by Cadance Tyler

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What’s the purpose of mission camp? Is it a fun challenge, a beloved tradition, or a chance to grow closer as a group? Yes, but it’s so much more! Generation Z and Generation Alpha are searching for meaning, belonging, and authenticity. Churches are asking how to engage the next generation and break down the generational divide. Impact Mission Camps, a summer construction camp experience, can help churches move beyond summer programming and into purpose.

The first step toward reaching the next generation is to get excited about the opportunity to serve alongside them. The gap between generations may seem large, but people of all ages are searching for connection and meaning. The church can be a part of providing community and space to explore faith. The next generation is looking for authenticity—not perfection. They don’t need a big production on Sunday morning; they want honest conversations and real people. The Church can do that!

So, who is the next generation? Generation Z was born between 1995 and 2012. They are young adults in high school, college, and the workforce. Generation Alpha is age 13 and under—currently in middle and elementary school. So as your church thinks about serving the next generation, there is a wide range of ages and opportunities.

Generation Z has always lived in a world with internet access. Safety is important to them, and they seek both physically and emotionally safe spaces. They value authenticity and diversity. They want to be able to immediately get involved with the learning process so instead of lectures, they are looking for meaningful dialogue.

Generation Alpha knows a world only with smartphones and social media. They are visually literate, adaptable, and curious. Their early-education years were shaped by the pandemic, and screen time is replacing a lot of their physical play. They like to be able to customize their experiences and figure out the “why” behind what they are doing.

Both generations are global thinkers who are ready to interact with the world around them, and mission camp is a great place to connect the dots. What might we be able to do as the church if we brought all generations together to live out faith? Generation Z is looking to connect faith with justice, and Generation Alpha wants real-world applications to what they are learning. That sounds like a week of mission camp!

While serving at Impact Mission Camps, all generations come together for a united purpose: to share the love of Jesus by helping homeowners stay safe, warm, and dry. This year, we will have camp experiences for children, youth, college students, and adults. Whether as a camper, young-adult staffer, adult chaperone, crew chief, or kitchen volunteer, people of all ages will come together to serve communities in Mecklenburg, Roanoke, and the Eastern Shore. At the Eastern Shore location this year, we are excited to offer Impact Kids!, a mission camp for kids in grades three through five. This camp will be at the same housing location as the youth camp and help ignite an excitement for mission for children through Bible lessons, service, and worship.

Our theme this year is “Down to Earth,” and we will be exploring the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. We want to help the next generation experience what it’s like to live out that prayer by seeking God’s will and direction as we engage with the world around us. Generation Z will be able to get their hands dirty as they wield a hammer on their job site. Generation Alpha will hop offline to explore and experience the joy of serving God through mission and worship.

We all come to our pews with different experiences and learning styles, but we know that we serve a God who is timeless. We are all called to love and to serve God. We, the Church, have an obligation to invite all generations to experience God’s love. Let’s get excited about what God is doing in our world through younger generations to bring the kingdom life here on earth as it is in heaven. At Impact, we believe that everyone can contribute to God’s mission. We would love for you to pick up a hammer and join us.

Learn more about Impact Mission Camps and register for an upcoming camp.

Rev. Cadance Tyler is BGAV’s camp coordinator for Impact Missions. She also serves as director of the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) at Longwood University.