and developing healthy relationships

For more on this topic, consider reading one of the following resources: Childhood Disrupted by Nakazawa or The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.