Millennial Generation ready to enter the Red Zone

A new generation of believers is rising up who are willing to put their lives at risk for the sake of Christ and enter the Red Zone, reports MNN.

They are called the Millennial Generation, or Generation Y. The exact start of this generation has been debated, but it is basically anyone born around 1980 until 2000. One thing is for sure: their view towards missions is radically different than past generations such as the Baby Boomers, Busters and Generation X.

Mark Clark with The Evangelical Alliance Mission said what makes them so different is their excitement and lack of strong fear about reaching out to countries and regions across the world where sharing the Gospel is illegal and life-threatening.

These areas are called Red Zones.

"A red zone is a country or a region or even a people group where what we used to do in traditional missionary activity doesn't work; it's just restricted. So Christian workers that are there share their faith in creative, but legal ways," Clark said. The Red Zone covers over one third of the globe, reaching from Sub-Sahara Africa, then stretches across the Middle East and South Asia and spans across Russia.

Several of these creative ministries are through business endeavors, medical missions, education and musical ministry.

Clark said especially in Eastern Asia there is a people group whose entire society is centered around music. Proposals are set to song and their history is conveyed musically, passed from generation to generation.

The Millennial generation also views long-term ministry slightly different than past generations. In the past, missionaries saw this as 20 to 25 years, sometimes even a life time. Now, younger individuals view long-term services as 4 years or so.

However, regardless of how long they serve, Clark said their attitude is exciting.

"Concerning their attitude, I call it a ‘bring it on' kind of attitude; there are the needs around the world," Clark said. Workers in these dangerous countries are still few and far between.

That is where you come in. About 3.3 billion people inhabit the Red Zone, and they need you to bring the message of Christ to them.

Inexperience or lack of training should not stop you. Clark said many individuals will say, "I'm not trained to be a missionary." However, he said, "That doesn't matter. If you have a willing heart, we can plug in almost anywhere around the world."

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TAGS: USA Africa Asia the Red Zone Millennial Generation Generation Y missions The Evangelical Alliance Mission

[11/20/2009]

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