God is calling us to equip the next generation, says Josh Green, co-founder of Gen Zeal. If only we’re brave enough to take Him at his word and believe He can do more than we can imagine
When you sense Jesus asking you to step out of the boat and walk on the waves it can be a little daunting. OK – very daunting! Will I sink? Will He catch me? Is it actually Jesus calling me?
This is how I felt when, in 2024, the Lord asked me to step out and live by faith to start Gen Zeal, a ministry contending for revival. We want to awaken the next generation to holy passion, fervent prayer and bold proclamation.
One year on, and it’s been a wild ride. In the past 12 months, we’ve seen more than 1,000 young people make first time decisions for Jesus. We’ve trained hundreds of young adults in prayer and mission, and we’ve visited nine different nations, preaching the gospel.
Open doors and open hearts
It feels like it’s been a long time since there was such an opportunity for evangelism. Gen Z are coming to faith at rates much faster than previous generations. Bible sales are skyrocketing in the UK, and the young are at the forefront of driving them. And according to the Evangelical Alliance, there 2 million more people in church compared to 2019.
God, this can’t be you…but if it is, we really need You to make it clear
But despite the growth, it’s still true that most churches have less than five young people in their congregations. And around a third of UK churches have no under 16-year-olds attending. Then there’s the sobering statistic that almost half of young people in church as children or teens leave by their 20s and don’t return. And of course we’re all aware of the political, economic and mental health challenges that are disproportionately affecting the young.
In 2023, I was offered four different jobs as a youth pastor at four different churches. Each was a large church with a prominent leader and decent resources, but all were struggling to fill the vacancy. If they were struggling, how were other churches, with less resources and smaller networks coping? On my travels around the UK, I heard this same story over and over again: churches who had been advertising for a youth pastor for more than a year, and still no one to fill the vacancy.
Revival history, however, stands testament to the fact that when God’s people give themselves over to fervent prayer, even in times as perilous as ours, He answers with great power! I always say that private prayer brings public power, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
So, when we pray, we can trust that God will move in power.
Called by name
One of my goals for Gen Zeal is to train and equip so many young adults that we’ll have an army of youth pastors ready to reap the harvest which is so clearly on our doorstep. As part of this vision, we’re launching a prayer and mission school in 2027, to equip young adults in passionate pursuit of Jesus.
Since starting Gen Zeal, my wife and I have had plenty of crazy ideas – but honestly, this seems the wildest. Since I’m still believing in faith to raise my own salary, it feels crazy to step out and go for a ministry and training base too.
Revival history stands testament to the fact that when God’s people give themselves over to fervent prayer, He answers with great power
So, when we prayed and gave it to God, it was less of a faith prayer and more of a dismissive one: “God, this can’t be you…but if it is, we really need You to make it clear.” A few days later, the lead pastor of our church, Karen Wheaton, was visiting from the US. Mid-sermon, she called me out by name and said: “What God has told you to do, matters. Josh Green, that word He gave you concerning Gen Zeal, it matters! And every delay could be another soul lost!”
It shook me to the core.
A few days later, a friend approached me to tell me about a space they thought would be perfect for our ministry school. A few weeks later, miraculously, it was ours. We’ve got big plans for a purpose built podcast and recording studio to reach the next generation through media and music, office space for our growing volunteer team and a hub for the next generation to gather and launch initiatives that God has led them to begin.
What is God leading you to? We thank God for leading and directing us thus far, and I pray God fills you with faith and courage to go after His word in your life, too.
To partner with GenZeal or find out more about their prayer and missions training school, head to genzeal.net
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