Getting GenZ To God

The Church must urgently address the "YouTube discipleship gap" as young people are being discipled more by online content than by pastors, according to a new study.

A recent report found that 95% of church leaders affirmed digital spaces as legitimate fields for mission, though many doubted the Church's current authenticity online. "Young people are discipled by YouTube more than by pastors. The Church must step into that gap," one respondent said in the study. Another added: "If we fail to disciple Gen Z, we lose the future of the Church."

The report identified five key catalysts for future mission including collaboration, deeper discipleship, digital innovation, marketplace ministry, and youth engagement. A South Asian leader commented that "collaboration is no longer optional, it is obedience."

"Digital space is the new village square, where people gather, argue, laugh, and learn," said an African respondent in the study. However, the study concluded that many leaders were uncertain about the Church's ability to engage with issues such as artificial intelligence, gender, and mental health.

The findings come amid broader research showing that Gen Z and Millennials are now the most regular churchgoers, outpacing older generations. New data from Barna Group reveals that Gen Z churchgoers now average 1.9 services per month while Millennials attend 1.8 times, compared to Baby Boomers and older generations who attend only 1.4 times per month.

Despite this resurgence in attendance, younger generations still attend church less than half the time, presenting challenges for traditional discipleship models. Gen Z has the lowest Church Engagement score overall, according to the State of the Bible report, indicating an opportunity for churches to help young people recognize and engage their gifts and nurture their faith.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Gen Z is being discipled by YouTube instead of pastors, and the Church is asleep at the wheel.

Young people are forming their theology from influencers, their ethics from TikTok, and their worldview from Instagram. Meanwhile, churches wonder why they're losing the next generation.

The digital mission field is the largest in human history, and most churches treat it like an afterthought. If we don't meet Gen Z where they are...online, authentic, unfiltered we will lose them.

Not to atheism necessarily, but to a counterfeit Christianity shaped by algorithms instead of Scripture.

The Church must get digital discipleship right, or we surrender the future.

TAKE ACTION

Barna Group - State of the Church https://www.barna.com/

American Bible Society https://www.americanbible.org/

Email: info@americanbible.org

Digital Discipleship Resources https://www.gloo.us/