Posted 58 days ago

Is it Our Turn Yet? Millennials Are Ready to Act Now!

Andy Wade

A new generation is rising up that is well-informed, globally minded, and ready to get their hands dirty to make sure positive, lasting change becomes a reality. They don’t want more of the same. They’ve seen that it doesn’t work. They aren’t invested in “the old ways” and are more willing to venture into uncharted territory. They don’t want change for change’s sake; they’re looking ahead and saying, “Hey, this is OUR future they’re messing with! Let’s not wait around until it’s ‘our turn’ to get involved. Let’s jump in now!” The Millennials come with a new set of assumptions and priorities and are more than ready to creatively tackle the problems of today so they don’t become their problems of tomorrow.

So what are they doing? One example is New Global Citizens which grew out of the 2008 merger between Youth Philanthropy Worldwide and Youth Re: Action Corps. These non-profits shared the vision of educating and mobilizing youth into action solving global issues such as extreme poverty and hunger, gender equality and the empowerment of women, armed conflict, environmental sustainability, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and more.

Here’s a description from their website: “New Global Citizens’ innovative program combines the passion, connectivity, and resources of Generation Y with the solutions of grassroots social entrepreneurs around the world to create change on a global scale. Young people—anywhere in the United States—can start an NGC Team on their high school campus. Once formed, teams select one of NGC’s global partner projects and set goals around three main objectives that form the core of our program. Teams determine how they will 1) educate their community about the challenges faced by their partner project, 2) advocate on behalf of a pressing global issue, and 3) raise the financial resources necessary to effect real change on the ground floor in their partner community. In turn, NGC provides comprehensive education, training, and support to teams through full-time staff, interactive trainings, online audio streams, resource materials, site visits, and a vast network of peers across the country.¹“

It’s amazing how many connections they’ve already made and how effectively they’ve been able to harness the power, creativity, and energy of this new generation. Take a look at this video describing their many partnerships in 2009.

Another imaginative example is Renewal, a movement of Christian students and young adults seeking new ways to care for and renew God’s creation. Anna Jane Joyner, Coordinator of Renewal, comments:

“Suddenly, evangelical Christians aren’t just focusing on the coming end-times, criminalizing abortion, and damning homosexuality. Nowadays, look around and you’ll find many in this community engaged in AIDS advocacy, creation care, combating sex-trafficking, immigration reform, global and domestic healthcare, climate justice, homeless outreach, reviving poor urban neighborhoods, corporate social responsibility, poverty and hunger alleviation, sustainable agriculture, disaster relief, and many other peace and justice efforts. And it’s not just evangelical causes that are changing. Something in its core perspective is shifting too.”²

At the core of this movement is a love for God, for God’s amazing creation, and making sure that we faithfully steward God’s creation so that it may be enjoyed by generations to come. Their holistic approach to the environment is both refreshing and challenging. They have deliberately brought together prayer, education and action through their National Day of Prayer for God’s Creation, Green Awakening North American Tour, and National Day of Service for God’s Creation. I encourage you to check out how many colleges and universities connected to these events in 2009 and take a look at where they are going in 2010.³

One final example is Speak.UK, a network of groups around the globe exposing injustice, praying for God’s justice to come, and working for justice. These young advocates are politically well-informed and not afraid to tackle the big issues. Whether dealing with global warming, the global arms trade, or corporate accountability, these mostly Millennial Christians are stepping up to the plate and facing the issues head-on!

A new generation is rising up. Equipped with new hope, new urgency, new technologies, and a world inter-connected like never before, the possibilities are only limited by the scope of their, and our, imaginations. With the tools available today, one tiny mustard seed can have greater global impact than ever before!

• What mustard seeds are you planting and what have you seen that are imaginative responses to the rapidly changing world around us?
  
  

• What would you like to see started in your local church, community, school, or small group?
  
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