My dear friend,

There has been a lot going on in the media lately. I have been hearing a lot of things, but the one thing that has been bothering me a lot is the way we speak about millennials. We get upset with the way that they disrespect each other, the way that they seem to have no regard for anyone but themselves, how they look at their phones too much and take too many selfies. We hate that they are liberals. We get irritated with the way that they process their trauma and everyday emotions. We call them cry babies and melting snowflakes. Sweet friend, I am not trying to shame you, I am guilty of this at times as well. However, I do think we need to take a step back and remember that these millennials that we so easily and quickly criticize are people too. They are as much of a child of God as you are.

Millennials are different than the generations before them. Part of that is in the way that they were raised, part of that is because of the advance in technology and the want for autonomy/ an individualistic society. They are different, but they are not so far gone that we should judge them for every action they take.

Millennials are the future of America. They are the ones who are going to be making strides towards living well and raising the generation after them. We need to recognize that and then take that first step in closing the generational gaps. As for the church, we need to bring them into our sanctuaries and cry with them, sit with them, pray with them. We need to love them. We need to show them the love of Jesus and reach them where they are at. We have to come alongside them and speak the truth that is gong to reach their hearts. Dear friend, this is a call to come alongside the millennial and be present with them. To treat them the way that Jesus treats the broken and the hurting. We need to remind them that they can always turn to the Father. That He welcomes home the prodigal son and loves the prodigal son without boundaries. We need to express that love and grace and mercy. We need to understand where the millennial feels the church is lacking and find effective ways to remedy that. Work with the millennial generation to better understand what will reach their hearts.

So, sweet, sweet friend, this is a call to love the millennial generation. To understand where they are coming from and what ways we can reach those lost and hurting hearts from within the church. We were never called to judge and condemn anyone. Not even the millennial generation that we feel is so different and so horrible compared to the past generations.

Start to love the young people. Because the young people are the next adult generation. They are the next set of pastors, the next set of CEO's, the next set of social workers, the next set of construction workers, teachers, mothers, fathers, nurses. They are the next set of disciples.