Showing posts with label Christina Aguilera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christina Aguilera. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

What Hillary Is Learning About GenXers—and What Your Church Must Know - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Fire in My Bones, by J. Lee Grady
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Hillary Clinton thought she had the full support of young American voters last year. She got high-profile endorsements from singers Pharrell Williams and Christina Aguilera. She appeared in a goofy skit on Saturday Night Live in which she praised herself for having a "young, cool vibe." She even brought in pop star Katie Perry (sporting Hillary Clinton campaign fingernails) to sing her signature anthem "Roar" at a campaign event in Iowa.
But now, just a few months later, 68-year-old Clinton is scrambling to convince Millennials and GenXers that she is their candidate. She even opened a Snapchat account and put her 35-year-old daughter, Chelsea, on the platform. But the latest polls show that, among Democrats, a majority of young voters are choosing Bernie Sanders, the ultra-liberal, "democratic socialist" senator from Vermont—who is six years older than Clinton.
The reason? Young voters have told CNN and other news outlets that they don't trust Hillary. They think she's dishonest. And they believe she is too tied to the Wall Street/Inside-the-Washington-Beltway establishment. They detect something fake.
We'll see how all this plays out in Iowa and New Hampshire in a few days. Meanwhile, I hope the church can learn a few lessons from politics. The truth is that Millennials and GenXers don't have much trust in the Christian "establishment" either. Here are a few things the church must learn fast if we want to win the trust of the younger generation:
1. Quit being phony. Young people today want authenticity. They can't stand anything fake or pretentious. We are way past the time when preachers can afford to be cocky and unapproachable. Ministers who arrive at church in limousines or who view ministry as a business venture might as well forget about attracting the younger crowd. Youth today cannot stomach the swagger of a slick televangelist who has been stuck in a 1980s time warp. If you genuinely care about taking the gospel to the younger generation, get rid of anything that comes across as fake. (And that includes pushing people to the floor when you pray for them.)
2. Stop preaching a money-focused gospel. Today's young people will go to the ends of the earth with you if you preach a message of humility and sacrifice. They want to heal the sick, stop child slavery and crush injustice. They despise corporations that oppress foreign workers and governments that exploit people. So if you spend all your time taking offerings for a private jet or manipulating people to give in your "first fruits offering," young people will yawn, roll their eyes and find a better cause to support. They can spot a religious con artist quicker than many adults who have been in church for years!
3. Cultivate real relationships. Today's young people don't place a high value on church attendance or religious routines. Part of the reason they stay away from programmed events is that they genuinely want to connect; they are not interested in keeping a chair warm just so you can fill your new sanctuary. They are relational. And some are starved for love because their own families split apart. They don't want to just listen to a preacher; they want to hear what you have to say and then have a coffee with you afterward. Churches that are successfully reaching young people create a true family environment of love and connection.
4. Offer assurance and encouragement—and follow through. Some of the young men I mentor were horribly disappointed by parents or spiritual leaders. Some were abandoned by their dads; others were verbally abused by pastors. For that reason, they expect older adults to fail them again—yet they thrive when a true mentor steps in to offer affirming words and caring hugs. But remember: If you tell a young person you will help them, keep your promise. Make the phone calls, send the texts and take them to lunch when possible. You are making a priceless investment.
5. Stop being religious and judgmental. Many of the young Christians I meet today are more passionate about their faith than their parents. They spend their summers on the mission field, get involved in 24/7 prayer efforts and forfeit cars and careers to serve the Lord. But when they walk into some churches they are instantly judged because they have scruffy beards, metal piercings in their noses or tattoos on their forearms. Then they listen to self-righteous Christians who bash sinners rather than model compassion. Is it any wonder that so many Millennials and GenXers have checked out of church?
It is possible to close the generation gap in the church, but this won't happen until older Christians start caring less about maintaining the status quo and more about loving and empowering younger believers. Let's make the necessary changes by slaughtering our sacred cows, embracing new music, learning new technology and welcoming a fresh wave of the Holy Spirit's power.
J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Jordan Smith Is Crowned The Voice's New Champion! - PEOPLE

(From left) Barrett Baber, Jeffery Austin, Emily Ann Roberts and Jordan Smith
TRAE PATTON/NBC

Jordan Smith Is Crowned The Voice's New Champion
 
12/15/2015 PEOPLE
Congratulations, Jordan Smith!

On Tuesday, the singer was crowned The Voice's season 9 champion. Emily Ann Roberts placed second, while Barrett Baber and Jeffery Austin rounded out the final four.

After host Carson Daly called his name, Smith, 21, was joined on stage by his coach Adam Levine and family members.

But Smith didn't have long for celebratory hugs. He soon held up the mic and burst into an emotional performance of "Climb Every Mountain." It was a short reminder why his fans – including coaches Blake SheltonGwen Stefani, and Pharrell – fell in love with him after the season debut in September. 

Building up to the final reveal on Tuesday, Smith soared alongside Usher while singing the crooner's dance hit "Without You." Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Coldplay, Missy Elliott, and more stars also took center stage for numbers.

Smith – a Lee University college student from Harlan, Kentucky – caught the coaches' attention with his high-pitched voice by nailing Sia's "Chandelier" during blind auditions. But the highlight of his journey came on Dec. 7, when he delivered a stunning rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love."

"I don't need to say anything at all because that's one of the best things I've ever seen in my entire life," said Levine.

His recording soon raced to the top of the iTunes chart, ending Adele's five-week reign with "Hello."

"I was actually on the red carpet doing press after the show. We were all checking the charts anyway just to see how everybody was doing," Smith told PEOPLE of discovering his achievement. "I opened my phone and saw it and I almost was moved to tears. It was so incredible!"

He struck gold again on Monday, reclaiming the No. 1 spot on iTunes with his spin on Christmas classic "Mary, Did You Know?".

The latest season of NBC's singing competition has spawned not just chart toppers, but also music's new it couple, Shelton and Stefani.

The Voice will come back for a tenth season in 2016, with Christina Aguilera returning to the lineup of coaches as Stefani takes a break to release new music.

"I don't want Gwen to not be on the show," Shelton recently told Extra of the upcoming season. "Why can't we have a fifth coach?"

Watch on PEOPLE: Jordan Smith video