April 30, 2025 • 24 mins
In this inspiring episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast, Karen Potter sits down with Pete Kirchhoff, Director of Campus Ministry at Youth for Christ USA, to explore the incredible movement of faith rising among Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
Despite the narrative that younger generations are turning away from faith, Pete shares eye-opening research, real-world ministry stories, and powerful insights about how today's youth are more spiritually open than ever before. From the impact of campus ministries to the innovative ways Youth for Christ is reaching teens, you'll discover why there's so much hope for the next generation—and how YOU can be a part of it.
Whether you're a parent, youth leader, or simply passionate about impacting young lives, this conversation will inspire and equip you to engage with today's youth authentically and powerfully.
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🕰️ Chapter List:
00:00 - Welcome & Introduction - Karen introduces Pete Kirchhoff and today's focus on Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
01:00 - Pete’s Story: From Troubled Teen to Christ Follower - Pete shares his personal testimony and passion for youth ministry.
02:45 - Hopeful Trends: Faith Among Gen Z and Gen Alpha - Encouraging research showing an openness to faith among younger generations.
05:10 - Challenges and Opportunities with Gen Alpha - Understanding Gen Alpha’s spiritual curiosity and lack of religious exposure.
07:00 - Why Traditional Church Outreach May Not Work - The need to meet young people where they are—schools, communities, and more.
09:00 - Building Trust Through Relationship - The essential role of trust and relational ministry in reaching youth.
10:45 - Youth for Christ's Diverse Ministry Models - Campus Life, Juvenile Justice Ministry, City Life, Military Ministry, and Deaf Teen Quest.
13:00 - How to Get Involved: Volunteers Needed - The importance of Christian adults stepping up to mentor young people.
15:30 - The Kingdom Innovation Lab: Empowering Young Leaders - A new initiative releasing young adults to creatively reach Gen Alpha.
18:00 - Helping Churches Reach Today's Teens - Stories of success and struggle from partnering with local churches.
20:00 - A Call to Action: Pray and Engage - Encouragement for adults of all ages to invest in the next generation.
22:00 - Connect with Youth for Christ - How you can find and support local ministries near you.
23:00 - Final Words of Hope for the Next Generation - Pete’s encouragement rooted in 1 Thessalonians 2:8.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:06):
Hey, everybody, welcome backto The Covenant Eyes Podcast.
We are so glad to have youjoining us today.
We are going to be talkingabout a topic I know
everyone's interestedin the youth and Gen Z, Gen
Alpha, all of them.
And we are just really excitedbecause we have
an expert in that space.
We have Peter Kirchhoff.
Did I get that right?
You got it. Yep.
(00:27):
Awesome.
Yes, he is the national ministryspecialist of Campus Life
Middle School,Youth for Christ, USA
and is a dedicatedindividual for providing
hope in Jesus Christto the generations to come.
Youth for Christhas been a leader
in missional youthoutreach since 1944.
(00:47):
Wow.
That's unbelievable.
And it is dedicatedto uncovering
God's story of hopefor the next generation.
For 80 years, Youth forChrist is engaged young people
in authentic Christ, sharingrelationships while walking
alongside themthrough pivotal moments
in their lives.
Pete, it is so good to have youjoining us today.
(01:08):
We are really excited to havethis conversation.
We're going to betalking a little bit
about the rise of faithin Generation Alpha and Gen Z,
which kind of bucks the trend.
We've heard a lot of thingsabout those generation,
about how they'releaving the church.
But this will be a fascinatingconversation.
But welcome to the podcast.
Thank you.
It's good to be here.
Yeah.
I am so passionateabout teenagers and about faith.
(01:29):
And that's how things gotstarted for me,
that when I was in junior high,I had two friends that thought
I was getting in troubleall the time.
You know, they even beganwith that of pornography
that I was looking at.
And then that led toI was getting in
trouble with the lawand was stealing things.
But my friend's sixth grader,an eighth grader, they saw that
(01:51):
and they basically cameand said, Pete,
this isn't going to gowell for you.
And through their youth group,they had been trained of
just how to,in a relational way,
talk to me about Jesusand my natrium.
So that's when my relationshipbegan, and God
was really planning those seedsthat most of my life since then
has been focused on how to helpteenagers find that
(02:11):
Jesus can be so helpful,not just
when they become adults,but as a teenager
for all they go through.
I love thatyou're equipping them
to evangelize and to be therefor other people
and lead them to Christ,I love that.
This is great.
Well, I know you guys are reallyinto the research,
and I know there's been,you know, new story
after new story about theyounger generation
(02:33):
and where they're headedwith their faith.
We hear a lot about the,the nuns, the people
that don't identify with any,you know, religious category
and things like that.
But talk to us a little bitabout what you see.
According to data and research,with the younger generation,
specifically Gen Z and the newerone, the Alpha’s.
Yeah, you betit is really hopeful
(02:56):
to see what's happeningbecause, you know,
we can all watch the newsand get discouraged
about what's happeningand even things there
that we'll hear about teenagers.
But as you start listening,it seems that God
is moving a lotin younger people,
even starting with thosewho are in their 20s.
And that are collegestudents. Now.
(03:16):
There are now this is notan exaggeration.
There are thousands of studentsthat are giving their lives
to Christ as some eventsthat are happening
around the country.
Just at Purdue last week,they had a gathering
of 4500 students that gathered,and about half of
was about 2000 studentssurrendered to Christ.
(03:38):
And then a bunch of themgot baptized right on the spot.
Wow.
That's happeningin college campuses.
And as we moveinto a high school age,
that really comesdown to the lower
limits of what Gen Z is.
That would come down.
Gen Z, the youngest of Gen Zs,or those who are sophomores in
high school.
(03:58):
So it's those who were bornin 1995 to 2010, and they have
been showing much more opennessto the gospel.
I remember backwhen the pandemic was
we just coming offof the pandemic,
and I'm in California,so we were doing
distance learningfor a longer time
(04:18):
for, about a year.
And this is when studentsreturned to school.
I was going to a junior high,and those eighth graders,
they were so eager to talkand very accepting of adults
and of talkingabout spiritual things.
I've been doing youth ministryfor a couple decades, and more
so than ever before.
(04:39):
I saw that the teenagersare really open
to that interactionand talking about deeper things.
But then you move into Gen Alphaand with research
that's been done, it's showingthat they are very open
to talking aboutspiritual things.
Now, Gen Alpha does not haveas much exposure to religion
(05:05):
and to Christianity,but they are very open
to talking about it.
Springtime Researchdid a study about a year
and a half ago with 13 year oldswho at the time were the oldest
of Gen Alpha.
So Gen Alpha is thosewho are born from 2010 to 2024.
(05:26):
So it's basically our babiesup through freshman
in high school.
And when SpringTide Research did this,
study with 1013 year olds atthe time who are now
our freshmen,they were asking them
of how open they are to learningabout Christianity
and if they considerthemselves, religious,
(05:49):
and 66% of them identifiedwith a Christian view,
but it increases,74% consider themselves
at least slightlyopen to religion, but 82%
to some selves,at least slightly
spiritual, slightlyon the low end to those who
(06:11):
consider themselvesvery spiritual.
So there's not a lot of backingof a foundation of Christianity,
but there's a real opennessand a real searching,
which really bringsa lot of hope to all of us
and to our organization,Youth for Christ and others
who are working with teenagers.
(06:32):
That's amazing.
And so these, these,these younger generations
are not necessarily tapped intoa church body.
So the traditionalmodel of, you know,
bringing them into the churchand getting them tapped
into the youth groupmight not be the effective way
to reach theseyounger generations.
So organizations like yoursand and others that are kind
of finding a way to reach themin the culture where they're at
(06:55):
and bringing theminto the church body,
as you walk with themin their faith journey.
Sounds like kind of a moreeffective way to reach
that generation.
Is that kind ofwhat you're seeing?
Yeah, exactly.
A motto that we used,which is not anything
new, is that we go towhere students are,
and that's somethingthat other parents authorization
have been doing for a long time.
(07:15):
And I love it.
It really does go back to Jesus.
I mean, Jesus did spend timein the synagogues for sure,
ministering to people thereand trying to show
what the truth was,but then so quickly was going to
where other people wereof hanging out along
the water's edge,where the fishermen
were going to the well, and thenjust spending face
(07:39):
to face time with.
And we can just go downthe list of Zacchaeus,
the woman at the.
Well, Nicodemuscoming to him at night,
all of theseone on one interactions
that begin with Jesusgoing to right to where
they're at.
So I think that's reallywhat's needed.
I mean, I'm a Gen Xer,so that's a couple
of generations.
(08:00):
But, you know,even back to that,
you know, as Gen Xers,we started to have
some skepticism as we wereseeing people,
often in the limelight, fallingto overcome that.
And now that there'sso much social media
and we're just hearingso many voices, trust is really
what's needed.
And in order to establish that,it involves going to where
(08:23):
they're at and buildingthat relationship with them.
So that's my use for Christ isreally built on, we do that
a couple different placesof going to where they're at.
We go to schools and thatis called campus life,
similar to what Young Life doeswith their clubs
and with Fellowshipof Christian Athletes.
Spending time on campuses,volunteering,
(08:44):
going to sports, eventsand to local hangouts
with students and buildingthe relationships,
relationships that beginwith maybe talking about,
the NCAA tournament or,you know, what they're wearing
on their sweatshirtor their favorite fast
food place, but then startingto talk about deeper things
(09:05):
and eventually get into you'retalking about
things spiritually.
So with Youth for Christ,with other schools,
we also do that withwith institutions.
I think there's abouta thousand different
juvenile hallsthat we have staff
and volunteersthat each week are going
and visiting boys and girlswho are incarcerated, who are
(09:25):
have a lot of interestof talking about God.
And where does how can faithhelp them through that?
So we do that.
And that's kind of juvenilejustice ministry.
Also in in neighborhoods,we have our city life ministry,
that is moregeographically based,
(09:46):
in a city area around a coupledifferent blocks
and then just a coupleother areas.
There's so many studentsalso that are in
military familiesand that are grouped
around, bases.
So we have our campuslife military that either
works on the bases or at schoolsnear vital spaces.
And then we also, workwith a lot of deaf students
(10:08):
with our deaf team quest,where there's a similar need.
And actually,we don't think about it
very often,but a really unreached,
group of students,to give them hope of how
Jesus can help them out.
Wow.
You guys are, like, everywhere,and you're doing amazing work.
So talk to us a little bitabout obviously, you must have
(10:30):
a very strong volunteer baseand people that work
with your organization.
But how do you getChristians involved
in this work?
Because there's such a needand you're in so many
different places.
It it takes the wholechurch body really to engage
in this effort.
It really does.
And not just forour organization,
but these othergreat organizations
(10:50):
like Young Life andFCA and others.
And, you know,we are not a church,
we are driven by the churchand we're, you know,
parish church.
So if that's alwaysthe big challenge is terms
of finding people that havethat availability
and that passion to want to gospend time building
(11:11):
relationships with students.
So it's a lot of networkingand a lot of just
inviting othersand asking others
to come to a clubor come to school with us
and see that can bepretty natural.
I know we all get nervousabout different situations,
but it's really justbuilding a relationship
and talking with students.
And I'd say more than anything,that's what I want to encourage,
(11:36):
is that those of us who arenot Gen Z or Gen Alpha, we
have a great opportunityto be building
relationships withthese students because there is
a increasing amount of interestthat they have to want to talk
about these things.
But unfortunately, right nowthere's a decreased amount
(11:57):
of volunteerism,adults being involved.
And, you know, I don't knowif it's different than when we
were younger, but studentsare really drawn to adults.
It's been saidthat a student is drawn
to the oldest person in the roomwho will respect them.
So they're notalways looking for
(12:17):
the coolest person,or the person is closest
an aide to them, although theydo enjoy that
and they can relate to that.
People of all agescan be awesome volunteers,
up into retirementand then older
age as well. Yeah.
So really there is a placefor all of us
in that bigger picture.
(12:38):
I mean, if you have a heartand a calling
to serve in this way,there is a place for you
in organizations like this.
I love that we'll talk to usa little bit.
You have, an initiative,I believe that's called
the Kingdom Innovation Lab.
Is that correct?
Yes it is.
Yeah. Yeah.
Okay.
Talk to usa little bit about what
that's all about.
And just kind of walk usthrough what that looks like.
(13:00):
Yeah.
Being in our position, it'sbeen around since Billy Graham
back in the 1940s,as he was one of the
first staff in place.
There are people of alldifferent ages
who work with Youthfor Christ, similar
to other organizations,and it can get to be that
those who are more seniorare the ones who are looked
at to develop the best waysto minister, and who are
(13:24):
leading that.
But what we would reallylike to see and are striving for
is to equip and releaseand encourage younger people
to be involved in buildingthese relationships,
but also in buildingthe best ways to reach that
next generation.
So the Innovation Labis just a creative way
(13:48):
to try to releaseyoung people, to dream
and to dream abouthow to do ministry.
The best we have people that areon our staff from,
you know, outsidehigh school, 18,
19, 20 years old,all the way up.
And so thoseyounger ones in the 20s,
we did a project this last yearwhere I'm not sure exact number.
About two dozen ofthose students have spent this
(14:11):
school year dreaming of new,different ways that we could
reach out to teenagers.
And they worked in groups.
They did a lot of callsand interviews
and asking their peersabout what's the best way
to reach out to our youngerbrothers and sisters
who are Gen Alpha.
(14:32):
And then they dida week long retreat
together in Floridawith some facilitation,
where they dreamedon different projects.
And what's the best wayto continue doing ministry?
That's somethingwe want to bring back,
to our chapters.
We have chapters in, about 30different states, so about 100
different cities.
(14:53):
For them to keep dreamingand for them
to have the ownershipto create new ways
to do ministry.
So that's the innovation.
And a place to do that is aninnovation lab.
Our headquartersfor Youth for Christ
are in Denver.
And so in a new building complexthere will be creating a
good conferencespace to do that.
(15:13):
But that reallycan happen any place.
Yeah.
I love that you're empoweringthe people closest to
the situation,the kids on the ground
with other kids to come up withthese ideas of how to better
reach and serve.
I love thatthat is so wonderful.
And you're empoweringthose, young people
also to potentially, you know,find a path in ministry
(15:35):
or some other,you know, career path
that might be out therefor them in evangelism.
So I love that.
Let's talk a little bit about,you know, as you guys
are working with, the youthand you are partnering
with local, community churchesand things like that.
What are some of thethe biggest frustrations
that you're seeing from Ministryleaders who are so passionate
(15:58):
about working with the youthbut are having trouble,
like recruitingand getting youth
to come into the churchand to join the youth
groups like talk to usa little bit about some of
your interactions and waysthat you've helped them.
Yeah, you bet.
This last couple months,I've been helping a new
high schooloutreach to get started
just north of mein Stockton, California.
And at that school, it's a it'spretty neat to hear
(16:22):
what's happening.
There was a Bible clubthat's been going on
for a long time that has had 10or 12 students come in,
and they were hearingabout campus life
and about Youth for Christ,and they asked if we could do
campus life there.
Well, Morgan, who's on staffand up in that area,
he spent time talking withthose students
and that teacher advisorabout how
(16:43):
this is really differentthan a Bible club.
This is reallyfor all those students
who don't yet believe in Jesusand are maybe
not even thinking aboutGod or talking about it
with others yet.
And he spent timetalking with them,
and it turned outthose students were
up for trying something newand being willing to do that.
(17:03):
So in January, they launchedtheir Campus Life Club
after couple of weeksabout lunch times,
inviting studentsand doing some games,
letting know this new clubis going to start
called Campus Life.
And they had it was about40 to 45 students
that came their very first time.
And it's so funto watch these students
(17:24):
and the Bible Club hosting it.
When I was there two weeks ago,I saw Erica, who's this petite,
junior, who's the presidentof the Bible Club and now
the president of Campus Life.
She had the guts to dothe little wrap up
teaching about who Jesus isand how God can be
so helpful for usduring high school.
(17:45):
She did at the end,and she taught for 15 minutes.
And another one of us adults.
We wouldn't teach for that longand only like 5 to 10 minutes,
but they were listeningso closer to her.
And man, she must be sweating.
But she did a wonderful joband she has an advisor there.
The science teacher.
And so talking to thescience teacher afterwards,
(18:06):
Jeremy, and just,you know, build
a relationship with him and wasask him how we can pray for him.
And he was telling us thatin March, I think
he was doing 4 or 5 differentyouth retreats,
some of them like twoin the same weekend.
I was like, wow, that'sthat's a whole lot
like that kind of choir,like lighting. So many.
And he said, students are justso interested right now
(18:29):
in, in different schoolsand in some different church
youth groups.
But there's not thatmany people to help out.
So he had a good attitudeabout it.
But he said, you know,I'm single, I have the time,
I have the lovefor these students.
And so right nowis my time to kind of
maybe make up for some others.
Those are my words.
Not is, to go and help outwith some of these
(18:51):
different retreats.
So that's really the main thingit comes back to is
if people can find a wayto help out just a little bit,
you know?
So maybe if they can help outduring lunch
or if they can get offearly from work,
or if they can helpwith an evening ministry
(19:13):
that's happening in a churchor with a local nonprofit
to get back involved and partof being
more multi-generational.
Maybe that was somethingthat we lost or took
some steps back in backwith during the pandemic
of being more separate.
But teenagers as well,whatever age,
(19:35):
whatever generationthey're a part of need,
you know,probably five key adults
that they know that they canconnect with.
So those of us who aren'tteenagers anymore close to it,
we can really beinvolved back in that.
And that's what Jesus was,was praying for.
You know, I'm sure there'sa problem all the way back
(19:56):
in the first century.
You know, when he's sayingthe harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few.
So he lets us know what to do.
Okay. Start praying.
Pray to the Lord of the harvestthat he'll provide his workers.
So that's something we're tryingto just keep being faithful,
to keep praying about and theninviting others.
And you know,we just ask that others
(20:17):
would be praying for that too.
And considering,hey, is there a way
that I could do that?
It might be scary at first,but I'm sure
it'd be so rewardingfor people who have not,
been in a relationship witha teenager recently
to realize, like,this is this is great.
Like to be ableto look face to face
to help this young persongrow even in their
(20:37):
social skills, you know,with eye contact and feeling
confident talking.
And that adult is reallyjust put in the spotlight
right on them.
Makes me think of a DavidBrooks book
that I've been rereadinga couple of times over the last
couple of years.
That talksabout illuminating that.
(20:58):
That's what an adult can do.
Is it basically puttinga big, bright light
on the other personto listen to them
and to draw them outand in that, build that trust,
and then to be ableto talk about faith.
That is awesome.
You know, it's amazing.
And I think that's a great callto action for our listeners
out there to prayand to be thinking about how you
(21:19):
can get involved, whether it'swith Youth for Christ
or another organization,a pair of church organization,
or even your local church body,there is a need for more people
to get involved and to discipleand engage with those,
younger generation.
So I love that.
Well, we're coming to theend of today's episode,
(21:39):
and I want to make surethat people can get in touch
with you and your organization.
And if they do feel the calland they've prayed about it,
and want to get activated,how do they do that?
How do they get in touchwith your organization?
Yeah, probably the bestfirst start is just to go to
our main website, which is whyI've seen that.
And that representswhat's happening in all the
(22:01):
different states.
And you can go on thereand search for chapter.
And from that, you know,look under your state and find
the nearest city,hopefully your own city
or another city nearbywhere that is going on.
If there's not usefor Christ in your area,
I really encourage youto find out what are some
of the other organizationsthat are doing outreach
in the schools,or in the juvenile
(22:22):
halls in your area or with youryouth group, but why?
I've seenthat is the main landing
page to get startedlearning more
about these ministriesand possibly what's already
going on near youthat you can plug in,
that's awesome.
We'll put allthe links in the show
notes for our listenersthat might be driving
or working out at the gym.
(22:42):
That way you can check it outwhen you get home safely.
With that, we're goingto bring today's
episode to a close.
But he it can you leaveour listeners
with just some wordsof encouragement and hope about
the next generationand what you know, what you're
seeing at the groundlevel? Yeah.
You know, it reminds me thateven though we're doing
(23:04):
this in 2025, this is what'sbeen happening all the way
since Jesus and Paul talksabout this
in 1 Thessalonians 2 (23:10):
8, he says, we were delighted
to share with you not only thegospel of God,
but our lives as well.
And that's what our opportunityis, is to we often use
this term of to give lifeto your story.
You just already has a story ofwhat God has done
and keeps doing,but we bring a life to that
(23:33):
when we can share itwith someone else
we work with or witha younger person.
I love that.
That's a great way to closetoday's episode.
Well, it has been an honorto have you on, and thank you
for the work that you guysare doing at Youth for Christ.
It is important work and it isbeing very fruitful out there.
So thanks again for joining usand to all of
(23:53):
our listeners out there.
Thank you for tuning into this episode
of The Covenant Eyes Podcast.
We'll see you next time.
Take care. God bless.
Hey, everybody, welcome backto The Covenant Eyes Podcast.
We are so glad to have youjoining us today.
We are going to be talkingabout a topic I know
everyone's interestedin the youth and Gen Z, Gen
Alpha, all of them.
And we are just really excitedbecause we have
an expert in that space.
We have Peter Kirchhoff.
Did I get that right?
You got it. Yep.
(00:27):
Awesome.
Yes, he is the national ministryspecialist of Campus Life
Middle School,Youth for Christ, USA
and is a dedicatedindividual for providing
hope in Jesus Christto the generations to come.
Youth for Christhas been a leader
in missional youthoutreach since 1944.
(00:47):
Wow.
That's unbelievable.
And it is dedicatedto uncovering
God's story of hopefor the next generation.
For 80 years, Youth forChrist is engaged young people
in authentic Christ, sharingrelationships while walking
alongside themthrough pivotal moments
in their lives.
Pete, it is so good to have youjoining us today.
(01:08):
We are really excited to havethis conversation.
We're going to betalking a little bit
about the rise of faithin Generation Alpha and Gen Z,
which kind of bucks the trend.
We've heard a lot of thingsabout those generation,
about how they'releaving the church.
But this will be a fascinatingconversation.
But welcome to the podcast.
Thank you.
It's good to be here.
Yeah.
I am so passionateabout teenagers and about faith.
(01:29):
And that's how things gotstarted for me,
that when I was in junior high,I had two friends that thought
I was getting in troubleall the time.
You know, they even beganwith that of pornography
that I was looking at.
And then that led toI was getting in
trouble with the lawand was stealing things.
But my friend's sixth grader,an eighth grader, they saw that
(01:51):
and they basically cameand said, Pete,
this isn't going to gowell for you.
And through their youth group,they had been trained of
just how to,in a relational way,
talk to me about Jesusand my natrium.
So that's when my relationshipbegan, and God
was really planning those seedsthat most of my life since then
has been focused on how to helpteenagers find that
(02:11):
Jesus can be so helpful,not just
when they become adults,but as a teenager
for all they go through.
I love thatyou're equipping them
to evangelize and to be therefor other people
and lead them to Christ,I love that.
This is great.
Well, I know you guys are reallyinto the research,
and I know there's been,you know, new story
after new story about theyounger generation
(02:33):
and where they're headedwith their faith.
We hear a lot about the,the nuns, the people
that don't identify with any,you know, religious category
and things like that.
But talk to us a little bitabout what you see.
According to data and research,with the younger generation,
specifically Gen Z and the newerone, the Alpha’s.
Yeah, you betit is really hopeful
(02:56):
to see what's happeningbecause, you know,
we can all watch the newsand get discouraged
about what's happeningand even things there
that we'll hear about teenagers.
But as you start listening,it seems that God
is moving a lotin younger people,
even starting with thosewho are in their 20s.
And that are collegestudents. Now.
(03:16):
There are now this is notan exaggeration.
There are thousands of studentsthat are giving their lives
to Christ as some eventsthat are happening
around the country.
Just at Purdue last week,they had a gathering
of 4500 students that gathered,and about half of
was about 2000 studentssurrendered to Christ.
(03:38):
And then a bunch of themgot baptized right on the spot.
Wow.
That's happeningin college campuses.
And as we moveinto a high school age,
that really comesdown to the lower
limits of what Gen Z is.
That would come down.
Gen Z, the youngest of Gen Zs,or those who are sophomores in
high school.
(03:58):
So it's those who were bornin 1995 to 2010, and they have
been showing much more opennessto the gospel.
I remember backwhen the pandemic was
we just coming offof the pandemic,
and I'm in California,so we were doing
distance learningfor a longer time
(04:18):
for, about a year.
And this is when studentsreturned to school.
I was going to a junior high,and those eighth graders,
they were so eager to talkand very accepting of adults
and of talkingabout spiritual things.
I've been doing youth ministryfor a couple decades, and more
so than ever before.
(04:39):
I saw that the teenagersare really open
to that interactionand talking about deeper things.
But then you move into Gen Alphaand with research
that's been done, it's showingthat they are very open
to talking aboutspiritual things.
Now, Gen Alpha does not haveas much exposure to religion
(05:05):
and to Christianity,but they are very open
to talking about it.
Springtime Researchdid a study about a year
and a half ago with 13 year oldswho at the time were the oldest
of Gen Alpha.
So Gen Alpha is thosewho are born from 2010 to 2024.
(05:26):
So it's basically our babiesup through freshman
in high school.
And when SpringTide Research did this,
study with 1013 year olds atthe time who are now
our freshmen,they were asking them
of how open they are to learningabout Christianity
and if they considerthemselves, religious,
(05:49):
and 66% of them identifiedwith a Christian view,
but it increases,74% consider themselves
at least slightlyopen to religion, but 82%
to some selves,at least slightly
spiritual, slightlyon the low end to those who
(06:11):
consider themselvesvery spiritual.
So there's not a lot of backingof a foundation of Christianity,
but there's a real opennessand a real searching,
which really bringsa lot of hope to all of us
and to our organization,Youth for Christ and others
who are working with teenagers.
(06:32):
That's amazing.
And so these, these,these younger generations
are not necessarily tapped intoa church body.
So the traditionalmodel of, you know,
bringing them into the churchand getting them tapped
into the youth groupmight not be the effective way
to reach theseyounger generations.
So organizations like yoursand and others that are kind
of finding a way to reach themin the culture where they're at
(06:55):
and bringing theminto the church body,
as you walk with themin their faith journey.
Sounds like kind of a moreeffective way to reach
that generation.
Is that kind ofwhat you're seeing?
Yeah, exactly.
A motto that we used,which is not anything
new, is that we go towhere students are,
and that's somethingthat other parents authorization
have been doing for a long time.
(07:15):
And I love it.
It really does go back to Jesus.
I mean, Jesus did spend timein the synagogues for sure,
ministering to people thereand trying to show
what the truth was,but then so quickly was going to
where other people wereof hanging out along
the water's edge,where the fishermen
were going to the well, and thenjust spending face
(07:39):
to face time with.
And we can just go downthe list of Zacchaeus,
the woman at the.
Well, Nicodemuscoming to him at night,
all of theseone on one interactions
that begin with Jesusgoing to right to where
they're at.
So I think that's reallywhat's needed.
I mean, I'm a Gen Xer,so that's a couple
of generations.
(08:00):
But, you know,even back to that,
you know, as Gen Xers,we started to have
some skepticism as we wereseeing people,
often in the limelight, fallingto overcome that.
And now that there'sso much social media
and we're just hearingso many voices, trust is really
what's needed.
And in order to establish that,it involves going to where
(08:23):
they're at and buildingthat relationship with them.
So that's my use for Christ isreally built on, we do that
a couple different placesof going to where they're at.
We go to schools and thatis called campus life,
similar to what Young Life doeswith their clubs
and with Fellowshipof Christian Athletes.
Spending time on campuses,volunteering,
(08:44):
going to sports, eventsand to local hangouts
with students and buildingthe relationships,
relationships that beginwith maybe talking about,
the NCAA tournament or,you know, what they're wearing
on their sweatshirtor their favorite fast
food place, but then startingto talk about deeper things
(09:05):
and eventually get into you'retalking about
things spiritually.
So with Youth for Christ,with other schools,
we also do that withwith institutions.
I think there's abouta thousand different
juvenile hallsthat we have staff
and volunteersthat each week are going
and visiting boys and girlswho are incarcerated, who are
(09:25):
have a lot of interestof talking about God.
And where does how can faithhelp them through that?
So we do that.
And that's kind of juvenilejustice ministry.
Also in in neighborhoods,we have our city life ministry,
that is moregeographically based,
(09:46):
in a city area around a coupledifferent blocks
and then just a coupleother areas.
There's so many studentsalso that are in
military familiesand that are grouped
around, bases.
So we have our campuslife military that either
works on the bases or at schoolsnear vital spaces.
And then we also, workwith a lot of deaf students
(10:08):
with our deaf team quest,where there's a similar need.
And actually,we don't think about it
very often,but a really unreached,
group of students,to give them hope of how
Jesus can help them out.
Wow.
You guys are, like, everywhere,and you're doing amazing work.
So talk to us a little bitabout obviously, you must have
(10:30):
a very strong volunteer baseand people that work
with your organization.
But how do you getChristians involved
in this work?
Because there's such a needand you're in so many
different places.
It it takes the wholechurch body really to engage
in this effort.
It really does.
And not just forour organization,
but these othergreat organizations
(10:50):
like Young Life andFCA and others.
And, you know,we are not a church,
we are driven by the churchand we're, you know,
parish church.
So if that's alwaysthe big challenge is terms
of finding people that havethat availability
and that passion to want to gospend time building
(11:11):
relationships with students.
So it's a lot of networkingand a lot of just
inviting othersand asking others
to come to a clubor come to school with us
and see that can bepretty natural.
I know we all get nervousabout different situations,
but it's really justbuilding a relationship
and talking with students.
And I'd say more than anything,that's what I want to encourage,
(11:36):
is that those of us who arenot Gen Z or Gen Alpha, we
have a great opportunityto be building
relationships withthese students because there is
a increasing amount of interestthat they have to want to talk
about these things.
But unfortunately, right nowthere's a decreased amount
(11:57):
of volunteerism,adults being involved.
And, you know, I don't knowif it's different than when we
were younger, but studentsare really drawn to adults.
It's been saidthat a student is drawn
to the oldest person in the roomwho will respect them.
So they're notalways looking for
(12:17):
the coolest person,or the person is closest
an aide to them, although theydo enjoy that
and they can relate to that.
People of all agescan be awesome volunteers,
up into retirementand then older
age as well. Yeah.
So really there is a placefor all of us
in that bigger picture.
(12:38):
I mean, if you have a heartand a calling
to serve in this way,there is a place for you
in organizations like this.
I love that we'll talk to usa little bit.
You have, an initiative,I believe that's called
the Kingdom Innovation Lab.
Is that correct?
Yes it is.
Yeah. Yeah.
Okay.
Talk to usa little bit about what
that's all about.
And just kind of walk usthrough what that looks like.
(13:00):
Yeah.
Being in our position, it'sbeen around since Billy Graham
back in the 1940s,as he was one of the
first staff in place.
There are people of alldifferent ages
who work with Youthfor Christ, similar
to other organizations,and it can get to be that
those who are more seniorare the ones who are looked
at to develop the best waysto minister, and who are
(13:24):
leading that.
But what we would reallylike to see and are striving for
is to equip and releaseand encourage younger people
to be involved in buildingthese relationships,
but also in buildingthe best ways to reach that
next generation.
So the Innovation Labis just a creative way
(13:48):
to try to releaseyoung people, to dream
and to dream abouthow to do ministry.
The best we have people that areon our staff from,
you know, outsidehigh school, 18,
19, 20 years old,all the way up.
And so thoseyounger ones in the 20s,
we did a project this last yearwhere I'm not sure exact number.
About two dozen ofthose students have spent this
(14:11):
school year dreaming of new,different ways that we could
reach out to teenagers.
And they worked in groups.
They did a lot of callsand interviews
and asking their peersabout what's the best way
to reach out to our youngerbrothers and sisters
who are Gen Alpha.
(14:32):
And then they dida week long retreat
together in Floridawith some facilitation,
where they dreamedon different projects.
And what's the best wayto continue doing ministry?
That's somethingwe want to bring back,
to our chapters.
We have chapters in, about 30different states, so about 100
different cities.
(14:53):
For them to keep dreamingand for them
to have the ownershipto create new ways
to do ministry.
So that's the innovation.
And a place to do that is aninnovation lab.
Our headquartersfor Youth for Christ
are in Denver.
And so in a new building complexthere will be creating a
good conferencespace to do that.
(15:13):
But that reallycan happen any place.
Yeah.
I love that you're empoweringthe people closest to
the situation,the kids on the ground
with other kids to come up withthese ideas of how to better
reach and serve.
I love thatthat is so wonderful.
And you're empoweringthose, young people
also to potentially, you know,find a path in ministry
(15:35):
or some other,you know, career path
that might be out therefor them in evangelism.
So I love that.
Let's talk a little bit about,you know, as you guys
are working with, the youthand you are partnering
with local, community churchesand things like that.
What are some of thethe biggest frustrations
that you're seeing from Ministryleaders who are so passionate
(15:58):
about working with the youthbut are having trouble,
like recruitingand getting youth
to come into the churchand to join the youth
groups like talk to usa little bit about some of
your interactions and waysthat you've helped them.
Yeah, you bet.
This last couple months,I've been helping a new
high schooloutreach to get started
just north of mein Stockton, California.
And at that school, it's a it'spretty neat to hear
(16:22):
what's happening.
There was a Bible clubthat's been going on
for a long time that has had 10or 12 students come in,
and they were hearingabout campus life
and about Youth for Christ,and they asked if we could do
campus life there.
Well, Morgan, who's on staffand up in that area,
he spent time talking withthose students
and that teacher advisorabout how
(16:43):
this is really differentthan a Bible club.
This is reallyfor all those students
who don't yet believe in Jesusand are maybe
not even thinking aboutGod or talking about it
with others yet.
And he spent timetalking with them,
and it turned outthose students were
up for trying something newand being willing to do that.
(17:03):
So in January, they launchedtheir Campus Life Club
after couple of weeksabout lunch times,
inviting studentsand doing some games,
letting know this new clubis going to start
called Campus Life.
And they had it was about40 to 45 students
that came their very first time.
And it's so funto watch these students
(17:24):
and the Bible Club hosting it.
When I was there two weeks ago,I saw Erica, who's this petite,
junior, who's the presidentof the Bible Club and now
the president of Campus Life.
She had the guts to dothe little wrap up
teaching about who Jesus isand how God can be
so helpful for usduring high school.
(17:45):
She did at the end,and she taught for 15 minutes.
And another one of us adults.
We wouldn't teach for that longand only like 5 to 10 minutes,
but they were listeningso closer to her.
And man, she must be sweating.
But she did a wonderful joband she has an advisor there.
The science teacher.
And so talking to thescience teacher afterwards,
(18:06):
Jeremy, and just,you know, build
a relationship with him and wasask him how we can pray for him.
And he was telling us thatin March, I think
he was doing 4 or 5 differentyouth retreats,
some of them like twoin the same weekend.
I was like, wow, that'sthat's a whole lot
like that kind of choir,like lighting. So many.
And he said, students are justso interested right now
(18:29):
in, in different schoolsand in some different church
youth groups.
But there's not thatmany people to help out.
So he had a good attitudeabout it.
But he said, you know,I'm single, I have the time,
I have the lovefor these students.
And so right nowis my time to kind of
maybe make up for some others.
Those are my words.
Not is, to go and help outwith some of these
(18:51):
different retreats.
So that's really the main thingit comes back to is
if people can find a wayto help out just a little bit,
you know?
So maybe if they can help outduring lunch
or if they can get offearly from work,
or if they can helpwith an evening ministry
(19:13):
that's happening in a churchor with a local nonprofit
to get back involved and partof being
more multi-generational.
Maybe that was somethingthat we lost or took
some steps back in backwith during the pandemic
of being more separate.
But teenagers as well,whatever age,
(19:35):
whatever generationthey're a part of need,
you know,probably five key adults
that they know that they canconnect with.
So those of us who aren'tteenagers anymore close to it,
we can really beinvolved back in that.
And that's what Jesus was,was praying for.
You know, I'm sure there'sa problem all the way back
(19:56):
in the first century.
You know, when he's sayingthe harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few.
So he lets us know what to do.
Okay. Start praying.
Pray to the Lord of the harvestthat he'll provide his workers.
So that's something we're tryingto just keep being faithful,
to keep praying about and theninviting others.
And you know,we just ask that others
(20:17):
would be praying for that too.
And considering,hey, is there a way
that I could do that?
It might be scary at first,but I'm sure
it'd be so rewardingfor people who have not,
been in a relationship witha teenager recently
to realize, like,this is this is great.
Like to be ableto look face to face
to help this young persongrow even in their
(20:37):
social skills, you know,with eye contact and feeling
confident talking.
And that adult is reallyjust put in the spotlight
right on them.
Makes me think of a DavidBrooks book
that I've been rereadinga couple of times over the last
couple of years.
That talksabout illuminating that.
(20:58):
That's what an adult can do.
Is it basically puttinga big, bright light
on the other personto listen to them
and to draw them outand in that, build that trust,
and then to be ableto talk about faith.
That is awesome.
You know, it's amazing.
And I think that's a great callto action for our listeners
out there to prayand to be thinking about how you
(21:19):
can get involved, whether it'swith Youth for Christ
or another organization,a pair of church organization,
or even your local church body,there is a need for more people
to get involved and to discipleand engage with those,
younger generation.
So I love that.
Well, we're coming to theend of today's episode,
(21:39):
and I want to make surethat people can get in touch
with you and your organization.
And if they do feel the calland they've prayed about it,
and want to get activated,how do they do that?
How do they get in touchwith your organization?
Yeah, probably the bestfirst start is just to go to
our main website, which is whyI've seen that.
And that representswhat's happening in all the
(22:01):
different states.
And you can go on thereand search for chapter.
And from that, you know,look under your state and find
the nearest city,hopefully your own city
or another city nearbywhere that is going on.
If there's not usefor Christ in your area,
I really encourage youto find out what are some
of the other organizationsthat are doing outreach
in the schools,or in the juvenile
(22:22):
halls in your area or with youryouth group, but why?
I've seenthat is the main landing
page to get startedlearning more
about these ministriesand possibly what's already
going on near youthat you can plug in,
that's awesome.
We'll put allthe links in the show
notes for our listenersthat might be driving
or working out at the gym.
(22:42):
That way you can check it outwhen you get home safely.
With that, we're goingto bring today's
episode to a close.
But he it can you leaveour listeners
with just some wordsof encouragement and hope about
the next generationand what you know, what you're
seeing at the groundlevel? Yeah.
You know, it reminds me thateven though we're doing
(23:04):
this in 2025, this is what'sbeen happening all the way
since Jesus and Paul talksabout this
in 1 Thessalonians 2 (23:10):
8, he says, we were delighted
to share with you not only thegospel of God,
but our lives as well.
And that's what our opportunityis, is to we often use
this term of to give lifeto your story.
You just already has a story ofwhat God has done
and keeps doing,but we bring a life to that
(23:33):
when we can share itwith someone else
we work with or witha younger person.
I love that.
That's a great way to closetoday's episode.
Well, it has been an honorto have you on, and thank you
for the work that you guysare doing at Youth for Christ.
It is important work and it isbeing very fruitful out there.
So thanks again for joining usand to all of
(23:53):
our listeners out there.
Thank you for tuning into this episode
of The Covenant Eyes Podcast.
We'll see you next time.
Take care. God bless.
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