342. Understanding Generation Alpha: How to Disciple the First Fully Digital Generation with Shane Pruitt and Dr. Shelly Melia

WEBVTT
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Welcome to the Group Answers Podcast.
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I'm your host, Brian Daniel.
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This is the weekly show designed specifically for pastors, disciple makers, group pastors, and small group leaders.
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Truly, we are created to help anyone with bottom line responsibilities for discipleship.
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Our goal is simple to resource, train, and encourage you in the vital work of discipleship.
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This is the Group Answers Podcast.
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Let's do it.
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All right, this is Brian.
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Welcome back to the Group Answers Show.
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And we are, as Brent Musberger always said, live at the Southern Baptist Convention.
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We're recording live, but of course, this was this is real time.
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So here with the authors of uh Reaching Generation Alpha, Shane Pruitt and Shelley Malia.
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Great to have you guys.
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Shane, welcome back.
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Shelly, it's nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you.
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Thanks for having me.
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So we're going to talk about Generation Alpha today.
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And I want to start.
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I think most people know who we're talking about, but this generational, I don't think a lot of people realize generational understanding, scholarship is relatively new.
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So you've got builders and boomers and then Gen X and then millennials.
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It's a relatively new conversation.
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So first off, who is Gen Alpha?
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What are their distinctions?
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Gen Alpha, they were born in 2010 to 2024.
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So they are two to 16 years old.
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So one of the reasons that we wrote the book together is because they're in both children and student ministry.
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And so they've been in children for a while, but now they're beginning to take over the student ministry.
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You're seeing Gen Z kind of move out, and you have Gen Alpha.
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But they have been raised in a time where their uh technology is forming them.
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We think about Gen Z and technology has shaped them and has uh rewired their brains in many ways.
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But with Gen Alpha, the intensity of technology is really actually forming them, forming their worldviews, forming their identity.
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They have got content streamed to them 24-7.
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They're really a generation that the whole world is their neighborhood.
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If you think about when we were kids, we understood the world by our experiences in our neighborhood, those small communities that were had boundaries, that had vetted adults in our lives.
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And that's how we understood what was happening in the world.
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And Gen Alpha, you know, the whole world is their neighborhood.
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The whole world is speaking into their life uh 24-7 if they have a phone, and most of them do.
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And so they're growing up in a really unique time just after, just after Gen Z.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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Yeah, and I think they had access earlier, even.
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You know, it's like uh as you know, Dr.
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Milia was saying, is like how much technology has really formed Gen Alpha.
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You know, I think even we've gotten younger when of like how we're putting phones and tablets in their hands, where maybe Gen Z got that stuff when they were in middle school.
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Now Gen Alpha's got it when they're super young.
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I even think practically of my own family.
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Our youngest daughter is eight years old, and she's one of the only ones in her class that doesn't have a cell phone.
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So she's asking, when can I get a cell phone?
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And we're like, double your age, and then maybe, you know.
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Uh our son is in fifth grade and is on a soccer team, and they created a group text with all the players, and he's the only one not in it because he doesn't have a phone, and they're looking at him like he's an alien for not having a phone.
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And so even some of the parents ask us about it.
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So that generates conversations like, why doesn't Moore's have a phone?
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And we start talking about it, and they're like, oh man, I wish we would have waited, you know.
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But I think they feel like once they put that phone in their kids' hands, they can't pull it back out.
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Uh, I've heard Dr.
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Millia say this before too, and I think it's true of even with Generation Alpha, is like if we have a regret or we're gonna have a regret, it's by putting tablets and phones in their hands way too early.
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Yeah.
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So it sounds like you said two to sixteen, Shelly.
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So the oldest gen alpha was born in 2010.
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Right, and I guess we could say, even though we're a little off, that oldest gen alpha is starting high school.
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Yep.
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Yeah.
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Starting to drive high school and starting to drive.
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Yeah.
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And you referenced this, I I wrote it down.
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Content streaming.
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Have grown up with a content stream into their life, which is fascinating.
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The only way that I got content when I was that age was when I walked to the magazine rack at Kroger's and I saw what the headlines were.
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So to that point, let me ask you guys what, and I think this is critical, what cultural messages has this generation been exposed to at a much earlier, and I think the better way to frame it is what cultural messages have they grown up with that preceding generations did not have to account for or navigate or draw conclusions on?
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Yeah, absolutely.
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That's such an important question, Brian, because I know how important discipleship is to you, how important discipleship is uh to this community of listeners to this great podcast, is you know, used to, whenever I was a student pastor of a local church, we would look at our young people and go, all right, what percentage of them are being discipled?
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And then how do we grow that percentage?
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We got to think differently now as leaders because of phones, because of tablets, because of technology.
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You need to start thinking of students go, okay, how many of our students are being discipled, how many of our kiddos are being discipled?
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That's the wrong question.
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Now you need to understand 100% of them are being discipled.
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Every single one of them are.
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So the question now is not who or what is discipling them, or the question is not, are they being discipled?
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They are.
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The question is who or what is discipling them.
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So we have to lean into that.
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So many of them, when they start having these views, say on sexuality, gender, even some of the mental health stuff, we're like, how did they come up with those views?
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Or or we can't like these statistics on Gen Alpha, one of the statistics we found on Gen Alpha is over 80% of them says a preferred, a person's preferred pronouns should be respected.
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How's that even possible?
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Well, it's because culture's been screaming about these things, and that if the church remains silent, then a whole generation only holds one worldview.
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Well, how is culture screaming into the ears of Gen Alpha?
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Through their devices.
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And so we have to step into those conversations and go, okay, the Bible speaks on these things.
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Silence is no longer an option option.
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Yes, speak to them on their level.
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Uh obviously you're speaking to minors, so parents need to be involved and guardians involved.
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Um, but silence is no longer an option.
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So we have to speak in because there are these loud voices coming from culture, but we need to speak where the Bible speaks.
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So start thinking of like they are being discipled.
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We don't want them to be discipled by the world.
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We want them to be discipled by the word.
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And I've kind of said this jokingly, but it's true.
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We don't want a whole generation to be discipled by the Grammys.
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We want them to be discipled by the gospel.
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And if we're not willing to disciple those young people, as parents and as ministry leaders, the world is more than happy to do that for us.
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Yeah.
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Is the is the issue here less I think the way that I would that I would that I would think about this is like uh I hate to get literary, but Plato's allegory of the cave.
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So is the phone the shadow of the thing?
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And the thing is really the confusion is really a matter of authority.
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When we were growing up, it was really clear where the authority lied.
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It was parents, it was authority figures, it was scripture.
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Yeah.
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The phone pollutes authority or dilutes authority.
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Have you guys given some have you given thought to just what the issue what the real issue here is?
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I mean, I actually do think authority has a lot to do with it because when when I became a Christian, you know, that decision was to allow God to be the authority in my life.
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And the way that I was taught to find out what God wanted for me was through the Bible, right?
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And so we've seen just over the years uh a move away from absolute truth, you know, nobody really wants to say there's any absolute truth.
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And Barna talks about that to really now our kids think they can personalize their truth, and it's such a dangerous life to live.
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And and we know that scripture says you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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Like truth is a good thing, but truth is always gonna be divisive because it's always gonna separate right from wrong.
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But I think the dangerous cultural message is that hey, you can have your own truth, and my truth is my truth, your truth is your truth.
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But hey, if you don't agree with me, I may hate you for it.
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But I think that is one of the sort of foundational issues is who is gonna be the authority in your life.
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And if you're not gonna start at a point where it's God in the scriptures, you're you've got a sinking sand type foundation.
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And so I do think, I do think that.
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I do think that's a dangerous cultural message.
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Yeah, and I think Brian, you're spot on with that.
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I love that illustration.
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I'm gonna start using that.
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That's great.
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Um, you know, I think when we were growing up, is who whoever was the holder of the information was the authority, right?
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Ooh, yeah, yeah.
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So used to go possessor.
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Yeah.
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So okay, who held the you know, the information?
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Your parents, yeah, your grandparents, teachers, a pastor.
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Pastor.
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Yep.
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They were the authority because they held the information.
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You had to go to them to get the information.
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Now phones have made it where they can go to Google to get the information, then go to Chat GPT to get the information.
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So, in a sense, it kind of undercut authority because now young people can go right around you to get the information.
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And not only can they go right around you to get the information, they'll tell you when you're wrong because they'll fat they'll fact check you in the moment.
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You know?
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So I think that's a good segue into the next because when you've got this level playing field and there's no clear authority, then you get into this, the mental health issues that I think we've talked about a lot.
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So when I was growing up, my mental health, you know, jokingly, was never a part of any conversation.
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I mean, no one really cared about that, you know.
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Just rub some dirt on it.
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That's right.
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But now it seems uh almost central.
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So what are the effects?
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What are the effects of this?
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So you've got this confusion with authority that's contributed to really, I think it's a contributor to a lot of mental disorder.
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Talk about the effects in this generation and how we might see that play out.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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I mean, I think mental health is one of those crises that we see in our kids, but the surgeon general also says that that's a crisis in their parents, too.
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And so when you have anxious parents, you're gonna have anxious kids.
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When you have parents with mental health issues, you're gonna have kids with mental health issues.
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And so, you know, mental health issues are real, yeah, you know, and we certainly would never want to downplay that.
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But the culture, the environment that we've raised these kids in has been unhealthy.
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Uh, and so when you have an unhealthy environment, you're going to have unhealth mentally.
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And so when kids are constantly comparing themselves, when they are constantly on their phones, when they're disconnected from people, when they're isolated, all of those things can can really hurt their mental health.
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But we also have a generation that can name their feelings, can talk about their feelings, but have a real struggle in actually, okay, I can feel it, I can name it, but now what do I do about it?
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How do I take the next step?
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And I think that's where many of our Gen Zers are stuck, is that they they do want to talk about their feelings and they do want to talk about their mental health, but having that agency to actually say, okay, I just failed that test.
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Now I need to go to tutoring.
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Now I need to really buckle down and say no to these other things.
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They have a hard time really living out what will help their mental health, if that makes sense.
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Yeah.
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And you know, one of the things we address in the book, we have a whole chapter called Generation Alpha and their security blanket, which is screens.
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So there's also this direct connection um between screen time and levels of anxiety.
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Screen time, levels of depression.
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The longer someone's on a screen, the higher the anxiety is going to be, the higher their depression is going to be.
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And I think a lot of it is because it's like they're seeing things happen in real time.
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Um, things even practical when it comes to their relationships.
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You know, whenever I was growing up, if I didn't get invited to a birthday party, I may have never known about it.
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That's right.
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Or I found about it, I found out about it way later, and it didn't matter anymore.
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If they're not invited to something, they're reminded of that in real time because pictures are being posted, videos are being posted, they're being left out in real time.
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And I think all of those things contribute.
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So, you know, obviously, thank God for Christian counselors and and therapists and all those that can be involved in that, God's common grace and all that.
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But uh, some of it I think that will help with mental health is we've said this before, and we don't mean it lightly.
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We truly mean it is like put the screen away, turn it off, go outside, touch some grass, get some sunshine, go exercise, go be around people.
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Because I think also we're a part of that depression, too, is I've heard Dr.
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Millia say this before is like the very thing that was supposed to connect us to the world has actually made us more lonely.
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So now go get around some real people in the real world because what's gonna happen is gonna be a whole generation, and it's not Gen Alpha, like you said, it's the parents and it's the grandparents, it's everybody.
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We're missing out on the beauty of God's creation around us and real relationships or real people, and we're missing out on that because we're obsessed with this fake one on a screen.
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Yeah.
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I want to go back to something, Dr.
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Millie, you said you introduced parents into this conversation.
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So, I mean, the book is reaching Gen Alpha, but the parents seem to be just as much a part of the story, and and specifically you reference the environment.
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Right.
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So, what are the contributors to that part, that level of this discussion, this anxiety that we see in the parental segment of this relation, this Gen Alpha parent uh environment that you referenced?
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Well, I mean, I think parents are under stress for a lot of different reasons in our world today, and they tend to push that down to their kids.
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And I think that we are in a such a performance-driven culture that uh, you know, all we see on Facebook is the highlights, and we don't see really this process.
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And I think that one of the things that we're missing out on is just being able to really see people struggle.
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And when we don't see their struggle and we only see their victories, then it makes us feel like we are the only ones that are failing.
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And so I think comparison parenting really hurts.
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Uh, I think parents are also got all kinds of voices screaming into their head about uh no, try gentle parenting, no, try whatever parenting.
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I mean, all of these things there that are being pushed on them and they don't really know where to go.
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And I think we've mentioned before too, like many of the Gen Alpha parents are millennials, and many of them sort of pulled back away from church for a period of time and probably weren't discipled.
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And so they are coming at parenting sort of in a less confident way than parents before because they see all of these things and wonder if they're doing a good job.
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So I think that one of the things that we really think is that effective children's ministries and student ministries will require you to be in tune with your parents and equipping your parents.
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Uh, I think almost no longer do you need a title.
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I'm the children's minister, whatever title you want to give, but really I'm ministering to families uh because they have the most time with their with their kids anyways.
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And it appears that they are the ones that need the most help.
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And so that's one way that we could tap into that is to help our parents.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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And you know, it's something that has been said for a long time at, you know, conferences and social media.
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And I've said it before, I'm sure we've all said it before too, because it sounds nice from a stage or on a social media post of, hey, parents, as ministry leaders, we're not your kid's primary disciple or you are.
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And um, as as Dr.
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Millia just mentioned with millennials, I've never really met one that loved Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit that was said, nah, I'm not interested.
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Most of them are like, I know, I just don't know what to do.
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So I think the most effective way that we can impact Generation Alpha is going to be impacting their parents, their grandparents, their guardians, the ones who are involved in their life.
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And so we got to start thinking through that as churches.
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I know one church that took this so serious that they wanted to really have a paradigm shift in this and a culture shift.
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So they just started asking one diagnostic question of everything they did in children's ministry, everything they did in student ministry is like, how are we using this event, this curriculum, this strategy to also empower and impact parents?
00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:35.059
And so I would just encourage all the leaders listen to this, whatever your context is, is just start thinking through that one diagnostic question.
00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:40.259
Are we truly discipling and equipping parents to be the primary disciplers of their own kids?
00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:40.500
Yeah.
00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:46.100
Shane, in your role with the North North American Mission Board, do you talk directly to parents?
00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:51.140
Um what's your message to parents like in this context and generationality?
00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:58.019
Yeah, you know, and especially specifically my role with the North American Mission Board, you know, uh everything we do is with leaders, you know.
00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:03.860
In fact, one of our kind of core value statements at North American Mission Board is pastors are our number one customer.
00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:08.579
So really what we try to do is impact the generation through their leaders, you know.
00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:12.180
Now, what's fun is that a lot of those are parents.
00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:13.220
Are parents.
00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:17.059
A lot of the youth leaders are parents, a lot of the collegiate leaders are parents.
00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:24.579
And it's just that, you know, so when I'm talking to say leaders specifically who are also parents, I think it just reminds them of the mission field at home.
00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:30.180
Hey, don't go reach a generation of teenagers and overlook your own while you're doing that.
00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:35.460
You know, don't go reach the world with Christ and overlook your own mission field while you do that, your own home while you're doing that.
00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:37.299
So it starts really at home.
00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:41.059
But I think with parents, it's again, it's it's providing those resources.
00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:46.819
That's why I'm so thankful for Life Way and BH because a lot of times those parents are like, okay, I know I'm supposed to do that.
00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.620
I want to do that.
00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:50.100
I just don't know where to turn for resources.
00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.779
I don't know where to turn for help.
00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:53.700
Uh no one's discipled me.
00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:57.779
And so one thing I tell parents is this is give yourself some grace.
00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.779
Give yourself some forgiveness.
00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:02.180
Um, your kids don't need you to be perfect.
00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:04.100
I think we all want to be great parents.
00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:07.539
And sometimes we lean to go, I don't want to be just a great parent.
00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.980
I want to be a perfect parent.
00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.259
And that's impossible.
00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:13.779
So I would say this like, don't feel like you need to be a perfect parent.
00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:17.779
Your kids don't need you to be a perfect parent, they just need you to follow the one who is perfect.
00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:27.860
So I'd say as a parent, you dive in on spiritual disciplines, you dive in on loving Jesus, you dive into your intimacy with Christ, and then just parent from the overflow of that.
00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:30.180
And it's amazing what God will do, you know.
00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:41.460
So talking directly to parents and ministry leaders, um, what practices do you guys, both of you, recommend for establishing relational health?
00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.019
Yeah.
00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.779
Back to Generation Alpha.
00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.180
Yeah.
00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.299
Relational health?
00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:49.059
Well, I think we've hit on it a little bit, but it's putting the phones down, right?
00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:56.660
To uh when we think about what's going on in our world right now, the secular world has realized that our kids are struggling.
00:19:56.740 --> 00:20:00.900
If you think about movies, uh Inside Out had a character what, anxiety.
00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:03.779
That was addressing really Gen Z issues.
00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:09.299
Well, in a couple of weeks, um, Toy Story 5's coming out, and that's about play.
00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:17.779
It's about this child getting this uh device and quitting, she no longer plays with all of her toys uh and with all the friends.
00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:23.299
And so the secular world is saying, no, play is important and we're gonna teach this through this movie.
00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:50.819
And so I think as our secular world has realized that, we need to realize that too, and provide environments at church where we really discourage anybody from using phones, where we say, you know, we're gonna put the phones down and put people first, or whatever you want to say, um, to help our kids learn how to talk to each other, to learn how to look someone in the eye, to shake their hand, to have a conversation, because we all are wired to have community.
00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:53.700
We are all wired to need to feel like we belong.
00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:56.740
And these phones are doing the opposite of it, right?
00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.900
Social media didn't make our kids more social.
00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.380
Right.
00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:01.140
And so we we've got to work on that.
00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:03.059
And so I think relational health begins.
00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:10.980
I know that when I get isolated is when my mental health, you know, when I can start thinking from my crazy brain, is what I call it.
00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:14.579
I call the crazy brain that emotional brain and the smart brain up here.
00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:18.660
And I have a friend who'll call me out on it and say, Shelly, I think you're thinking through your crazy brain.
00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:21.860
Like you've you've got to get out of your own head, right?
00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:23.539
And so, how do we do that?
00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:28.819
Well, for me, when I'm around people or when I'm around God's creation, that gets it for me.
00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:32.660
Uh, because then I can sort of break be brought back into that moment.
00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:36.180
And so relational health begins with relationships.
00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:40.100
I would just say it's real important to point out it's not just putting the phone down.
00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.460
That's only step one of this.
00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.140
And I think a lot of times that's where we stop.
00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.019
Put the phone down.
00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:46.980
Yeah, you have to replace it with something tactile.
00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.740
Yes, it's environmental.
00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.539
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.259
All right.
00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.860
Let me ask just as a follow-up.
00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:57.700
So we've talked about Generation Alpha, looked a little bit at the parents, the net effect, the sum, the sum of all of this.
00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:01.380
How do you guys in your research and conversations?
00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:04.420
I mean, you're very astute in this, you kind of live in this conversation.
00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:08.259
So, how do you see it playing out over the next 10 to 20 years?
00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:10.339
You know, what's a what's the best case?
00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:16.420
And then what's you know, what's some things that we that that that are more red light, that's like more cautionary.
00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.700
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:28.180
Well, I think the unique thing about church is built on community, it's built on gathering, it's built on a family.
00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:33.940
So we're in a very unique position to really influence the future of Generation Alpha.
00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.819
So you think, okay.
00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:39.380
Again, we wrote a whole chapter, uh, Generation Alpha in the Security Blanket.
00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:44.500
Um, there's a new term for teenagers called screenagers, you know, so they're on screens.
00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:50.339
So the church, think about this in a big picture is that, you know, I even think of my own kids who are very outgoing kids.
00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.380
They're constantly around people.
00:22:51.460 --> 00:23:02.019
They've grown up in ministry, they've gone to events with me as as early as they could walk, but they're still very confident on a screen, very articulate on a screen.
00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:05.940
But then the moment they get around people, it can get awkward really fast.
00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:13.460
You know, we one of the things that adults talk about with generation alphas all the time is when you have a conversation with with them, they can't look you in the eye.
00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:17.539
They don't know how to shake a hand, they don't know how to articulate themselves, interact with each other.
00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:28.100
Um, I kind of joke my kids can be with a friend on FaceTime for hours and then run into that same friend in the wild, unplanned, and it gets real awkward real quick.
00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:33.539
And I'm like, well, you just were on FaceTime with them for hours, you know, now you're in person, and it's awkward.
00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.700
Now that could hinder ministry.
00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:38.819
Because think about Colossians 3, bear one another's burdens.
00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.339
And you're telling young people to do that.
00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.500
Like, how am I going to bear someone's burdens?
00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.860
I can't even look them in the eye.
00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:47.380
You know, uh, share the gospel with your, you know, with lost people.
00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:47.940
What?
00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.539
You want me to share the gospel with lost people?
00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:52.579
I can't even have a conversation with my best friend in person.
00:23:52.819 --> 00:24:12.420
So I think where the church can lean in there, where it would be a way to cut through the noise, the way to move forward is to really disciple young people to know how to have real relationships with real people in real time and actually serve one another, actually be able to articulate what they believe in person.
00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:20.740
You know, I think often when we go to events or conferences and we think about what's the future of children's ministry, what's the future of family ministry, youth ministry?
00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.339
We tend to lean towards the digital, right?
00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:27.620
Well, well, we got to figure out artificial intelligence or let's figure out digital ministry and all those things.
00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.980
And yes and amen.
00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:34.420
But I think really the future of ministry is gonna be how do we do in-person well again?
00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.259
How do we actually build relationships?
00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:38.019
How do we look at each other in the eye?
00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.860
How do we articulate ourselves?
00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:48.420
Because what the phones have done again for Generation Alpha is they know a little bit about everything, but they don't know how to actually do anything.
00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:58.259
So actually helping young people to go, all right, James 1, not just be hearers of the word, but doers of the word, I think that would be the future of our ministry and where we can really lean in.
00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:02.019
And the church can be a different space than what they experience everywhere else, you know.
00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.339
Yeah.
00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:02.900
Yeah.
00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:06.100
And I think you want to see how it plays out 10 years from now.
00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:09.620
On a positive side, I do think parents are hungry for something different.
00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:10.019
Yeah.
00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:14.180
I think they realize, I think we're all read in on this whole phone crises.
00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:16.660
Uh, it's been backed up by researchers.
00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.660
We can see with our own eyes.
00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:25.620
And I think in a best case scenario, parents pick up that momentum and say, you know, we're gonna parent differently.
00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:30.900
We're gonna, we're gonna push back from all of this isolation and disconnection.
00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.500
And we could see a revival, I think.
00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.940
I think we could see people coming back.
00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:41.299
We already are seeing some come back uh to the church, and so I think there's a lot of hope for that on the flip side.
00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:43.140
And I hate to end on a negative note.
00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:55.539
I probably should have said the negative first, but um phones have isolated us, and we're our kids are marrying later, 28 and 30 is their ages.
00:25:56.019 --> 00:26:02.339
And now we're we've introduced artificial intelligence and they can have virtual companions through artificial intelligence.
00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:06.500
It sounds crazy, but kids are experimenting with it because why?
00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:09.299
It's too hard to have a relationship with a real person.
00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:20.819
And so if we don't teach them how to do real relationships, they're going to detach away from people and move towards artificial companions, virtual relationships.
00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:28.100
It sounds way out there, but there's already a lot of uh there was a 60-minute special on it back in October about the dangers of that.
00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:32.420
And so I think if we don't get relationships right, it's gonna have a ripple effect.
00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.259
And we already see birth rate declining.
00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.019
I mean, you can see all the connections there.
00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:38.740
If they're not getting married, they're not having kids, etc.
00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.220
etc.
00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.819
That's the negative.
00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:46.980
To borrow from Churchill, it seems like a silicone curtain has descended upon all of the world.
00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:54.900
So I'm wondering if, Shane, your point about discipleship, if you have we have we created another barrier, which is the screen.
00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:58.500
So now discipleship is not just the gospel.
00:26:59.059 --> 00:27:01.460
It you've got to get past the screen first.
00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:03.140
Yeah, that's what it almost feels like.
00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:09.460
It's not just put down the phone, it's it's an additional filter that we've got to get through now just to get to the heart.
00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:09.940
Yeah, absolutely.
00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:11.539
It's become that ubiquitous.
00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:15.700
You know, again, I'm seeing this in young people, seeing this in my own kids.
00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:19.140
There seems to be this awe and wonder of the physical again.
00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:24.019
Um, so my 20-year-old's in college ministry that she loves.
00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:27.380
Uh, and I know that's Gen Z, but I think it will trickle down.
00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:36.740
And uh that college ministry exploded this year, and they really did an intentional shift uh away from the digital back to the physical.
00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:41.860
And so the the student or the college pastor there, Stanton, uh, I love it.
00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:50.740
He told me he's uh, all right, here's what I told all the students hey, this school year, I'll put my main verses, I mean my main points on the screen so you can write those down.
00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.900
But I'm no longer putting verses on the screen.
00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:56.339
I want you to bring a physical Bible and a physical journal.
00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:59.140
You need to know where to find these, you know, chapters.
00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:01.299
You need to know where to find these verses.
00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:04.980
So back to physical Bibles, physical journals.
00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:07.700
Uh, our student ministry at our church is doing the same thing.
00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.059
And students would love it.
00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:11.779
There's this awe and wonder of the physical again.
00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:14.740
So physical Bible, CSB translations, you know what I mean?
00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.620
That's our favorite.
00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.740
That's my preaching one.
00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:19.220
So CSB translation, back to the physical.
00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:26.819
Uh, I've joked before, but it's true is that um, like our 14-year-old daughter discovered a cassette tape player not too long ago.
00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:30.819
But it was one of the Waltmans, you know, that clip on your bell loop with the physical headphones.
00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.420
She thinks it's amazing.
00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:34.500
And then she's yeah, and she loves to go.
00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:40.420
So we've been going to, you know, half-price books, and she's been buying$1.99 cassette tapes.
00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.259
And all of her friends are like, what is that?
00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:46.900
You know, and she went like she almost went back to the 80s because she was in between classes.
00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:49.620
She'll walk down the hallways at her school with that thing on her belt.
00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:51.220
And the suit's like, what is that?
00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.620
You know?
00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:54.420
Um, I brought out my old Game Boy the other day.
00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:59.059
Now I know that's a video game, but it's still, you know, different with the green screen, and our kids are like, What is that?
00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.019
That's amazing.
00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:03.620
Um, and so I think there is a return to the physical.
00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:07.779
Again, church is set up perfectly for that.
00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.620
Let's get back to the physical.
00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.900
Um, Bible.
00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:16.819
Because again, it's not just students, but when we shifted to go, okay, we're gonna put everything on screens at churches, even.
00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:19.299
Guess who stopped also bringing their physical Bibles?
00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:22.100
Adults did, you know, grandparents did.
00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:25.380
Um, and so let's get back to the physical, let's hold it.
00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:27.140
And I'm a fan of that anyway.
00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:36.259
I'm a little old school, and sometimes old school is the best school, but I love the way a Bible feels and it smells and the pages, and let's get back into the physical.
00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:44.339
So, again, I think it's gonna be hard for us as ministry leaders to go, okay, you got to get off the screens, you got to put the phones down, you got to get off the screens.
00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:48.900
But then when they come to church, everything's still digital, everything's still on the screen.
00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:51.299
Pull out your phone, type this in.
00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:55.539
You know, I know even our church was like, all right, uh, all the sermon notes are on the app.
00:29:55.700 --> 00:30:07.380
Open the app, fill in the sermon notes on your app, you know, and throughout the message, put fill this in on your app, you know, and so it's gonna be hard for us to go, all right, we need to remove from the screens, but when you're with us, we're all back on screens.
00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:09.620
So I think we need to navigate that for sure.
00:30:09.860 --> 00:30:14.019
So just just to double click on this idea of environments.
00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.259
Yeah.
00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:17.460
Um, what can ministry leaders be doing now?
00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:26.180
We mentioned some of them, and I think the physical shame, uh uh, Shelley, it seems to have a broad application, this idea of physical.
00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:38.980
I was talking with a pastor earlier that's in uh outside Nashville, and uh they've moved to I just what I would call a more liturgical service, which is also environmental, and I think in some ways also physical.
00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.380
Yeah.
00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:46.180
I think the church calendar, yeah, which we're grateful for, the our Anglican brothers for keeping that alive, I think, over the years, right?
00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:48.819
But how what are some other ways?
00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:53.539
I mean, are there other ways than what we've already said that ministry leaders can be preparing now for this time?
00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:57.380
Because Gen Z is kind of leading in some of this backlash.
00:30:57.460 --> 00:31:05.620
My youngest daughter is Gen Z, and I see her reacting in a way to put some governors on media and screens.
00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:07.140
Yep, and she's doing that on her own.
00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.380
Yep.
00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:09.779
Looks like Alpha will probably see that as well.
00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:16.500
But what are some other ways ministry leaders can be preparing environmentally, physically for from this point forward?
00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:31.299
Yeah, I think you bring up a really good point about the liturgical side of it because uh Jonathan Haidt in his book, and he's an atheist, uh, but he has a lot of great things to say, he talks about the importance of synchronous religious rituals for kids.
00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:43.460
There's something powerful about kids all together doing something, whether it's the church clap, which hasn't doesn't have a whole lot of spiritual significance, or whatever it means, if you know what to do, you feel like you belong.
00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:47.940
And that that ritual can help put words to your faith.
00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:52.180
And so I think some rituals are important and some synchronous learning experiences.
00:31:52.339 --> 00:32:02.019
But also I think in children's ministry, I won't wouldn't try to speak to students, um, but for a long time we've been sort of relying on large group ministry with kids.
00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:13.940
So we've built these big fancy rooms with lots of things, and the kids never talk to each other, you know, they just sit and watch a screen or they they do singing and and and I understand why they've done that.
00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:17.220
It's out of necessity and all of those things.
00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:27.779
But in reality, what our kids really need is to be able to turn and talk to each other and to have an adult who knows their name, who notices when they're gone, who knows something about them on a consistent way.
00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:38.420
And so sort of not thinking about what will attract kids, but what will help kids feel like they belong, because they got to belong before they can believe, is what I believe.
00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:44.259
I think that belonging is such a pain point, and some of our environments don't really speak to that.
00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:51.700
You can't from a stage, even Shane, you're an amazing speaker, but from a stage, there's only so much you can do to connect with me individually.
00:32:51.860 --> 00:33:01.539
The Holy Spirit can come in and talk to me, but on a long-term basis, I need that adult who'll walk beside me, who'll talk to me, who'll let me ask hard questions.
00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:10.819
And so I think some of our environments are really geared more towards the digital, you know, and so we've got to wrestle with that, I think, in children and student ministry.
00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:11.380
Yeah.
00:33:11.620 --> 00:33:11.860
Yeah.
00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:17.059
And one of the chapters we also write on in the book is Generation Alpha and the Gospel.
00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:25.059
And one of the major points we put in there, again, I think the church is positioned so well for what a whole generation needs is truth.
00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.259
They're truth hungry.
00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:31.779
So if you think even going back to a screen and how the screen has shaped them, is like uh artificial intelligence.
00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:33.860
We do a whole chapter on artificial intelligence.
00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:39.140
Well, what is artificial intelligence really discipling a generation of belief?
00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:40.980
Oh, it must be fake, right?
00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:50.339
So it's like that video's AI, that picture's AI, um, this may be even a bot, this may not even be a real person I'm interacting with.
00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:53.779
So now they're gonna start assuming the fake.
00:33:53.940 --> 00:34:00.980
And I think they're gonna be like fake weary, you know, and they go, I can't trust that message, I can't trust this message, I can't trust this message.
00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:11.940
So when we hold the truth, that is absolute and authoritative, but it's also empowered by the spirit, like, and that's the greatest power there is, that can cut right through the noise.
00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:18.900
Again, so I would say the greatest job we can do as leaders, ministry leaders, is stick to the truth, stick to the word of God.
00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:25.219
That's always relevant, that cuts literally, Hebrews 4 12 tells us that that cuts through.
00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:37.460
Um, because I found because of all the things, like they've already been entertained, they've already had all the special effects things, you know, and so it's almost like they're weary on that.
00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:40.019
And so they want real truth.
00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:42.179
So it should have never been this way, Brian.
00:34:42.259 --> 00:35:01.299
But the fact that it was, and we've all been aware of it, is like, you know, the days of next-gen communicators standing before young people, opening their Bible, reading a Bible verse out of context, then sliding the Bible to the side and just telling funny and entertaining and goofy stories or emotional stories for 30 minutes, those days are over.
00:35:01.379 --> 00:35:06.419
In fact, no one will reject that faster than young people, Gen Alpha, Gen Z.
00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:13.539
They I think of my own kids, my 20-year-old Gen Z, 14-year-old, 12-year-old Gen Alphas, they hate that stuff.
00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.500
Like they want the word.
00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:22.579
They're in fact, they're like, they want to know doctrine, they want to know theology, they want to know real, they want to know truth, they want to know these ancient truths.
00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:24.339
What does that actually mean?
00:35:24.419 --> 00:35:26.259
And then what does that mean for my life?
00:35:26.419 --> 00:35:28.019
And so again, what do we have?
00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:32.819
We have the word of God, you know, so stick to the word of God, teach them truth, and they can handle it.
00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:42.819
You know, I think a lot of times we really dumb it down a lot as well, because if you think of at school, they're learning really complex things.
00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:45.379
And then sometimes at church, we dumb it way down.
00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.659
So I've been saying this for years.
00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:48.419
I still believe it's true with Gen Alpha too.
00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:51.779
If they can handle some algebra, they can handle some doctrine and theology.
00:35:51.939 --> 00:35:55.939
You know, if they can order a drink at the coffee shop, they can handle some doctrine and theology.
00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.619
You got to know Greek and Hebrew to do that.
00:35:57.859 --> 00:36:03.299
So I feel like the children's ministries, student ministries, college and adult ministries that are doing the best aren't lowering the bar.
00:36:03.379 --> 00:36:05.139
They're actually raising the bar of expectation.
00:36:05.379 --> 00:36:06.659
So play your strength, right?
00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:07.299
Yeah, absolutely.
00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:14.899
And what a tremendous insight that technology may end up just undoing itself with what you said about AI.
00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.219
Yeah.
00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:15.779
So Dr.
00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:21.219
Berlia, uh back to this idea of the fancy room, you know, with all the graphics.
00:36:21.379 --> 00:36:26.099
So any counsel to churches that have well, that's not the best way to ask that.
00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:31.379
But you know, what yeah, what would you tell a church that was fully bought into that?
00:36:31.619 --> 00:36:37.699
You know, and that's been their approach to kids' ministry, but when maybe we need to back off that a little bit.
00:36:37.859 --> 00:36:39.459
I mean, how would you counsel that leader?
00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:51.939
Wow, I think every church is so different and they have to ask the Lord, like, what is it that you want for our church if they came to the conclusion that hey, we might want to make a shift because God's leading us to do it.
00:36:52.179 --> 00:37:05.139
Then I think you can do some things even in that if you have to slowly make the shift where you can have, you know, the kids sit in the same spot every week with the same leader and make sure that you have some time together where you give some dialogue and some things like that.
00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:12.659
I don't I don't think that you have to just cold all throw away everything.
00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:19.139
I I think we do just have to say, what do we know about Gen Alpha and what kind of an environment are they gonna flourish in?
00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:34.259
And that may be different in every church, but one thing I do know is that just throwing somebody up on stage who's energetic and uh charismatic with all kinds of lights and fog and stuff is not gonna last more than likely.
00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:38.739
Yeah, I think what you're describing is the uh transition of addition instead of contraction.
00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.059
Yeah.
00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:50.579
So don't take away, but add to so okay, if we if we think maybe we've gone too far into this side of this high energy kind of thing, let's bring in some tactile elements, let's make a more human connection intentional.
00:37:50.980 --> 00:38:08.019
And I think I like that you brought up high energy because I think part of what's missing in children's and maybe students is some some time to think, some uh some lament every once in a while, not every week, but to know that at church we can sit and listen quietly.
00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:13.779
Like there can be some slow songs, there can be some time when we ask kids to say, Lord, what are you saying to me?
00:38:13.939 --> 00:38:19.699
Like our kids and us, we don't know how to have sustained, focused attention on anything.
00:38:19.939 --> 00:38:31.059
And so when we just constantly hype them up all the time, we're robbing them of that opportunity to just sit there and go, think about the amazing creation that God created.
00:38:31.219 --> 00:38:40.019
Think about you know, to have sustained attention and so to realize it's not all a hundred miles per hour that we need to teach kids to have fun.
00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:43.299
I'm absolutely in favor of fun, a hundred percent.
00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:50.339
But we also need to teach them how to sit and be still and know that I am God and how to sit and say, God, I am hurting.
00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:51.459
This is sad.
00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:52.739
I'm sad for my friend.
00:38:52.899 --> 00:39:04.019
And to know, and I think that's why they reject it is because they realize that life is not just the church clap song or whatever the newest song is, that there is a lot of hard things.
00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:11.699
And so how do we at church make sure we integrate all of those things into the life and we model when sad things happen?
00:39:11.779 --> 00:39:13.219
This is this is how we react.
00:39:13.299 --> 00:39:18.500
We go to the Lord, we have that ritual that we do, whether it be prayer or a verse or whatever it is.
00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:24.659
I I just think there's so much depth in life that church should also have that depth.
00:39:24.899 --> 00:39:25.459
That's really good.
00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:26.339
We got I love that.
00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.219
I do too.
00:39:27.459 --> 00:39:29.059
They uh got time for one more.
00:39:29.219 --> 00:39:36.980
I would just ask, I think as we wrap up, is there any such thing or what is a healthy digital access?
00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:37.699
Mm-hmm.
00:39:37.859 --> 00:39:38.659
Yeah or practice.
00:39:38.899 --> 00:39:41.699
I think for me, well, you know, me, Brian, we're friends.
00:39:41.859 --> 00:39:42.419
We go back.
00:39:42.819 --> 00:39:46.179
I'm an evangelist at heart, so always think of evangelism.
00:39:46.419 --> 00:39:49.779
Um, we know social media, let's just take that one.
00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:53.859
Over four billion people have at least one social media account.
00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.299
That's literally half the world.
00:39:55.379 --> 00:39:57.699
That's not figurative language, that's half the world.
00:39:58.019 --> 00:40:01.619
And so if we really care about the Great Commission to go, okay, we're gonna be online.
00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:19.619
One of the things we can disciple Generation Alpha in to go, okay, if you are online, if you do have a social media account, instead of just using that to doom scroll or just using that to burn hours, or using that to even post inappropriate things, use it for the glory of God.
00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:25.379
Use it as a mission field, like see that as a digital mission field, see yourself as a digital missionary.
00:40:25.459 --> 00:40:31.619
And I found when students can capture that uh vision, they will be very creative with it.
00:40:31.699 --> 00:40:33.539
You know, they'll do things that I've never thought of.
00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:41.699
I know students all the time uh who share their testimony on it and put it out, you know, who are sharing their devo for the day on it.
00:40:41.779 --> 00:40:46.659
Um again, um I always relate back to our 14-year-old, but she's Jen Albert.
00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:52.500
She said she took one of her Instagram accounts and said, uh, hey, I want to change this.
00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:55.699
This is the one she was using for her friends, and I this is where all my friends are.
00:40:55.859 --> 00:40:58.419
I'm gonna start posting a video on my daily devo on there.
00:40:58.579 --> 00:41:04.739
So whatever she's read in the Bible that day, she'll do a little short 30-second minute video and put it out.
00:41:04.899 --> 00:41:17.379
Well, you know, and if you think she's got a couple hundred followers on there, if she was to stand up and to give a testimony or something like that in front of a couple of hundred of her peers, would be like, that's amazing, you know.
00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:19.779
But when you put it online, it's doing the same thing.
00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:27.539
So I would say if you're gonna be online, you're usually digital, if you're on social media and even telling young people that, see it as a mission filled.
00:41:27.619 --> 00:41:31.299
So don't post scripture one day and then you in a bathing suit the next day.
00:41:31.379 --> 00:41:32.339
That's very confusing.
00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:36.739
Like, actually see that as a mission filled and see yourself as a digital missionary.
00:41:36.819 --> 00:41:46.259
Um, because one of the heartbeats that we all have, and even discipling, is to a help disciple generation to know Jesus and to make Jesus known.
00:41:46.339 --> 00:41:48.339
So I think that's a positive way to use it.
00:41:49.859 --> 00:41:51.699
Yeah, seems like I've seen that somewhere.
00:41:51.779 --> 00:41:53.459
Whatever is good, whatever's noble.
00:41:53.699 --> 00:41:56.980
If anything, be a praiseworthy or a good report, meditate on these things.
00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:57.619
Yep, yep.
00:41:57.779 --> 00:41:58.899
Seems seems right to me.
00:41:59.139 --> 00:42:01.539
It's amazing what happens when we stick to scripture, isn't it?
00:42:02.339 --> 00:42:02.579
Yeah.
00:42:03.299 --> 00:42:03.939
How about you, Dr.
00:42:04.019 --> 00:42:04.500
Maria?
00:42:04.819 --> 00:42:05.859
Healthy digital.
00:42:06.259 --> 00:42:12.419
Well, I think anything to add, you know, I think we gotta teach our kids and not give them too much too soon, right?
00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:19.859
Um, and then be careful that we don't center our ministries around the digital and make sure that we're encouraging the physical.
00:42:19.939 --> 00:42:23.859
But I think more than anything, you know, parents know it's a problem.
00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:35.059
And so helping them come up with some solutions, some sort of graduated privileges as they get older, uh, I think becomes a more healthy and more healthy way to use the digital.
00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:38.819
I know you guys are busy, and uh I'm gonna wrap it up here.
00:42:38.980 --> 00:42:40.819
Thanks for taking time out of your convention.
00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:47.859
The book is Reaching Generation Alpha, a ministry guide for discipling the church beyond the screen.
00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:49.379
Shane Pruitt and Dr.
00:42:49.459 --> 00:42:50.819
Shelley Malia, thanks so much.
00:42:51.059 --> 00:42:51.299
Thank you.
00:42:51.699 --> 00:42:52.339
Thanks for being with us.
00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.859
Appreciate everyone hanging in there.
00:42:53.939 --> 00:42:55.939
Yeah, and we'll see you on down the road.
00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:57.379
Thanks.
00:43:00.339 --> 00:43:10.339
This episode of Group Answers Podcast was brought to you by our team, executive producer Angie Elkins, producer Nikki Ogden, edited by Donnie Gordon.
00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:16.899
All episodes are recorded at my personal studio in Evergreen, Colorado with the help of Riverside FM.
00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:18.819
Artwork by Lauren Urban.
00:43:19.379 --> 00:43:21.299
And I'm your host, Brian Daniel.
00:43:21.379 --> 00:43:26.259
Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time on the Group Answers Podcast.