GENERATION X

Who They Are

16 to 25 years old

"Feed me" generation

Low self-esteem

Retreat from world into small groups

What They Need

Unconditional acceptance

Very short list of what's really important

Written reinforcement of key concepts (e.g., a spiritual notebook).

BUSTERS

Who They Are

25 to 35 years old

"Why me?" generation

Don't like crowds or mingling with other generations

Skeptical of guarantees

What They Need

Relationships

To create a better world

To talk things over with peers

BOOMERS

Who They Are

35 to 50 years old

"Entertain me and earn me" generation

Faddish, intellectually lazy

Looking for spiritual definition

What They Need

Talk about meaning, self-definition, and worth

New church models

Media

OLDER ADULTS

Who They Are

50 and up

"Need me and show me" generation

Possess skills and money

Want to do something worthwhile

What They Need

In preaching, positive examples of older adults

Appreciation

Copyright (c) 1995 Christianity Today, Inc./LEADERSHIP Journal

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