I’m 45. The youngest member of Generation X. Across the internet, Gen X loves to point out how many times we get left out of writing on generational dynamics.

With fewer births than both the Baby Boomer generation (birth cohort from 1946-1964) and the Millennials (1981 - 1996), Gen X (1965-1980) does get stuck in the middle. Compared to the 76 million (Boomers) and 62 million (Millennials), our 55 million is significant, but sandwiched between two larger age ranges.

This isn’t just meme fodder. It has a significant (and strategic) impact on local church ministry, especially for churches that need to grow.

This summer, I was preaching at a friend’s church, and they needed a bit of help during Sunday School that day. The pastor asked me to share some of my research on church participation. During the class, the pastor brought up that the biggest missing demographic in their church was folks in Gen X—those people, 45 to 60. The prime age for leadership, volunteering, and becoming an influential part of any congregation.

How do I understand this loss of an entire generation? I look at what people smarter than me are learning and sharing.

Two big data points, coming from Ryan Burge, the leading church demographics guru, give us the strategic focus we need.

The first is a clear trend. In “How America’s youth lost its religion in the 1990s,” I was initially struck by Burge’s research. My father was a youth pastor for 20 years, from the late ‘70s until the mid-1990s. I think of the people I came of age with in the 1990s and how many of them left the church by the mid-2000s. It absolutely tracks with my personal experience and professional experience as a church planter who filled a church with Gen X church drop-outs.

Burge has also recently shared research on the drop in religious participation among specific ages. We see a rise in participation among people under the age of 45 over the past 20 years, but the two age ranges that make up Gen X show a decrease. This crucial middle age still seems to be stuck, while younger generations are actually rising in their church participation levels.

But it gets even bigger when we add in another research area.

The last “mic drop” part of Burge’s research is on church participation and education. Starting with those born in 1950, the more educated someone is, the higher the likelihood they take part in a local church. As someone born in 1980, it rises from 16% (some high school) to 32% (post-grad) in participation.

When I look at his work on education levels and church attendance, I’m ready to make a bold statement.

Gen X’ers with a high school degree as their highest educational level are one of the biggest mission fields in North America.

Let’s move beyond data and into practical ministry strategy.

Does your church want (or need) to reach new people? Statistically speaking, this mission field has a high potential for success. It intersects with two known demographic groups NOT as likely to be in church.

It also might not be as difficult for a church in its 60s and 70s as throwing a Hail Mary pass for those young families in their late 20s. That bunch is a statistical anomaly anyway. People are getting married later and having children later.

So why are folks in their prime age of life to be active in ministry and leadership vacant, especially when younger people might need crucial relationships with older leaders and mentors?

Stair-step your strategy by asking focused questions about Generation X.

Can you think of moments in your church’s history that might have contributed to the loss of this demographic?

Are you currently activating Generation X in your church?

Do you have enough leadership options for the existing members of Generation X in your church?

Now, let’s move into this as a missional dynamic.

Who are the 45 to 60-year-olds in your community?

Are they in church?

Is there a specific demographic, especially socio-economically, that seems absent from any church?

How might that change your church’s strategy for reaching new people?

What assumptions might it challenge?

How could this actually be easier?

Chad

PS. Curious about how Generational Dynamics can affect church health and growth? I've got a short Kindle Book coming out next week. I talk about the tension between reaching new people while still caring for an older population in a local church. You can pre-order it here.