Possible Effects of New Technologies and New Media Use on the Lives of Adventist Millennials in Bucharest

Abstract

In recent decades, scholars have studied the influence of digital technologies, with particular focus on youth. The Millennial generation’s habits and preferences differ significantly from earlier ones, shaped by the internet, digital devices, and new media. Yet, in the Adventist Church in Romania, little research has addressed this topic. Exploring it may offer insights for youth ministry, especially regarding the declining participation of Millennial Adventists in local communities. Between December 2022 and January 2024, surveys and focus group discussions were conducted with 61 Adventist lay people and pastors in Bucharest, as well as 63 lay members from six churches. Their input highlighted a mature group of religious Millennials eager to uphold biblical values and engage actively in their churches and society. For church leadership, this poses both a challenge and an opportunity: to collaborate with Millennials in sharing the Gospel, both online and offline, while further exploring technology’s mixed effects.