A faithful remnant
Gen Z makes up about one fifth of Australia’s population. This is roughly 5.6 million people born between 1997 and 2012. These young adults (aged 14–29 in 2026) are growing up in an increasingly post-Christian world. For them, following Christ means being in the minority. For many, it has been a difficult and deliberate decision.
As Ben Powell has highlighted, the decline of nominal faith has led to a more authentic Christian community. This group, he notes, “doesn’t operate out of obligation; there’s an intentional, costly choice made to follow Jesus and commit to his people in the community.” [1]
“According to research done by the Barna Group, half of engaged, churchgoing young adults are open to God’s call to serve overseas.”
These resolute, committed young adults have so much to contribute to global mission. It is our responsibility to equip them effectively to use their God-given gifts for His purposes. According to research done by the Barna Group, half of engaged, churchgoing young adults are open to God’s call to serve overseas. However, only 17% say that they are likely to engage in long-term mission. A further 36% say that they consider short-term mission to be part of their future. [2]
Mobilising the faithful remnant
Mobilisation towards mission is a long journey. It begins with “awakening hearts and minds to God’s mission.” [3] As Kyle Benner has noted, “Engaging Gen Z in the Church is a formidable challenge; sending them beyond the church into world missions is even harder.” [4] So, what can we do to awaken hearts and minds to God’s mission? How can we mobilise our young adults for God’s kingdom cause?
In a 2015 study, Hibbert et al. highlighted three main influences leading people to consider long-term mission work:
- The influence of missionaries and other mission-minded individuals
- A short-term cross-cultural trip (usually overseas)
- General exposure to the world and its needs [5]
At The Bridge, SMBC’s Bible-centred, missions-focussed gap year, we’ve had over a decade of experience seeking to mobilise the next generation for God’s mission. Ten years on from this research, these factors are as significant as ever. Below are some strategies for how to use some of these influences to engage youth and young adults in God’s mission. Each includes some examples of what that looks like at The Bridge.
1. Influence of missionaries and other mission-minded individuals
Nineteen percent of global young adults say that the example of others inspire them to become a missionary. [6] This makes regular interaction with cross-cultural workers crucial. If your church has mission partners, invite them to your programs. Let youth interact with them, hear their stories, and learn about how God led them to serve overseas.
If you don’t (yet!) have mission partners, consider beginning a regular partnership with overseas workers. Contact a mission agency to find someone who could speak with your young adults. Barna research suggests that “A close relationship and regular interactions with a missionary will do more to rouse your church for global ministry than just about anything else could.” [7]
“A close relationship and regular interactions with a missionary will do more to rouse your church for global ministry than just about anything else could.”
At The Bridge, many students say their favourite part of the weekly program is ‘Missionary of the Week.’ Each week, students meet missionaries serving cross-culturally. Examples range from Bible translation in the Northern Territory, to music ministry in South-East Asia, to medical work in the Middle East.
One student called these sessions a “kick in the butt.” They gave them a glimpse into the realities of mission – the challenges, daily experiences, and diverse contexts missionaries face. Another student commented: “Hearing from a wide range of missionaries also shows that there isn’t one ‘type’ of person suited for mission. Anyone can be called and God can even use our personal struggles as unexpected strengths.”
2. Short-term cross-cultural trip
A highlight for many Bridge students is their three-week Cultural Study Tour to South-East Asia. It’s an opportunity to experience another culture, and to experience mission and missionaries up-close. As one student commented, “It was an amazing experience to see what the field is like and to learn about missions. It grew my heart for the lost around the world and made me consider mission in the future.”
Through home-stays with local families and time with long-term workers, Bridge students observe the daily realities of mission work. They experience the helplessness of a language barrier, the discomfort of unfamiliar environments and food. They are confronted with the reality of entire communities living in darkness apart from the Lord Jesus.
“It was an amazing experience to see what the field is like and to learn about missions. It grew my heart for the lost around the world and made me consider mission in the future.”
One student spoke of the life-changing experience this was for them. They said, “it really gives you an up-close experience of what missionaries go through each day and really getting to see the way God works through people all over the world, and that Christianity is bigger than just Church on Sundays and personal life back home in Australia.” What would our churches and youth groups look like if each of our youth and young adults had this big vision?
Perhaps you could organise a short-term trip to visit some of your church’s mission partners. Again, mission agencies are such a valuable resource for engaging people in mission. Many run short-term trips that you might like to encourage youth to participate in. You could even start local! As Australia becomes increasingly multicultural, young adults can have cross-cultural experiences in their own backyard.
3. General exposure to the world and its needs
In our busy western world, it is easy for young (and not-so-young) adults to become insular, caught up in their own little bubble. Lifting Gen Z’s eyes beyond themselves gives them a richer perspective on the needs and opportunities of world mission. The possibilities for this are almost endless. Consider incorporating into your regular gatherings prayer for unreached people groups, for countries in the news, or for the persecuted church.
Perhaps some of your teaching time could be focused on the world and mission – WEC’s Stepping into Mission could be an excellent first step! There are also a number of great mission conferences, designed to broaden people’s perspective on the needs and opportunities around the world, such as CMS Summer School and ReachOut Missions Conference.
The result
This reflection from one student summarises the experience of many: “I think the Bridge has been so critical in changing and shaping my view of mission. I now know truths of global mission and have seen firsthand its need. It has made me much more open to pursuing this in the future, or at least supporting mission work.”
“As students grew in their desire to see the lost from all over the world come to know Jesus, it sparked an eagerness to share the gospel with friends, colleagues and family.”
We also noticed a wonderful bonus result. As students grew in their desire to see the lost from all over the world come to know Jesus, it sparked an eagerness to share the gospel with friends, colleagues and family. Students became keen to do evangelism training and participate in local outreach. This reflects Tim Silberman’s recent research on church involvement in local and global mission. Particularly, a church that is highly involved in global mission is more likely to be involved in local mission than the average church. Learn more in his book: Engaging Neighbors and Nations.
So, if you want to see your youth and young adults open to pursuing and supporting mission – and eager to share their faith locally – consider taking steps to incorporate these strategies into your ministry. Through the influence of missionaries and other mission-minded individuals, short-term cross-cultural trips, and broader exposure to the world and its needs, you can help to mobilise Gen Z for world mission.
We look forward to the day when every creature in heaven and on earth declares: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)
