When Heather Stevens was a junior in college, she discovered that, according to Barna research, six out of ten of her 20something peers who were "spiritually active" in their teens had stopped going to church once they got to college. She saw it happening all around her. Troubled by this, Heather wrote a blog post in July 2013:
"If you are a church leader, this data should stop you in your tracks. It should make you think, 'What the heck am I doing wrong?' "
Shawn Williams, a pastor at Community Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, understands Heather's angst. "It feels like every generation asks what to do about the 18- to 20-somethings who have left the church. There's something about that age that pulls them away from the church," he says. "The church was asking the same question about Generation X. It's not a new question, but there are some unique factors with Millennials we need to consider."
Stevens turned her frustration about the church's future into action. She enlisted the help of two friends, Taylor Snodgrass and Maria Martin, to find out what churches are doing to reach her generation.
The threesome set out on a cross-country road trip to visit 10 churches that "seem to be doing something right" in making space for Millennials. The plan was to visit each church anonymously—experience worship, learn all they could about the church and its role in the community, and then blog their findings (20schurch.tumblr.com).
Forty churches later (their list grew!) Stevens, Snodgrass, and Martin saw six attributes—community, relatability, authenticity, challenge, hospitality, and empowerment—played out again and again in the churches that were reaching and serving Millennials well, attributes that look strikingly like what Jesus did while he ministered to and mentored disciples in the early church.
Authenticity
Millennials are looking for authenticity. What does it mean for a church to be real?
"Our generation has been advertised at our whole life, and even now on social media," says Snodgrass. "Consequently, if a church isn't giving you the whole story, if it's sugarcoated or they're onstage putting on an act, 20s see through this. It causes us to leave. We're good at seeing when people are lying."
Brian Coffey, pastor of First Baptist Church-East in Geneva, Illinois, himself the father of four Millennial sons, says, "Millennials can hear honesty. They have a radar for that."
Jeff Frazier, Coffey's co-pastor, has launched a new worship service this fall. Called New Word and Table, the service is simple. "We meet twice a month, and we have tables for people to share communion. It features one person on piano or guitar. It's not driven by the worship leader or praise team but by the content," he says.
"The single voice is plaintive and honest," says Coffey. His hunch is this new "ancient-modern" service will draw former Catholics, Millennials, and people who want a more natural, contemplative worship.
Visual Clarity
"Millennials want to be able to answer the questions 'Where am I?' and 'What's expected of me?' by looking for cues in their surroundings," says David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group.
"Visual clarity is huge," says Snodgrass. "On our church road trip, we walked into a few churches that didn't have good signage, and we wandered around. We weren't sure where to go. We just want to go in and experience the space without having to ask someone."
Many of today's young adults haven't been raised in the church. Their only exposure to church may be the Hollywood portrayals they've seen. So churches that don't look like churches may simply confuse.
"We don't want to feel stress when we go into church," Snodgrass says. "The biggest thing is to create a welcoming space that isn't confusing."
As part of Barna's study on Millennials and church architecture, they brought two groups of 20-somethings to modern churches, and then to cathedral-style churches. In the cathedrals, "they felt it was a space for serious activities such as prayer, coping with tragedy, and communing with God. They sensed the spirituality of the place," says Kinnaman. "At the same time, they were concerned about how they would fit in—If I visit, do I need to wear dressy clothes?—and a few participants, especially unchurched people, felt intimidated by the spiritual intensity of the space."
In the more casual megachurches, this same group found inviting common areas to connect with others (armchair seating in an open lobby). However, there was no place conducive to connecting with God.
"Overall the 'un-churchy' atmosphere, which had more of a corporate vibe, failed to suggest transcendence," said Kinnaman. "A modern church is designed to host activities, and these activities point the people to God. But strip away those activities and you might as well be at a community college, a performing arts center or, heaven help us, an airport terminal," he said.
The challenge is to design for clarity. Good design makes it crystal clear where you are and what you're here to do.
Nature
One way churches can help point people to God regardless of the architectural style of their facility is by bringing nature into the church. Nature is an element that Millennials say helps them connect with God.
St. James Cathedral in Chicago built a tiny courtyard, lush with plants and a small labyrinth, just steps from a bustling downtown street. The Millennials loved the peaceful nature oasis. Many said that if they worked or lived nearby, they would visit this church regularly to pray, meditate, or reflect quietly.
"Most of our modern churches have excellent areas set aside for corporate worship, group learning and community-building. But they leave something to be desired when it comes to personal reflection and prayer," says Kinnaman.
"Many churches think of their facility as everything inside the walls, but it is worth considering how we might make better use of our external spaces," says Kinnaman. "Instead of using landscaping simply as a frame for the building, could we use it as a legitimate ministry space—a sacred place in its own right?"
Respite
Millennials, perhaps more than any other generation, have a deep need for peace and quiet; they long for a sanctuary.
"Our culture is fragmented and frenetic, and there are few places to take a breather to gain much-needed perspective," says Kinnaman. "Ironically, most churches offer what they think people want: more to do, more to see. Yet that's exactly the opposite of what many young adults crave: sacred space."
Our churches are places of action, not places of rest; spaces to do rather than spaces to be. The activities, of course, are designed to connect people with God and each other—and some Millennials hope for that, too—but many just want an opportunity to explore spiritual life on their own terms, free to decide when to sit quietly on the edges of a sacred space and when to enter in.
Give them Jesus
At Clear River Church in Lafayette, Indiana, near the campus of Purdue University, 80 percent of the church is under 40 years old. Pastors Tony Ranvestal and Zach Miller have a clear focus.
"We don't schedule lots of activity," says Ranvestal. "We call people to follow Jesus. If you follow Jesus, this leads to serving and justice. You should shovel a neighbor's driveway, but it's not a program. It's disciples in relationship." All who attend worship are encouraged to join a small group. That's it.
Miller, a Millennial, says, "I appreciate the clear understanding of what is expected and what I can do. We're not going to overwhelm you with choices. We think you should follow Jesus, and here's one or two ways to learn to do that."
Building relationships and learning about Jesus are two central reasons why Millennials stay connected to church. Barna's research shows that young adults who remain involved in a local church beyond their teen years are twice as likely as those who don't to have a close personal friendship with an older adult in their faith community (59% vs. 31%).
Praise be to God, there are churches finding ways to include Millennials.
Marian V. Liautaud is director of marketing for Aspen Group, a design/build firm for churches.
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