Pokemon Go became an instant success just days after it’s release. What can we learn about the young adults who are a part of this new trend?
1. They like to re-imagine the past.
Millennials were born between early 80s and mid 90s. Pokemon began in 1995 as a Game Boy game and held popularity until the early 2000s. This was their childhood! Only, now the game is played using their smartphone and involves real life locations.
When it comes to the church and millennials, these same principles seem to apply. Hymns are rearranged into “modern” styles. Sunday School is repurposed into home small groups. Outreach is reworked into personal evangelism.
2. They enjoy when something is done with surprising attention to detail.
When you open Pokemon Go, every detail is right. The Pokemon are hiding in the correct locations. The masters are dressed and act like the original masters. The poke balls perform as expected. Not to mention there is the added bonus of being able to use your camera and have the Pokemon actually interact with the surroundings. The detail is incredible.
Your details matter. When the slides look good and the service flows smoothly, millennials are impressed with how important church is to you. When the printed products you put into their hands look high-quality, they take interest. Things should be as they are intended. “Good enough” is not good enough.
3. They love being involved in something bigger than themselves.
Part of the whole Pokemon Go phenomenon is how quickly it gained users. Everybody wants to be a part and they want their friends to join them. People are uniting over this game in all walks of life.
Genuine Christian community is united beyond the walls of one building and work to accomplish common goals all across the globe. That is the desire of the most connected generation in history: that they be connected in Christ with a common goal.
So get out and Pokemon Go! Build relationships that matter while you’re playing. Learn from culture to reach it!
Emily Hamilton studied Collegiate Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Seminary and loves hanging out with college students, drinking coffee, eating McDonald’s french fries, and social media.