The Millennial & His Money

Recently I read that the era of financial generosity seems to be phasing out with the demise of the survivor generation. That particular demographic is made up of the people who won WWII, also known as the “builders” or the “greatest generation.” These are the people who help develop the church, and financed the ministries thereof. Sadly, they are passing from the scene, and the church is feeling the loss.

I recently shared a stewardship report with my church at offering time. The statement belonged to a now deceased couple, pillars of the church, who gave consistently up to the month of their deaths. (They died within a month of one another) The effect of the reading was obvious; everyone was humbled. Here was the proof of the faithfulness, passion, and dedication of a couple who believed in contributing to the work of the kingdom. They gave $150.00 per month up to the time of their “home going.”  As a matter of fact, they had established a pattern of regular giving many years before; this most recent report was for 2012. 

The generation now coming to adulthood and into church leadership is called the “millennials.” So far, they don’t seem to be as generous as the generations before them, even though they also seem to demand more from the church.

My hope and prayer is that the new generation will value the work of God as much or more than their forbears, and in so doing they will build the church to an even greater extent than those that have gone before.