We are living with five generations at one time. It could be six depending on which sociologist is reporting. They are called by different names and are sometimes divided by age a little differently. Here is the break down of generations within a five mile radius of James Island Baptist. There are 115,000 people living within a five mile radius of JIBC.
1. Perhaps the greatest generation of all time are the BUILDERS, those 86 years and older. They represent only 2% of the population. There are 2,300 of them in our area
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2. The SILENT generation (I didn’t give these names by the way) are those who are between the ages 68 and 85 years. There are 12, 650 of this generation in our community.
3. The BOOMER generation, for so long the largest generation in American history, are those between the ages 50 and 67. This group accounts for 24,150 of the 115,000.
4. The SURVIVOR generation are those between 29 and 49 years of age, and they represent 33,350 of those 115,000.
The MILLENIALS and GEN Z are those just born up to the age 28. Hold on to your party hats. This group represents 38% of our population or 43,700 out of 115,000. That my friends, is a lot of young people. Really, this group could be divided into two groups to make 6 separate generations. Either way, it is a major shift in the force.
It can be challenging. Janie bought me a Droid phone for my birthday. Great huh? Now I get to be technology ignorant with 20th and 21st Century gadgetry. I was not using all the stuff on my flip phone yet. The times, they are a changing. Thank goodness I have grandchildren to help me use the apps, or I would be apt not to use them.
This information has to be more than interesting or boring. It has to be directional and informing to the mission. The next major shift in our church family will be a result of what these numbers tell us. It is important. It is challenging. Doing missions in a different culture requires learning a new language, adapting to new ways of living and finding effective ways to communicate the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
Honestly, I liked being King of the Hill. But there are a lot of new kids on the playground and the sand box is big enough for everyone. I bet the new kids who follow the King will have some inspired ways to reach their generations. They already have apps to help them do it!
Pastor Boomer
