By now you’ve heard the stats. Gen Z is…
At the same time, we are told they are…
- Ambitious, authentic, and altruistic
Most of all, the data is showing that they are hungry. They want their life to matter. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They are disillusioned with institutions, brands, and positions of authority that do not live up to the ideals they preach. They want higher standards, greater vision, and clearer truth. This is why some are calling them Gen Zeal.
You likely saw what happened last year at Asbury, when a student-led prayer service lasted over two weeks. But what about Auburn, Baylor, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Georgia? While I was not able to witness any of these moments in person, I do know that God is moving among Gen Z.
Let me share with you what I’ve experienced firsthand in my campus context.
A few weeks ago, it was a beautiful spring-like Sunday morning in Cookeville, TN. Just on the edge of the campus of Tennessee Tech University, people of different ages, educational backgrounds, race, and class gathered in a nearly 100-year-old house-turned-community center for a church service. Filled to the brim with folding metal chairs, there were 140 people mingling and preparing to worship together. Nearly 60 of them were college students!
“They want higher standards, greater vision, and clearer truth.”
I watched a black student athlete pour out his heart to Jesus, and then a white, 60-year-old factory worker did the same. I watched a group of people take communion as one body. Together, they paused to sing “Happy Birthday” to a kids’ ministry servant, followed by students placing their orders with their church-adopted-family for the snacks they needed for the upcoming midterms.
This church is a vibrant, holistic, family of God. They happen to be right next to a campus. And the church has decided to see the campus as its primary mission field. They are a church for the campus. The students are part of this church family; they’re not just a ministry on the side. The church is making space for these students to find Jesus, find community, find truth, and find purpose for their lives. All within the safety of a loving church family who calls them to participate in the mission of Jesus together.
God Cares About the Campus
My experience with this kind of environment goes back over 20 years ago. Long before I knew the words “relational disciple making” and “being on mission,” I experienced it. I arrived on the campus of Ohio University in the fall of 2001, completely unqualified but on fire for Jesus. My best friend and ministry partner Chip Pugh had spent the previous 3 years reaching students for Jesus and building up a campus ministry with several others who were seeing the fertile field of the university. They were part of a local church which also agreed that their primary mission was the campus.
When I say primary mission, I do not mean their only mission. Parents still had kids to raise, neighbors still had friends to reach, and professionals still had coworkers to share the gospel with. The preaching was not targeted only at the students, but it included them. It was highly relational, evangelistically minded, and celebrated the sending of students to their next chapter of life after pouring into them while at school.
“Long before I knew the words ‘relational disciple making’ and ‘being on mission,’ I experienced it.”
While there, I had the opportunity to lead evangelistic Bible studies on campus, preach on the weekends, organize events and trips, even teach children’s Bible classes. I was a missionary to the campus and part of the church family. It was one experience, not two. They were a church (holistic family of God) for the campus—wanting to see the campus thrive and students included.
What Is God Up to?
Fast forward 20 years, and we are still seeing God move on campuses and in the hearts of the younger generation. Our challenge is not so much figuring out new ways to help younger people to follow Jesus. Rather, it is to remain encouraged about them and become equipped to meet them where they are so we can lead them to Jesus.
To help you with that, I’m going to let you hear directly from people who are working in churches for the campus, as well as some of the students themselves. I asked them two questions:
- What evidence do you see in Gen Z that testifies to spiritual hunger?
- Finish this sentence, “To serve Gen Z well, we must…”
Below you’ll find their answers. I hope they give you great encouragement and confidence to know better how to serve them well. I hope that God will stir in your heart a revival of hope that Gen Z is ready—and you can be, too.
“I hope that God will stir in your heart a revival of hope that Gen Z is ready—and you can be too.”
What Evidence of Spiritual Hunger Among Gen Z?
- “Their desire to do community service and their desire to be loved as evidenced by their consumption of social media.” – Dr. Rob Owens, Planter & Lead Pastor, Kainos Church & Chief Diversity Officer, Tenn. Tech U.
- “I have noticed an increased awareness of the supernatural. Prayer meetings are on the rise, worship gatherings are well-attended. Discussions about mental health and the use of meditation are popular. This opens the door for true spiritual healing.” – Chip Pugh, Lead Coach, BE1MK1, Campus Missionary, Kainos Church/TTU
- “Disillusion with the state of the world and a deep passion to do something about it. They have a desperate search for the fullness of purpose & identity. And they have a respect for the power of being together paired with difficulty connecting to real community.” – Hunter Hackworth, Church Planter, Ekklesia: Athens
“Disillusion with the state of the world and a deep passion to do something about it.”
- “Gen Z longs for authenticity. When they find someone or a group that is authentically themselves because of their confidence and love of Jesus, they dive in. The students we have encountered that are spiritually hungry have a lot of questions. They want to know what we are sharing is real, genuine, trustworthy. The Truth. When they establish that connection, they are excited to share, to invite more people in, to be fully involved. They have tasted and seen the Lord is good and they want to share it with others.” – Haylie Sigmon, Planter & Campus Minister, Encompass Campus Ministry
- “A lot of kids are lost or don’t know what/who to turn to other than our phones that leave us empty/longing for more. We all want to fill our time with something productive but keep choosing the wrong things.” – Ally W, College Student (baptized in March of 2024!)
- “We are all searching for things to fill us. We don’t know that we are hungry for God. We try to find things to make us happy. Before I was living for Jesus, I was not joyful and the only reason I am joyful now is because of Jesus. When people see that, they want to know how they can be joyful.” – Hayley S., College Student (active in Campus Ministry)
“We are all searching for things to fill us. We don’t know that we are hungry for God.”
- “When there’s a captivating/intriguing place or event that is focused on the spiritual, they show up. For example, 55k students, 24-years-old and younger, at Passion Conference.” – Mitch Frost, Student Pastor, Sycamore Creek Church
To serve Gen Z well, we must…
- “Love them hard and consistently and not be afraid to speak truth to them in loving ways.” – Dr. Rob Owens, Planter & Lead Pastor, Kainos Church & Chief Diversity Officer, Tenn. Tech U.
- “Meet them where they are. Drop our generational biases and be true to the Word of God. Not be afraid to be clear. They desire authenticity and bold communication.” – Chip Pugh, Lead Coach, BE1MK1, Campus Missionary, Kainos Church/TTU
- “Honor their passion by inviting them to actions that reflect Jesus’ compassion and generosity. Affirm their God-given inherent value, created intent, and redemptive purpose. Be willing to initiate invitations to our everyday life.” – Hunter Hackworth, Church Planter, Ekklesia: Athens
“Affirm their God-given inherent value, created intent, and redemptive purpose.”
- “Be present and available. Be present with God and in response be available to love, to serve, to answer questions. We who serve them need to be confident in who we are in Christ.” – Haylie Sigmon, Planter & Campus Minister, Encompass Campus Ministry
- “Invest in them and truly show that people (and God) care about them and what they are doing. I think we all want to feel loved and important.” – Ally W, College Student (baptized in March of 2024!)
- “Be willing to pursue and be present with messy people. People are afraid that nothing will ever get better, so to see someone go above and beyond and give them hope that it can get better is powerful.” – Hayley S., College Student (active in Campus Ministry)
- “See yourself as a steward/shepherd toward them.” – Mitch Frost, Student Pastor, Sycamore Creek Church
