Leading the Revolutionary Generation: Empowering the Influencers of the Millennial and Post-Millennial Generation

By Mike Rosas

What are Millennials thinking? I've heard this question asked in many different forms and fashions. The stark difference between Millennials and previous generations is so blatant, questions echo across the world as past generations try to understand this phenomenon. After over a decade of working with Millennials, I have compiled Biblical principles and valuable experiences that can help the previous generations better connect and lead the next generation into their destiny. It's not too late to help shape a generation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543952070

Book preview

Chapter 1

State of the (Millennial-post-Millennial) Union

I step up to the podium, the principal hands me the mic, and I begin to speak. Instantly 80% of the crowd get up and walk out. Without knowing, I had just stepped into a national protest. The protest is a walkout planned through social media because of the recent school shootings, and young people all over the nation are responding. The principal reacts swiftly, jumps on the mic and tells the students, You can go to the hall if you so choose, but we will not be walking out just to walk out. We will be praying for protection and help with school shootings around the nation. The group goes out, comes back in an hour later and I get to finish my talk.

I got to speak with the principal afterwards and I told him that growing up, my principal would’ve probably threatened us with suspension, but he allowed the students to express themselves in a responsible and productive manner. I then mentioned to him, the reality of where we find ourselves in the world today, You lead them brilliantly. You lead with love. This next generation is created for revolution. If we lead them with love, they will do the revolution for us, but if we do not, they will do it against us.

The next generation has been misdiagnosed. We have judged them based on the past generations’ scale and have missed their greatness. We have compared apples to oranges, and do not understand why we are struggling so much with the outcome. A person has the best opportunity to succeed, when they are uniquely understood, and dealt with from that perspective.

In the same manner the next generation has been starving for identity because we have misdiagnosed them. A child struggles with identity when they are not formed by their parents. The next generation has struggled to find themselves because the prior generation has not always taken the time to connect with, and understand their unique purpose and destiny. Since the prior generation has not understood the next generation’s next generations’ ending, they have struggled with their beginning. God creates every generation, with the necessary intrinsic strengths and weaknesses, to accomplish the specific purpose for which they were given life. If the generation is not taught to understand the reason they have certain gifts and strengths, they will lose time questioning why they do not measure up to the prior generation.

Given the view of the prior information, we now find ourselves with a better understanding of a generation that who for so long has tried to live up to expectations never meant for them, are now in complete disarray because they have no direction nor approval. The prior generation has called them lazy, entitled, good for nothing, soft, narcissistic, disobedient…they are destroying the world. All these negative words have helped lead a misunderstood generation into becoming a rebellious and hard-hearted generation.

Growing up there was a kid in my school who had everything a young kid could want. Our school in the South side of Houston was composed mainly of under-resourced kids but this young man came from a wealthy family. He had all the money, clothes and opportunity anyone could want but he was one of the most rebellious kids in the school. The problem was discovered that although his parents gave him everything he wanted, they had missed out on what he most needed, love and leadership. This young man acted out from a place of need rather than being inherently bad. Sadly, this story is being played out times many millions over the course of our world. This book is written in the hopes that this information will be a reminder that this generation is called, amazing, world-changing, incredible…and in need of a generation of Fathers and Mothers!

Let’s look at this generation purely from a numbers perspective:

It has been a period during which Americans, especially Millennials, have become more detached from major institutions such as political parties, religion, the military, and marriage. (http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/16/how-millennials-compare-with-their-grandparents/) They are the least overtly religious American generation in modern times. One-in-four are unaffiliated with any religion, a far larger share than older adults when they were ages 18 to 29. (http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/02/24/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change/)

Millennials are on course to become the most educated generation in American history, a trend driven largely by the demands of a modern knowledge-based economy, but most likely accelerated in recent years by the millions of 20-somethings enrolling in graduate schools, colleges or community colleges, in part because they cannot find a job. (http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/02/24/millennials-confident-connected-open-to-change/)

Millennials are also having a tremendous effect on the job market, as the following points emphasize.

•    56 million Millennials (Add to that more than 9 million post-Millennials in the work force and you have a wide group affecting your organization and industry)

•    Largest generation in the work force

•    1 in 3 in the workforce are Millennials

•    53 million Gen Xers

•    41 million Baby-boomers (http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/11/millennials-largest-generation-us-labor-force/)

Millennials, who are projected to surpass Baby Boomers next year as the United States’ largest living adult generation, are also approaching the Boomers in their share of the American electorate. (http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/03/millennials-approach-baby-boomers-as-largest-generation-in-u-s-electorate/)

Although this is a small picture of the next generation, the reality is that the picture is clear: they are many and diverse. Sure there are many that are still living at home and not so ambitious, but the reality remains the same – they are powerful. A quick glimpse of this generation makes me think we might be underestimating them.

Now, let’s look at this generation from God’s perspective:

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV)

And He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. Malachi 4:6 (ESV)

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’. 1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

These brief