Each of us knows or is a parent. Our own homes and neighborhoods include grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, moms and dads – people who lead the next generation.
Culture has changed since we were kids. Shepherd’s vision to endear our community acknowledges that raising the next generation to love Jesus for a lifetime takes all of us.
For the Valley includes equipping, connecting and celebrating parents and many others who care about kids. It means seeking input on families’ needs and offering resources to address those needs.
Power Over Predators Series
Experience the Power Over Predators (POP) curriculum as presented to middle and high school students!
Join C.A.S.T. (Citizens Against Sex Trafficking) for 2 nights of Power Over Predators at Shepherd of the Valley. Each lesson is independent, so join for one or both; free and open to the public.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:30–8:30pm
Your Story Matters
Your Brain Matters
Thursday, Feb. 29, 6:30–8:30pm
Your Goals Matter
Your Relationship Matters
The Generations: What Makes Each Tick & Thrive
Visiting a foreign country without knowing the language and without an interpreter can be the cause of much misunderstanding and frustration. Similarly, communicating with someone belonging to a different generation can be just as troublesome. If we hope to pass on our faith to others, we must be able to communicate with them in a way that aligns with the way they think and satisfies what is important to them.
Read on for a guide to each of the generations and tips for sharing your faith with them.
Silent Generation
Raised in a time of great financial stability and lower global crisis; The generation that created rock and roll; Known for entrepreneurship, interpersonal communication, and loyalty; Limited technology usage.
Sharing Faith: Spend quality with them; Share honestly; Be loyal to them.
Born 1925–45, age 79–99Baby Boomers
Raised with optimism and during the hippie movement; Fans of traditional media; The most wealthy generation, concerned about funding retirement; Most raised in homes with faith; Known for enjoying mentoring, competitiveness, and strong work ethic; 90% have a Facebook account and most have adopted technology to connect with others; Use cash regularly for making purchases.
Sharing Faith: Make your message engaging and relevant to them; Be sure there is no hypocrisy in your life.
Born 1946–64, age 60–78Gen X
Raised to be independent and saw the emergence of broad personal computer usage; Engages with traditional media but is also digital savvy; Primary goals are caring for their families, paying off student debt and looking after aging parents; Committed to finding purpose and meaning in their life; Known for being hard-working, innovative, and pragmatic.
Sharing Faith: Use the inside-out approach of providing relevant, practical solutions for problems that affect them personally to create value and trust.
Born 1965–79, age 45–59Millennials
The biggest generation in American history; The first generation who "left religion and is not coming back"; Raised with the emergence of internet and social media; 9/11 and the Great Recession; Long for community and purpose; Home buying and weddings are delayed; Limited use of traditional media; Known for collaboration, questioning, and being tech savvy.
Sharing Faith: Invite, invite, invite...offer them community; Gospel needs to be personalized, “Jesus Christ came, lived and died to free you up to be who you’re created to be and to restore the world to goodness.”
Born 1980–94, age 30–44Gen Z
Grew up with the internet, social media and technology; Religion not a priority in most homes; Often stereo-typed as anti-social or tech-addicted; Received first smartphone at an average age of 10; Live in a hyper-connected world and prefer smartphones for communication; Fiscally conservative, avoid debt; Known to be collaborative, digitally fluent, and adaptable; Care greatly about making a difference in the world.
Sharing Faith: More open to spirituality than to religion; Need to discover their own faith, not just be told to believe; Personal relationship important; Model faith for them.
Born 1995–2009, age 15–29Gen Alpha
Raised in a time of social justice, a global pandemic, and divisive politics; As children of millennials, their lives have been captured online since birth; Digital natives who view the world through smart screens, often multiple at once; Socially less developed, crave connections; Most homes have smart devices and speakers everywhere; Used to getting things right now and have short attention spans; Projected to be the wealthiest and most highly-educated generation.
Sharing Faith: Personal relationship important; Use repetition and images; Keep it short; Model faith for them.
Born 2010–2024, age 0–14