Last week, I had the honour of attending a panel dialogue at Singapore Bible College (SBC), on a topic close to my heart – reaching Generation-Z in an age where more youths are leaving church.  

Led by Pastor Janelle Yeo (Youth Pastor of Mount Carmel BP Church), the panel brought together voices from different corners of ministry:

• Pastor Zac Zhang  – Founding Pastor of Hearts Alive Church
• Dr Ng Liang Wei – Executive Director of Indigo & Co 
• Carol Loi – International Director of Generations of Virtue
• Rev Andrew Yeo – Executive Leadership Team of Cornerstone Community Church. 

The conversation centred on one big question: What are youths truly searching for in life and in faith, and how can the church walk with them? 

… what Gen Zs crave for, according to the panel, are grace, authenticity and purpose.

As a Gen-Z myself, sitting in that room filled with church leaders (most of whom were older than me), I’ll admit – I was initially sceptical about how much they would really “get” us.

But it was a pleasant surprise that the panelists were able to voice the exact concerns that many of my friends and I share, making me feel seen and heard.

They shared that if you boil it all down, young people are actually already drawn to the things the Christian faith offers – love, joy, peace and the hope of the Gospel. But what Gen Zs crave for, according to the panel, are grace, authenticity and purpose.

This is the GAP we need to fill in church today.

1. Grace

Pastor Zac shared that Gen-Zs can quickly sense whether someone is truly for them, and that what they really want is the grace of understanding and compassion.

He proposed that connecting with young people is similar to our missional efforts. Just as missionaries go into a foreign place and respect the local people and their culture, those working with young people need to do the same.

“While they may not think entirely like you, there’s inherent good inside them. What comes from the heart really goes to the heart.”

Dr Ng also challenged the room with a thought-provoking question: “Are we judging the next generation based on the strengths of our generation, rather than the lens of our weakness?” 

I found the way he spoke about youths – believing in us and championing us – very encouraging and refreshing. He went on to remind those hoping to win the hearts of youths: “We are to be powerful advocates for the young, because they need people advocating for them before they can believe in a divine Advocate.” 

2. Authenticity

Rev Andrew observed that the Gen Zs also have a very sharp radar for authenticity.

“To put it plainly, they don’t want our polished performance, clichéd answers or perfect leaders,” he said. “They want people who are real with their struggles, and churches which value vulnerability. They’re all looking for that one authentic person who can really care, love and mentor them.” 

Dr Ng echoed this, sharing how older Christians can win the hearts of the youth by being real about their own journeys and the sins their generation faced. 

He told a story of an older woman who admitted to a group of youths, “I don’t know all the latest sexuality and gender terms, but I can share with you about how in my generation, I was falling into the sin of fornication and abortion.”

It was this kind of honesty and authenticity that opened doors to real connection.

Pastor Janelle also highlighted that the willingness to struggle alongside someone is what’s needed to journey with someone, not success.

“The missing link in connecting with young people is often the struggle – because young people are struggling,” she said. “When you’re willing to share your struggles with God to them and how He is working in your life, that becomes a powerful bridge of authenticity.”  

3. Purpose 

Alongside authenticity and grace, the panelists also emphasised how this generation is looking for direction and purpose.

“This is a generation that really craves for people to come and speak into their lives,” Pastor Zac shared, underscoring that one of Gen Z’s greatest needs is mentors. 

Carol also added that while mentorship ideally begins at home, the church must also play a role.

The best mentors, she explained, are those not a generation above, but just a few years ahead, to give them a vision of what’s possible in the near future. On top of that, she mentioned that mentorship is not just about guidance, but about reminding young people that God created them uniquely for a purpose.

“How exciting is it that every day when you wake up, whether you’re going to campus or CCA, there is a purpose – that your campus is your mission field?” 

A word to my fellow Gen Zs

As I left the panel that afternoon, I remember feeling quite encouraged and even texted a friend, “Actually, older people are quite wise… I just attended this Reaching Gen Z Christian workshop, and really felt their hearts for the youths, so am quite inspired!” 

While it’s easy to just dismiss the church as out of touch, I think it’s moments like this which can remind us that it’s not always the case. Instead, there are people who admittedly, may not fully understand us, but are willing to try to understand the struggles we face, be real with us, and walk alongside us. 

As Gen Zs, we can play our part too. Whether it’s connecting to mentors, being willing to listen to older voices or sharing our struggles openly, all these small steps can help to bridge generational gaps and enable us to tap on the wisdom of those who have gone before us.

As C.S. Lewis put it in Mere Christianity, we have “a map based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the Atlantic”, while our own perspective would be limited to the “single glimpse [from the view we had from the beach]”.  

The more we connect ourselves, the better our map – and our journey – becomes.