Editorial
By Donna Messenger, Editor
 Call them Mosaics
Every fifteen to twenty years a new generation emerges with a new
way of thinking, new ideas, new methods – in general, a new approach
to life. Baby Boomers were the first ones to be given a name for
their generation. Busters followed them, but true to their name,
have generally wanted nothing to do with the group that preceded
them.
The subsequent generations were assigned non-descript labels such
as Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, and the Millennials. This generation doesn’t
like any of those labels, and who blames them? They’re not really
interesting. Many are adopting a new name for the generation born
between 1984-2002—Mosaics. This title mostly emerges from the complete
diversity of their backgrounds and interests.
Mosaics have the potential to give the rest of us a serious run
for our money and to challenge the way we approach Christian life
and ministry. They search for authenticity – don’t just preach it,
they say, live it. They have an acute sense for hypocrisy.
This generation’s primary source of information is the Internet.
Their relationships are the most racially integrated of any generation
before them. All of this has profound implications for churches
in North America, and it’s good news for world missions.
Teens today think that one person can make a difference in the
world. They also believe that they can be that one person. They
have the potential to make a significant difference in our world.
Are we ready for this? While the message will never change, we
are already seeing modifications to traditional methodologies in
cross-cultural ministry. In this issue we explore some of the ways
the new generation of missionaries desires to be involved. In missions,
there will always be an overlap of generations who will work together
to reach the world for Christ. But this new generation, by sheer
numbers alone, has great potential for global ministry.
So, fasten your seat belts. We’re in for a major paradigm shift.
Fifteen to twenty years from now, when the next group arrives, I
think they’ll be reading about the phenomenal accomplishments of
the Mosaics and looking for ways to move above and beyond to even
greater things.
NOTE: Material gleaned from Real Teens by George Barna,
Regal Books 2001.
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