Recruiting Quote
Here is an interesting quote from the e-mail notes of the WBT USA Delegate's Conference which talks about recruiting today's students:
Recruiting today’s students: Board Member Tom Lin talked about this generation. Students think in terms of a world without boundaries. They are knowledgeable but fragile, often stuck in adolescence because of overprotection. They are communal and their mission interests are community projects. They are looking for purpose and direction and will not settle down until they find where they fit. They believe the church should be known for what it does, not for what it believes. Lifestyle and friends are a high priority; they like short-term missions because it doesn’t call for long-term sacrifice. Our challenge is to recruit in this generation.
What do you think of this? Does this apply to Asian or other non-USA audiences?
Since we are providing resources for recruiters, we need to be up on what the latest thinking is regarding this topic.
Perhaps others of you can link to other useful information about this topic?
I look forward to your replies.
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Comments
Hi Eric. Most recently, our
Hi Eric. Most recently, our home church in Canada (while we were in Canada) interviewed me for youth workers position (without telling that it was an interview) :) There, one of the board members asked how I would talk to his teenage son who doesn't go to church but the son knows so much about Bible because of the internet (the father lost the debate). I replied to him by "You won't win the heart of today's youth by winning a debate. When I am in debate, I try to look for the real reason why the boy is asking question like that. They need to see that you are real and genuine guy with Jesus. Today's youth has full of knowledge because of their access to internet. But they are more turned off by hypocracy in churches, break of relationship, trust issues..."
In response to Eric's question. The generation of head-knowledge comes largely by internet (high-speed). In my witness, kids from high internet access area such as Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are more like the youth you mentioned. Other countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, India, China and Malaysia are more depends on wether they live in big city with internet access or not. For example, in the case of the Philippines, there is a big difference between Manila-kids and the provinces-kids.
That's my two cents worth.
Thanks
Thanks, Kenji, that is helpful to me.
Do you think our products are more likely to be viewed by the head-knowledge kids or the non-internet type? Do we need to distinguish between the two, or if we focus on "genuine relationships with Christ" will we cover both audiences?
I can see how this will affect how I make videos, for example.
I think the target audience
I think the target audience is decided by each client per project. Then the script is written, usually. Sometime Wycliffe guys shoot films and then the Script afterward depending on the footage they GOT.
I would say shoot as much footage as you can predict. It will be the video editor's job to determine which one to use for the purpose they are doing. You might be the one doing all the work. So in that case, you ask the clients ahead of time WHAT type or audience they are aiming for.
Recruiting Quote
You're right, Eric. It IS important that we know our audience(s). We as communications professionals in ASia and the Pacific not only prepare materials for these potential audiences around the world, but we also represent a social slice or demographic to the rest of the world. We need to know whom we're talking about and whom we're talking to.... it's not easy but oh.. it's SO fun!
Did Tom Lin include any references in his talk to get us started? I'd like to hear what others have read about this topic.
Thanks for bringing this up. This is a very important issue to grapple with.
Additional Information
Unfortunately the quote is all I have. Perhaps someone in Wycliffe USA could provide a longer version.