5 Mind-Blowing Reasons Gen Z is Running Away from Church (And How to Win Them Back!)

Despite the United States sending two million missionaries worldwide annually, evangelism is experiencing a decline, particularly among Generation Z.

According to evangelist and speaker Nick Vujicic in an August 28 press release, “A 2021 Gallup poll revealed church membership has fallen below 50%, and Pew Research Centre studies consistently show Gen Z as the least religious generation, with approximately a third claiming no religious affiliation. Furthermore, 47% of practicing Christian Millennials believe evangelism is inappropriate in today’s society, and 51% of U.S. churchgoers are unfamiliar with the term ‘the Great Commission.'”

Vujicic warns, “If this trend continues unchecked, we risk losing our position as the global leader in Christian evangelism and our status as the world’s most Christian nation. It’s that simple. How can we spread the gospel globally if we can’t even do so at home? We can’t export what we don’t practice locally.”

He references Isaiah 38:1-5 to emphasize that Christians need to “get their house in order.”

“To replicate past generations of American missionaries, we need new generations of missionaries, which means evangelizing to the future of our churches — Gen Z,” Vujicic states. “However, evangelizing to Gen Z is challenging, and the idea itself can be daunting even for those of us who regularly engage with them, like myself.”

“We may face hostility, be deemed irrelevant, or even be portrayed as immoral in our beliefs. But Romans 1:16 instructs us not to be ashamed of the Gospel. If we truly love someone, we can’t help but share about Jesus and how He has transformed our lives,” he adds.

Vujicic attributes young people’s disengagement to a lack of Biblical worldview upbringing. He stresses the importance of believers providing and modeling this perspective for youth.

“If we’re not sharing the gospel with them, they won’t know their Bible, the source of truth, and young people will gravitate towards what sounds good rather than what is good and true,” Vujicic explains.

He emphasizes that God’s truth establishes the foundation for healthy and safe environments, leading to a productive and fulfilling life. Vujicic urges continued preaching, teaching, and discipling of young people in God’s Word to help them discern cultural and societal falsehoods.

Vujicic shares his approach to connecting with young people: “I often use humor to break down their defenses and open their hearts. I also address current issues they face and relate them to biblical truths. My personal testimony is a significant way I connect with young people, and that applies to all of us.”

He stresses the importance of authenticity, noting that Gen Z can easily spot disingenuous Christians. “They’re not interested in hype; they seek a real God with real answers. We must be authentic,” Vujicic says.

Vujicic recommends Hope for the Heart as a valuable resource, particularly their “Keys for Living” library addressing over 100 real-life issues.

While acknowledging cultural changes and increased digitalization, Vujicic maintains that preaching the Gospel to large groups remains effective. He notes the success of both digital evangelism and in-person preaching, reporting that since December 2023, 45 million people have heard the gospel and 47,000 have committed their lives to Christ in person through his ministry.

Vujicic concludes by emphasizing that sharing the Gospel should be a joyful activity, not a burden. “The greatest thing we can do to encourage the Church in evangelism is to deepen our love for Jesus,” he says. “If we live as authentic followers of Christ and boldly preach the gospel and share our stories, we’ll see Gen Z in the U.S. and worldwide come running to Jesus. The gospel — Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection — is the most powerful message ever told; we just need to keep telling it.”

Vujicic is scheduled to speak at Hope for The Heart’s Hope Together Conference this September 26-28 in DFW, alongside other speakers including Lee Strobel and James E. Ward.

Familyguide® recently shared Vujicic’s advice for those struggling with depression:

“First, be truly grateful for what you have,” Vujicic advises. “Second, take one day at a time.”

He continues, “It’s easy to become overwhelmed and even exaggerate your fears due to uncertainties. To counter this, take a step back — ‘I can’t think about six months or six years from now… I’m just going to focus on one day at a time.'”

“Third, talk to someone,” Vujicic recommends. “If I had never sought counseling or asked for help, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I give all glory to God for everything. He’s my greatest counselor. But sometimes He provides His children to help us refocus and remind us of God’s promises, which then strengthens our faith.”

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