How to Tailor Your Youth Ministry to Gen Z, Gen Alpha, & Beyond

Gone are the days of 90’s-style youth ministry, where pizza parties and relay games were sufficient to draw a crowd of kids and teens. We’re well into the 21st century, and we have to contend with on-the-go entertainment, algorithms, and AI to get the attention of young people. Good news: The Holy Spirit is always, always more interesting than anything Big Tech can come up with. 

Still, it pays to be wise to the times. The best way to come up with effective ministry ideas is to consider your flock, and if your flock consists mainly of the 20-and-under crowd, then get outside of the box. Gen Z–primarily older teenagers and young adults–and Gen Alpha–primarily children–still respond to Jesus. But to connect with them, you’ll new approaches. 

Keep reading for ideas on how to bridge the gap with the two largest generations in history: Generation Z and Generation Alpha. 

‍

Who is Gen Z?

Although the dates vary, those who were born roughly between 1995-2009 make up Generation Z–a cohort of teenagers and young adults that also happen to be the world’s first “digital natives.” This last detail is what makes Gen Z so remarkable; no other generation before it has been born into a world where the Internet (and smartphones) were quite so ubiquitous. 

Those of us born in the late 80’s and early 90’s still remember taking typing classes and learning how to use a search engine. But most of Gen Z seems to have been born intuitively knowing how to wield digital technology. The significance of this is that most of Gen Z don’t know a world that’s not deeply interconnected, rapid, and convenient. The pertinent question here is: How does this affect their interest in God and spiritual things? 

We’ll explore the answer to this question in a bit. But first, we’ll take a look at the generation that will soon be the largest in human history: Generation Alpha. 

‍

Who is Gen Alpha?

Generation Alpha are those born between 2010-2024. They will surpass even Gen Z in tech-savviness (many are learning to code in their toddler years) and size, and like Gen Z, are coming of age in a time of disruption and rapid growth. 

For better or worse, Gen Alpha are also the most likely to be gamers, with “off the charts” numbers of Gen Alphas who identify as such. With Millennial parents, many of them have grown up watching screens from infancy. While Gen Z turns to technology to escape, Gen Alpha knows a world seamlessly connected with technology. 

Finally, Gen Alpha is the world’s first generation born exclusively in the 21st century–and second millennia. 

‍

What to Know About Ministering to Gen Z + Gen Alpha

They Want to Know About Jesus

Gen Z is far more interested in Jesus than you may believe. In fact, a Barna study showed that three-quarters of teens want to learn more about Jesus. The paradox is that Gen Z is also less religiously affiliated than any previous generation. The explanation? Some teenagers and young adults who want to learn about Jesus may not necessarily identify as Christian.

Females May Be Less Inclined to Go To Church

Here’s a notable exception to the decades-long trend of more women in church than men. For those born after the year 2000, women are actually less likely to identify as religious. This may factor into the way you minister to youth…and may help explain lower attendance from girls. 

Some of Them Are Tired of Technology

Most of Gen Z and Gen Alpha have been completely immersed in technology since early childhood (or birth). And many of them are fed up. The LOG OFF movement is one such example of a movement of teens and young adults who are pushing for a deeper conversation about social media and its detrimental effects. Be encouraged by the fact that not all of your youth are screen-addicted (or want to be). 

‍

Free online giving tools for your church

Tithely provides the best online tools to help you increase generosity, manage your church, and engage your church members.

Sign Up Free

‍

7 Ideas for Connecting with Gen Z + Gen Alpha

If you’re a youth pastor, you might be a member of Generation Z yourself. Or you might be a Millennial or even a Gen X-er. Regardless of your generation, you’ll want to be strategic about connecting with the two youngest generations. 

Here are five approaches for ministering to the 25-and-under crowd. 

1. Talk to Their Needs and Concerns

Young people are concerned about social issues, mental health, dating, and technology usage. Talk about what they’re talking about, and tie issues back to the Bible in a thoughtful way. For example, you can point out how Jesus spoke to the issue of anxiety in Matthew 6. Or you can teach on the renewal of the mind, as laid out in the book of Romans. 

2. Don’t Gaslight Them

Remember that these generations did not come of age during the optimism of the 90’s, or the unified atmosphere of post-9/11 America. They experienced the Great Recession, political turmoil, and COVID-19 as children and teens. As a consequence, they are more risk-averse and worried than previous generations. Don’t gaslight them by pretending that these events haven’t affected them, and offer them the hope and peace that only Jesus can give. 

3. Offer Them a Tech-Free Space

Cell phone bans in schools are becoming more popular, and though students may have initially complained, some of them are “all for it.” Providing a tech-free space may actually be a blessing for young people. You can do this during youth services, or simply designate a tech-free prayer room at your church building.

4. Make It Interesting

Even adults can glaze over Bible stories. Help Scripture come alive with film and contemporary analogies. There are plenty of resources out there to help make stories visual. Gen Z and Gen Alpha respond well to authenticity, so they’ll appreciate analogies that don’t shy away from the grittiness of Scripture (especially the Old Testament). 

5. Meet with Them One-on-One

Especially in the wake of pandemic-era schooling and recreation, many young people may not be as accustomed to big groups. While it’s important to continue meeting corporately, build a framework for connecting with kids, teens, and young adults one-on-one. This provides space to be raw and vulnerable, and ask questions that may not feel appropriate in a larger setting. 

Remember that young people need mentorship and accountability just as much as (if not more than) anybody else. 

6. Be Strategic

Though you may not want to encourage more technology usage, it pays to meet young people where they’re at. For many of them, that means social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. At the very least, build a presence that lets young people know where to find you IRL (in real life). 

7. Be Authentic

Even if you’re decades older than most of your flock, your own testimony can still have an impact. Don’t shy away from talking about hurdles you’ve overcome in your own life because of Jesus. Be relatable and honest. In an age saturated with marketing messages and self-promotion, true authenticity goes a long way. 

‍

Build Youth Ministry with Tithely

Keeping your youth ministry relevant and relatable is up to you. But we can help you stay organized and effective with digital tools created for ministry and connection. Learn more about Tithely’s full suite of marketing and administrative tools–created just for the modern Church. 

‍

‍