Their Needs
Unlike the Baby Boomer generation, the generation neXt is very pessimistic about future. The Boomers grew up in times of great hope, even though the world was full of problems, the economy was still growing, the Boomers believed that somehow they could solve the problems. But the world, as seen through the eyes of generation neXt, is a difficult place, they feel being cut off from their dreams in the midst of social upheaval, ineffective government, soaring national debts, increasing environmental crisis. Facing a hopeless and difficult world, the neXt generation turns inward to find meaning and support!
Longing for Relationship
Friendship is significant to the generation neXt, because they have grown up with little emotional support from their families. Many have even sought a refuge from their families. For them, families have brought more pain than comfort during their formative years. They don't trust their parents, rather they seek friends who will be authentic and loyal. They are picky about whom they invite into their lives, friends are usually a selected group of individuals, handpicked for the common interests they shared and expected a fair exchange in personal interaction. As Kevin Ford states in Jesus For A New Generation that the generation neXt approaches relationships from the standpoint of feelings and individual needs, not issues and causes: "We seek out friends who will be there with us as we struggle to survive our oppression by the system. Our friendships are functional; they act as stabilizers in a world where everything is up for grabs." As a result, "family" is redefined revolutionarily as those who will love them, not those who produced them. In reality, friends are more "family" than are parents or siblings. A community that is open, honest, in which people help each other rather than compete has the highest value for this generation.
One way to seek affection is through sex. Today's generation has both learned and experienced sex at an earlier age than their parents. George Barna reported in 1992 that one-third of teens asserted that "it is very unlikely for a male and female to have a lasting friendship without its becoming a sexual relationship." Forty-seven percent of babies born in 1991 were of unmarried mothers, the highest record for women in the 15- to 24-year age. Teens definitely have a longing for affection, they may not know what a "healthy" relationship is like, but they deeply want to experience it.
Pursuit of Self-Fulfilment
Since the neXt generation doesn't believe that it is possible to change the world, they have settled for less money, less stress, less competition with downsized hopes, downsized ambitions, and downsized lifestyles. They don't want to conquer or control the world, they just want to get along with it! It is not how much money or possession one earns or owns that matters. Being oneself and doing own things in his or her own way is the top priority of this generation; all they want is more leisure time and maintaining a comfortable, self-contained world populated by a few good friends!
Search for Spirituality
The neXt generation doesn't believe that science alone can solve our problems, they are looking for transcendent meaning in life. They don't want to waste time in traditional churches that have no real relevancy. "All I want is reality. Show me God. Tell me what He is really like. I don't want empty promises. I want the real thing. And I'll go wherever I find that truth system," said Xer Lisa Baker. Institutionalized religion always turns them off because they see it as part of society which exploits them. However, New Age philosophy such as harmony with the universe, peace with yourself and others, striving for higher purpose is more appealing to them than traditional religion.
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