08 Mar Increase Church Engagement with Your Millennials and Gen Z

Millennials (born from 1981-1996) and Generation Z (born from 1997-2015) have grown up in a very different world than older generations. What your younger members may want in a faith-based community experience might be different than that of your older members.

According to Pew Research, 18-29 year-olds are the least religious age group in the U.S. Yet, they are curious and caring. Your church has an opportunity re-engage them.

Here are some basic principles to keep in mind as you build relationships with your Millennials and Gen Z.

Go with Information and Transparency

The younger generations are used to having all the information they need at their fingertips. Be sure to be thorough and open in your communications with them. Tell them the basic information: who, what, when, where, and whys. Be real and be honest; but also, be concise.

Use Contemporary Platforms

Social media is king, but which platforms you should use to connect with your younger members is ever-evolving. Facebook is still the top-visited social media site, but YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are more popular among Millennials and Gen Z. Ask your young members which platforms they use, then build your social media strategy accordingly.

Connect with Mobile

It’s essential that all your communications be mobile friendly. Your younger members live on and through their smartphones. That means that your website, videos, images, social media, giving platforms and more must work cleanly and quickly on mobile phones.

If your church isn’t already doing text giving well, then look no further than mobileAxept!

GiveNow is the premier text giving option for churches, offering an intuitive donor experience where they can register, set up recurring payments, and edit their settings all from a single text.

And, for welcoming and interacting with potential new members, use ConnectNow, our virtual visitor card solution, which makes it easier to engage with new guests. For more information on ConnectNow and GiveNow, reach out today!

Offer Plenty of Service Opportunities

Many young people crave fact-to-face experiences that get them off their devices and into the real world. So, you should be offering plenty of opportunities for them to get out and about and help the community. Whether it’s a full-on mission trip or just a couple hours at a local food drive or soup kitchen, your younger members will appreciate that their church is giving them the chance to make a difference. Bonus tip: After a service activity, debrief together about the experience at a local coffee shop. This will solidify the relationships and build your community.

Lead with Purpose

Millennials and Gen Z have unlimited choices for how to use their free time. If they are to choose your church as an organization, they need to feel alignment with your purpose and goals. So be clear to your church’s mission and vision. Send brief but regular communications about the work you’re doing. Differentiate yourself among the other church options in your community.

For more information or to get started, contact sales.