Martin Smith: My letter to Gen Z

Have any generation had so much expectation placed on their shoulders, asks Martin Smith, or carried so much anxiety? The worship leader and musician offers some words of wisdom to his own children - and all those of their generation - from his own hard-won experience

Is it just me, or is this the most talked about generation of young people ever? I’m not sure any generation have been labelled or branded so heavily, nor such expectation placed on your shoulders. In some ways, it’s a big responsibility to be heralded for bringing global spiritual renewal, especially when you might feel so lost inside.

It must feel like every previous generation is shouting with desperation: “Save us, please!”

As a Gen Xer, a dad, grandad and follower of Jesus, I wanted to write you a letter. Maybe the one I wished I’d received when I was a teenager. I don’t want this to be just more online ‘noise’ but deeply personal, written to each of you.