Mobilizing Gen Z

A God-Designed Generation for a God-Given Task The scale and scope of the global, technological, and cultural changes of the past two decades are unprecedented. For the first time in history, American churches and agencies are mobilizing from a post-Christian cultural context and to new collaborations with a global mission force. Amidst these rapid changes, how can mission leaders continue to ensure that we fulfill the Great Commission mandate to disciple Christ-worshippers from every tribe, tongue, and nation? In Mobilizing Gen Z, Jolene Erlacher and Katy White blend leading research with the voices of current mission practitioners to unpack the dynamics behind our changing culture and the resulting impact on the church. And perhaps not-so-surprisingly, they reach the conclusion that God has already provided a solution for such a time as this—Gen Z (b. 1996– 2010). Through an in-depth profile of this rising cohort—their characteristics, worldview, strengths and weaknesses—the authors illustrate both why Gen Z is sorely needed and why we must seek to engage them differently than previous generations. Encouraging and winsome, Mobilizing Gen Z provides practical tools and strategies for engaging, equipping, and retaining Gen Z missionaries. Are we ready to pass the torch?

As Millennials and Generation Z (b. 1980-2012) begin taking leadership roles in our churches, communities, and organizations, they face unique challenges. A cultural context informed by moral relativism, technology, and globalization requires leadership that remains faithful to biblical practices while creating and implementing new strategies. Like Daniel, who found himself in Nebuchadnezzar's palace, a place foreign to his leaders and mentors in Jerusalem, young leaders today find themselves leading in an environment very different than that experienced by their parents and teachers. Lessons from Daniel's life provide valuable insight for godly leaders of all ages as we navigate the leadership challenges of our day and prepare those who will lead in the future.

A holistic approach to reaching Generation Z in your local church To disciple the youth in our student ministries today, we have to understand the unique characteristics of Generation Z, and apply lessons learned from recent decades of youth ministry. In this thoroughly revised second edition of Raising the Bar: Student Ministry for a New Generation, pastor and professor Timothy McKnight brings a wealth of new insights, resources, and guidance for reaching today's adolescents. Following an overview of the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Generation Z, McKnight provides youth pastors and volunteers with a complete plan for discipling adolescents through the local church. This includes practical advice on topics such as: • Engaging parents in youth ministry • Holistically guiding students in their beliefs, behavior, and affections • Equipping adult leaders who can serve as role models • Working with pastors, staff, and church leaders • Helping parents develop rites of passage for their children as they move into adulthood • Raising expectations for adolescents to encourage them to grow toward maturity Based on years of personal experience and practice, Engaging Generation Z provides everything youth ministers need to equip, grow, and encourage today's generation of young people to follow Christ, and to take their student ministry to the next level.

Redefining the Posture of Leadership Despite our best intentions, many of us struggle to consistently reflect Jesus in our leadership. We look for answers in current Christian best-sellers, the latest business trends, or the newest leadership theories. But the Gospels suggest a very different starting point: a new posture. No matter how lofty our title, status, or renown as leaders, we can never rise higher in the kingdom than to the feet of Jesus. Building on Jesus’s intimacy with the Father, Learning to Lead at the Feet of Jesus highlights the rich relational setting in which Jesus exercised leadership and developed his followers into leaders. In the context of his intentional “with-ness,” Jesus generously shared his life and authority with the Twelve. Poulter draws on a wide variety of cross-cultural experiences and invites leaders to a refreshing journey of discovery, intimacy, and transformation. With reflective questions designed to provoke insight and self-awareness, this book challenges readers to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Jesus, and evaluate their own beliefs, assumptions, and cultural expectations about leadership.

This Handbook analyzes elections in the Middle East and North Africa and seeks to overcome normative assumptions about the linkage between democracy and elections. Structured around five main themes, contributors provide chapters detailing how their case studies illustrate specific themes within individual country settings. Authors disentangle the various aspects informing elections as a process in the Middle East by taking into account the different contexts where the electoral contest occurs and placing these into a broader comparative context. The findings from this Handbook connect with global electoral developments, empirically demonstrating that there is very little that is “exceptional” about the Middle East and North Africa when it comes to electoral contests. Routledge Handbook on Elections in the Middle East and North Africa is the first book to examine all aspects related to elections in the Middle East and North Africa. Through such comprehensive coverage and systematic analysis, it will be a key resource for students and scholars interested in politics, elections, and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Based on a qualitative study of more than thirty young adults (ages 18¿35) from diverse denominations and countries serving in various ministry positions, Millennials in Ministry unveils the heart and vision of young leaders for the Christian church today. Highlighting the generational traits, values, and needs of Millennials in ministry, this book offers helpful insights for churches and organizations that are hiring, retaining, and equipping this new generation of leaders.

Mission in the Marketplace What can the prophet Daniel teach us about serving in God's mission? Daniel was not a priest or official religious leader—he was a forcibly displaced Israelite, who became a public administrator in the Babylonian and Persian empires. While he may serve as an example of an admirable work ethic—often finding favor and recognition with political leaders—he is also a prime example of a bold and godly individual, willing to be a witness in his sphere of influence. Though his boldness resulted in suffering, he consistently experienced and demonstrated God’s power in his witness. This same boldness is needed today. While many books and Bible studies explore the work ethic and character of Daniel, Ed Smither takes those discussions to a new level, illustrating why each of Daniel’s qualities and skills is a necessary component of mission today. Mission in the Way of Daniel probes mission theology and practice in the Old Testament, exploring the well-known story of Daniel through the lenses of mission history and mission practice. Providing relevant application for contemporary issues like diaspora, power encounters, and divine favor in mission, the themes in Mission in the Way of Daniel advance the ongoing conversation about how to do mission. For mission practitioners, tentmakers, and all Christians, this book shows us how God can use us where we are in life and work.

The Routledge Companion to Marketing and Society focuses on marketing for social impact as the use of marketing strategies, tools and techniques to improve the well-being of society. As such it does not exclude the use of marketing to increase profit and shareholder value but rather prioritises the social impact of marketing, both positive and negative (even if largely unintended). This companion is a scholarly reference providing an overview of marketing for social impact in terms of its current and emergent themes, debates and developments, as well as reflections on the future of the field. Using marketing tools and techniques for social impact is commonly accepted as an effective commercial strategy (e.g. corporate social responsibility, cause-related marketing) and increasingly accepted as an approach to planned social transformation that can be used to influence positive social change in behaviours such as recycling, healthy eating, domestic violence and human trafficking. This reference volume serves as an authoritative and comprehensive statement on the state of contemporary scholarship focusing on the diverse subject of the social impact of marketing. It features 25 chapters written by international subject specialists within six themed sections, including consumer issues, marketing tools, commercial marketing and non-profit marketing. It will find a global audience of scholars and researchers within marketing and cognate fields, interested in using marketing tools and techniques to create social impact in areas such as public health, social and behaviour change communication, sociology and cultural studies.