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The subject of the Church and its relevancy in this new century has been a hot topic among pastors, church leaders, and church planters for over a decade. As a younger Millennial generation creeps into their late twenties, those churches who once were filled with a post WWII generation are being ignored by a postmodern urban-hip spiritual seeking community. Neil Cole, a founder of Church Multiplication Associates, has just released his new book, Church 3.0: upgrades for the future of the church, which plots out a rethinking of what the church should be for a new century.

The book focuses in on the need and reason to "upgrade" on how we do church today. Just as we upgrade to a "new operating system," the Church today needs to do the same in order to continue being the vibrant Bride of Christ. You may not always agree with his perspective but his insights will challenge you in how we think about the Church. The first half of the book deals with how Organic churches are needed to revitalize God's mission for the next generation, while the second section of the book covers more practical workings of Organic churches. A younger group might find the Organic Movement more appealing to them then an older congregation, but both groups will see the need to be more of what Christ desires for His Church. This is a book that I believe every church leadership should read and discuss, especially if you are looking to pass your faith to the next generation of believers.

I just returned from Indiana this past Friday and I'm almost caught up with my emails but you never know about these things. I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and seeing all the good that they are doing for the Lord. Thanks to CE National for their leadership in hosting this seminar and a big thanks to Tim Wright, Tim Clothier, and Rich Yauger for doing a great job in the organizing and planning of the event.

A recent survey revealed that young adults are more worried about their future then was previously thought. Harvard's Institute of Politics conducted the survey, which was headed up by Knowledge Networks, that included over 3,000 interviews of 18-29 year old. Questions ranged from how well of a job President Obama was doing to how they felt about the economy and how it affected them personally.

Here are some of those results.

• 47% of ages 18-24 believe that their financial outlook is very bad compared to 42% of 25-29 year old.
• A little less than half (46%) believe they will be better off than their parents.
• The number one concern was meeting their obligations in paying their bills (60%).
• Second on that list was affording a place to live (58%) and not able to pay for health care (56%).
• Nearly half wonder how they will be able to stay in college (45%).

Stress is a part of every day life but it does seem that younger people encounter it at an earlier age with each generation. What can churches do to help young adults navigate through this world that they are inheriting? How is your college ministry showing God to be real and powerful in an age of questions and doubt? A great opportunity to begin a mentoring ministry in your church in walking along side younger adults.

CE National is hosting its second annual CELS event. CELS is CE Nationals' leadership seminar that is geared towards youth pastors who are looking to connect with other young leaders across the country. I attended last years CELS and came away with a ton of great thoughts and free goodies (like a sweet tni sweatshirt that I'm sure I'll need to take for this trip). I'll be there again for this year's seminars and look forward to reconnecting with good friends.

One of the reasons I enjoy the event is that it helps me to see the future direction of college-age people. Although CELS deals mostly with junior high and high school ministries, most of us who work with college-age recognize that this age group is still developing as late adolescence (Arnett). There are some studies that see late adolescence reaching into mid-twenties (Time, 1/24/05). Whether you agree with this observation or not, I still get the chance to hear and see what today's youth workers see as the main issues facing young people. My own belief is that youth ministries should and will expand its definition to include college-age (18-23).

If you would like to come and join us for this two day event, you can contact CE National office for all your registration information. If you register in time you might even get a room at the Philemon Center. I hear they have a hot tub and a refrigerator that is always full of snacks.

Every so often, I like to check out what other churches are doing, so I browse their web pages clicking on icons that take me deeper into their community. Some churches are very creative in how they set up their web page. I like it when I search a church, click onto its page, and come to a blank screen that reads "downloading." Within a few seconds a scene bursts open onto the screen. It could be an artistic scroll that unfolds into a postmodern symbol or an ocean scene with a family walking on the beach (you see a lot of those from California churches). The icon tabs are discreet and easily identified with a variety of church ministries.

Usually, I go to the ministry section to see how they serve their community. Some pages are more elaborate than others but all give the basic information that would help anyone who is looking for a church that might connect to them. For a younger generation a "post-mod" web page can generate a curiosity to explore more about your church. Even a staff page can be a reason for them to consider attending your church (you know...an "urbanish" black and white pic with a young staff and an older pastor with the shaved head). Most young people will look for a couple of things while searching your web page and they all have to do with social networking. Connecting with others, especially with their own age group, isn't anything new but how a younger group of people connect includes the Internet. Here are a few ways that churches are trying to reach this generation through their church web site.

• video or video chat
• Web-based small groups
• Blogs
• Social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter)
• E-invites or E-vites
• E-newsletters
• Satellite (multi-sited churches)
• podcasts
• mp3
• Webinars

ED Stetzer's "Lost and Found"

While some of these ways of reaching young people will decrease the Internet as a tool to connect and communicate with twentysomethings is a part of everyday life for them. So, how is your church seeking ways to be a part of their world through the one place they all gather as a generation?

Small groups are a great way in connecting your church, especially since people in and outside the church yearn for community. Most small groups are done by choosing to gather with friends or by similar age grouping (parents with young children, senior saints, etc...), but a weakness in this is that the church becomes segregated by age-level communities. Churches that are mixing their small groups generationaly are finding that it is strengthening their church. One of the benefits is sharing faith from one generation with another. This is a great way of passing the "torch" of Christianity from older to younger. Here are some insights that will help you process multi-mix generations for your small groups:

• Benefit of life experience from older adults.
• Benefit from energy and passion of younger adults.
• Provide a natural conduit for mentoring the next generation of leaders.
• Provide child-rearing assistance for younger adults.
• Provide application and the sense of being needed for older adults.
• May be linked by geographical location.
• May be linked by interests or hobbies.
• May be linked by a desire to study a particular book of the Bible.
• Strengthen the overall ministry of the church.
• Provide needed group care and pastoral type shepherding.