Dr. Robert Petterson’s Legacy Imperative provides counsel, tools for older generations to reach Millennial & Gen Z grandchildren
NAPLES, Fla., Dec. 13, 2021 – Recognizing that at least 150 million Millennials, Gen Z’s and younger are disconnected from a growing Christian faith, Dr. Robert “Bob” Petterson has founded Legacy Imperative to help grandparents of faith – most of whom are not technology savvy – reach their digital native grandchildren with the Gospel message and biblical values. Legacy Imperative seeks to mobilize and equip grandparents and other followers of Christ with the tools to pass their faith on to the next generations in a way that is relevant and meaningful to them.
“We’ve inherited a legacy of faith from those before us, but we are losing the next generations, the natives of ‘Digital Land,’ making them one of today’s largest unreached people groups when it comes to the Bible and its teachings,” Petterson said. “We believe that Jesus did not come to make bad people good but to bring life to dead people, and until our grandchildren are spiritually alive, we will not see change in our cultural landscape.”
Petterson shares statistics which he believes reveal a legacy crisis, reflecting that the next generations are disconnecting from the biblical values that sustained and nourished their forbearers:
They are non-religious. Only 1 in 5 attend church.
More than 15 million self-identify as atheists.
A significant majority embrace moral, sexual, gender and family fluidity.
Their suicide rate has tripled over the last decade.
24.7 million children live in a home without a biological father.
In order to bridge this generational divide and build bridges, The Legacy Imperative offers Next Generation Summits to train grandparents in communicating with their grandchildren, and has created a film series called “Reaching Digital Land,” described as a cross between Netflix and The History Channel. The 10 episodes explore key events in history as well as societal and cultural changes leading to today’s generational schism. Each session closes with thought-provoking discussion questions to help grandparents spark non-confrontational conversations with their grandchildren, some of them on key hot-button issues.
Additionally, Legacy Imperative recently launched a new video-based weekly Bible study series conducted via YouTube, with Dr. Petterson speaking specifically about hot-button issues of the day. They include: Christians & Politics, Abortion, Vaccination Wars, Immigration, LBGTQ-related topics, BLM, CRT, the Bible vs. Science, gender fluidity and more. Since these are the topics that pose the greatest stumbling blocks to faith to Millennials and Gen Z’s, Dr. Petterson presents the subjects through a biblical lens, then offers strategies for opening dialogue and removing barriers.
“These young people will determine the course of history for our nation and world for the next 50 years, perhaps forever,” Petterson added. “The future is in our hands, and it is imperative that we pass on our spiritual legacy to the next generations – while there is still time.”
For more information, visit www.legacyimperative.org.
About The Legacy Imperative
The Legacy imperative is a non-denominational Christian ministry devoted to inspiring and mobilizing grandparents, parents and other advocates for Millennials and Generation Z to evangelize and disciple their loved ones who are far from the Christian faith. It was founded by Dr. Robert “Bob” Petterson, an author, speaker and former pastor at some of America’s leading churches. He has earned a Doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served as East Coast president of Mastermedia International, but would consider his most vital role as that of grandfather.
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