The study of teens and young adult Christians has been an important area of research for Barna over the last few years. Perspectives of young believers change across the decades, challenging pastors to stay informed when it comes to reaching younger generations. In light of this, today’s article takes a look at data from The Future of Missions, highlighting the way different age groups talk about missions and why teens and young adults lean away from certain terminology when discussing global ministry.

Data show that Millennials and Gen Z teens are more cautious about the words they use to describe the goals and reasons behind sharing their faith with others, something older generations are less apt to do. So what words should church leaders and parents use when discussing missions with younger believers?

Young Adults and Teens Prefer Saying “Sharing Faith” Over “Evangelism” Religious language changes over time. Once-common words and phrases fall out of fashion and use for various reasons, often because younger generations feel their parents’ and grandparents’ preferred words don’t adequately describe their experience.

For years the Barna team has tracked attitudes toward religious language, especially words and phrases associated with Christianity. Findings published in Reviving Evangelism and Spiritual Conversations in the Digital Age indicate that younger generations of believers are more cautious than older Christians about how and when they use words like “evangelism” and “conversion.”

The Future of Missions data bolsters this evidence and, further, suggests that younger Christians’ caution may be trickling upward. Researchers asked the three survey groups to choose their top two preferences from a list of terms related to missions. Across the board, “sharing faith” comes out on top, while preference for a more straightforwardly religious option like “evangelism” falls parallel to age.