Introduction and Classroom by Joannah M. Sadler
Conversations Journal existed to bring about honest dialogue on the ways our lives are shaped by God. One of the aims of the publication was to examine themes of Christian spiritual formation through various lenses of the faith (denominations/traditions/streams.) This month we’ll be exploring the spiritual formation of the Millennial Generation, those born between 1981 and 1995, with a rerelease of the Fall 2015 issue on that subject.
At the time of publication of this issue, Millennials had surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest living adult generation in the US. Currently they account for 21.8 percent of the population, although Generation Alpha is the largest generation worldwide (2026). The Body of Christ is diverse in giftings and in age, and each generation has something to give to one another along the path. The oldest Millennials now find themselves in their mid-forties, and sometimes the terrain of midlife includes an honest reflection of one’s faith and reevaluation of many facets of life. We hope this issue will be a helpful guide for looking back, while also looking forward on the journey with Jesus.
Millennials came of age in the digital age, and so the writers in this issue made sure to explore how technology influenced the digital natives of that generation, and how they harnessed the power of technology to shape culture as well. Kyle Strobel and Jamin Goggin discussed this in their article, “Technology and Technique,” and their experience of receiving the gift of the presence of God. Much research has been done about the mass exodus of those in this generation from church and organized religion. Millennials were known for their skepticism of Evangelicalism even as they left for college twenty years ago to search for a more authentic representation of their faith. In her essay “Millennials and Mystery,” Laura Turner shared about how experiencing a different “stream” of Christian tradition allowed her to deepen her relationship with God. She and many in this generation who have remained in the local church, have found a new home in “high church” settings, embracing mystery, liturgy, and sacraments. Tara Owen’s piece, “Nomads and Exiles: Walking the Wilderness with Millennials,” harkens to the reality that many in this generation have deconstructed and reconstructed their faith as they’ve journeyed through a spiritual wilderness in which they’ve reimagined what it means to walk with Christ.
Keep scrolling and you’ll be pleased to read articles by those in different generations sharing their wisdom and lessons they’ve learned from Millennials. Alan Fadling and Stephen Macchia have a great article, “Boomers Befriending Millennials.” Emily P. Freeman’s story about how a bench in her neighborhood connected generations and created a rich community is an inspiration for all of us to slow down and embrace the present. The features section highlighted the commissioned cover art for this issue by millennial artist Natalie Nelson. There’s poetry, spiritual exercises, discussion guides, and many more ways to engage with this issue.
Volume 13.2 will have a permanent home here at Conversatio, with a companion course that allows readers to take the topic a bit deeper, and journey into a personal experience with the theme. Get comfortable, revisit these articles and consider inviting a friend or your community group to do the discussion guide with you. No matter what generation you are a part of, this issue is for you. We are all called to bring forth the Kingdom of God into the lives of the people around us and the places we inhabit.