Almeida Lopes, Ivanildo

English

Andrews University

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership Volume 14 Number 2 Fall Article 15 10-2020 Review of Eight Innovations to Leading Millennials: How Millennials Can Grow Your Church and Change the World, by Benjamin Windle Ivanildo Almeida Lopes Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl  Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Almeida Lopes, Ivanildo (2020) "Review of Eight Innovations to Leading Millennials: How Millennials Can Grow Your Church and Change the World, by Benjamin Windle," Journal of Applied Christian Leadership: Vol. 14: No. 2, 121-123. Available at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl/vol14/iss2/15 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Applied Christian Leadership by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact repository@andrews.edu. number of churches near death has grown from 35,000 to 66,000” (p. 14). For many of our churches to avoid that fate, we must confront the truth that “if given a choice between life and death, most church members and church leaders choose death if they have to make substantive changes in their churches” (Rainer, p. 137).  BYRON CORBETT is the senior pastor of the Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dallas, Texas, USA.    EIGHT INNOVATIONS TO LEADING MILLENNIALS: HOW MILLENNIALS CAN GROW YOUR CHURCH AND CHANGE THE WORLD   By Benjamin Windle  Cheadle, Cheshire, United Kingdom: The Thrive Co. (2019)  Kindle edition, 101 pages  Reviewed by IVANILDO ALMEIDA LOPES   The Thrive Co. and author Benjamin Windle have made a signif-icant contribution to church growth literature by giving practical ideas on how millennials can impact the world and the church. As it is known, many young people are leaving the church. “It is time to unleash a new wave of innovation, progress, and dare I say, experimentation with our ministry models. We have to try new things” (p. 15).  Understanding and knowing the people we are working with is one key to success. The world is changing at the speed of light. In fact, thanks to technology, it has been completely revolutionized. “Technology has per-meated every area of our lives and become central to how we live, work and socialize” (p. 31). We have to be acquainted with it. Unfortunately, the church hasn’t been able to follow this revelational trend. “As a result, many millennials have lost respect for the church because sometimes our values and actions have not been aligned with each other” (p. 39).  Let us explore the eight innova-tions to leading millennials given by Windle.    Innovation 1: Technology and Social Media Technology has conquered the new world, and the conquerors are the millennials. “Technology has shaped their thinking, facilitated communication, redefined communi-ty, become core to their learning, and become almost like a companion to them, which is extraordinary” (p. 45). Looking at this, one can recognize that resisting technology is resisting the new generation. It is taking away what they cherish most. “Millennials don’t want a ‘cool church’ . . . They want something they can relate too” (p. 51).   Innovation 2: Relational Leadership Style Many leaders believe that leader-ship is all about power. Unfortunately, this mindset does not work with the millennials. “Authoritative power does not con-nect with millennials—relationship does” (p. 53). It is crucial to work and invest in genuine relationships. People are the most important thing. “Leading millennials is more about being the guide on the side, not a sage on a stage. It is about sitting next to rather than in front of.” (p. 57). We need to be servant leaders.   Innovation 3: Collaborative Structure Structures are at the very center of THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PAGE  121B O O K  R E V I E W S I V A N I L D O  A L M E I D A  L O P E S1Almeida Lopes: Review of Eight Innovations to Leading MillennialsPublished by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2020B O O K  R E V I E W S I V A N I L D O  A L M E I D A  L O P E SPAGE  122 Vol. 14, No. 2 FALL 2020the church. Changing them may be very hard and may bring some fric-tions. But if we want to connect with millennials, we need to change. “Millennials are team-oriented and collaborative, and resist structure” (p. 58). This statement says a lot. Instead of sitting and giving orders, we are to relate and work as a team.   Innovation 4: Dynamic Events Every year, leaders put much time and effort into creating a church plan—but often that plan does not include millennials’ basic needs. “Church calendars, programs, and schedules need to be reinvented for a new world” (p. 66). There is a need for adaptation and inclusion. “Discipleship is not about growing a big church. It is about growing big people” (p. 67). Programming should be geared to bring out the potential of millennials. This can be done by creating events that meet their inmost need.   Innovation 5: Depth of Spiritual Discipleship Most times, we say that young peo-ple want nothing to do with spiritual things. “Millennials are biblically illiterate, but passionate about learn-ing” (p. 70). We need to know how to share biblical knowledge in their own language and context. We need to be more intensive and go deeper. In fact, you need “to be a sheep your-self, even smelling like sheep.” (p. 70). This is true discipleship.   Innovation 6: Facilities   The place we provide for worship service is very important. Since it is one of the communication tools, we need to really work on that. The author says that we need to provide what technology cannot. “Church facilities cannot be simply function-al—they must be culturally experi-mental” (pg. 75). Church facilities must provide things that satisfy mil-lennials’ deepest needs, allowing them to feel loved and have a sense of belonging.    Innovation 7: Leadership in Finance We are living in a world of con-sumerism. And “millennials are the most consumeristic generation in his-tory.” The great companies have rec-ognized that and thus have fashioned and designed shopping for them. When we reach the millennials, they can contribute and support the church financially. “The millennials genera-tion wants to see where and how their money will make a difference in a bringing about unity” (p. 81).   Innovation 8: Social Rather than Political  Most churches put much emphasis on principles and doctrines. “Instead of making specific political state-ments, consider focusing on justice issues, like feeding the poor, eradi-cating sex trafficking, helping orphans, helping those in poverty, etc.” (p. 84). In fact, these are things that are related to the millennials. “By effectively reaching and leading millennials, you have the power to grow your church for future genera-tions . . .” (p. 87). Knowing millenni-als, understanding the way they live, and reaching out to them are keys to reconnecting with them and revitaliz-ing the church and the world.  I really loved this little book. It is very well structured and practical. The issue under discussion is real and pertinent; we are all dealing with it. As a millennial, Windle speaks on things that he has gone through, and I could see that the book has a mil-lennial touch. I highly recommend this book. If you are thinking of reaching out to millennials and the 2Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, Vol. 14 [2020], No. 2, Art. 15https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl/vol14/iss2/15B O O K  R E V I E W S I V A N I L D O  A L M E I D A  L O P E STHE JOURNAL OF APPLIED CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PAGE  123younger generations, this is the right book for you. It is simple and easy to understand. “One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever” (Eccl. 1:4, NKJV).    IVANILDO ALMEIDA LOPES is the district pastor for the Cape Verdean Community of the Southern New England Conference, Boston, Massachusetts.    3Almeida Lopes: Review of Eight Innovations to Leading MillennialsPublished by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2020

Review of Eight Innovations to Leading Millennials: How Millennials Can Grow Your Church and Change the World, by Benjamin Windle

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1491&context=jacl

Review of Eight Innovations to Leading Millennials: How Millennials Can Grow Your Church and Change the World, by Benjamin Windle

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