Ep. 02 - Understanding Gen Z (with Katie Prejean McGrady)

In Episode 2 of The Youth Ministry Mindset Podcast, a limited series with voices from Alpha and YDisciple, Joshua, Annie, and Jordan continue to discuss how to move from transactional to transformational ministry. Katie Prejean McGrady weighs in with insights into how Gen Z thinks and ways to reach them in a digital world. Join us as we continue the conversation on what youth ministers can do moving into a post-COVID world.  

SHOWNOTES

• Introductions   
    -Culture matters more than content. COVID presented us with a new opportunity to reshape the culture of youth ministry in the Church
• What makes Gen Z tick?
• 3 different sections of Gen Z: Older and in college, younger and in middle school, & high schoolers
    -They need affirmation and find it in phones/dopamine from social media
    -Are black and white on issues, “the wokest generation” - we can learn from them
    -Misunderstood generation
    -Looking for an authentic connection. The digital world is the real world now. Dialogue and conversation are happening. We cannot write off phone usage
• How do we reach Gen Z?
    -Don't just occupy digital spaces
    -Try to draw them away into real life and give them the break we know they need. Done out of love, not judgment
    -Creating connection by seeing them and speaking to them as an individual
    -Grow in empathy for Gen Z. What are their daily struggles that we may not know? They feel isolated. They are looking for relationships to thrive
    -They want a church that speaks love and truth but not in an accusing way
  -See their struggles, reference their social media post. Offer to pray and give resources. Enter into digital space, then pull them out.
• We can be the one who tells them they are not alone
• What you would tell volunteers
   -First, establish trust. “What did you watch on Netflix” want relationship   
  -Want substance. Not afraid to go deeper. Love them as you go there
• Both/and: Be compassionate but don’t sacrifice truth. The “how” matters
• Need to draw them into a space outside the digital world where they know they are known and loved
• We have to listen to people over data, not data over people. Have to be students of this generation
• Have this conversation with Gen Z, not just youth ministers.
• The internet is not the enemy. Find appropriate ways to use social media as the avenue to begin relationships
• Put ourselves in the shoes of young people

REFERENCES
Understanding and Ministering to Millenials and Gen Z by Katie Prejean McGrady https://reviveparishes.com/course/the-generational-divide/

PULL QUOTES
9:23 “We don’t need to just occupy those spaces and shove Jesus stuff in their face there...try to draw them away for some respite.”
15:33 “We are not always on offense. Sometimes we are on defense. And defense doesn’t mean we just roll over and let this kid walk away. It just means that I need to find another way to connect with them.
19:32 “They want a church that speaks love and truth.., but doesn’t do it in an accusatory or attacking kind of way.”
21:13 “I think that is very true of a lot of Gen Zers. They just need somebody to listen to them and process.”
26:53 "A young person wants to know that you see them and love them before they know that you know anything practical about the Church.