International (MNN) — Doug Hutchcraft of Ron Hutchcraft
Ministries is launching a lifeline blueprint for a generation convinced
that religion is the last thing they need. "If they're going to come to Christ, they're going to do it by the
time they are 18 years old."
However, it seems that the "Millennial Generation" has
fallen through the cracks. "They're
an unreached generation; they might be the most-unreached generation in
history, but because of the internet, they're the most reachable generation in
history."
Millennials came of age in the late 1990s, during an
unprecedented time of growth, when technology was rapidly growing. Everything
became faster , smarter, more efficient and more accessible. A Millennial
is usually tech-savvy, achievement-oriented, team-oriented and
attention-craving.
Many of them spend up to 40-percent of their day "hanging
out" online. Because
this is where their "tribes" hang out, more and more Millennials look
for life answers on the internet. In fact, in the last few years, the internet
has become, far and away, the #1 source of information for these "digital
natives."
Hutchcraft says they're after the 15- or 16-year-old who is
looking for answers. "'How then can they call on the One they have not
believed in? How can they believe in the One of whom they haven't heard? How can
they hear without someone preaching to them?' That is what we're trying to do through thedougandjonshow.com."
After a year of development and planning, the Web site goes
live April 28. A Web site as an
evangelistic tool? It's more of a
relationship-building tool, using the language of the target audience to
communicate the irresistible hope of Jesus.
Through thedougandjonshow.com, Hutchcraft's ministry is doing what young
people are already doing all the time: building relationships on the internet.
Like Jesus, RHM finds them in their
community: MySpace, Facebook, iTunes, text messaging.
As RHM finds them, they in turn help them to find
RHM. That's why they're seeding the
internet with podcasts, cartoons, videos, etc. on the sites where students hang
out the most, using their cultural language.
All of these "attention getters" link to the Web site. Once on the Web site, the studenst have the opportunity to easily
navigate their way to areas they struggle in and ultimately, to the
Gospel.
Keep praying for clear vision. "That is really our
goal: to get them from YouTube to the cross. Millennials love Web sites that'll make them laugh, feel noticed, feel accepted,
and think. All four of those components are
really compelling bridges to the Gospel for anybody."
