EMQ (Evangelical Missions Quarterly)
October–December 2022 | Volume 58 Issue 4
(If you encounter difficulty connecting, contact EMQ@MissioNexus.org)
Gen Z is the first digital native and post-Christian generation. What does this mean as missionaries worldwide seek to develop transformative relationships with the next generation? How do we effectively engage Gen Z with the gospel and mission?
This issue of EMQ is dedicated to helping you think through how to answer these questions. Missionary practitioners and leaders, like you, want to see the next generation reached and reaching others with the gospel. In here, you’ll find articles from them that consider the unique strengths and challenges of Gen Z, both in North America and worldwide, and look at theological and practical approaches to effectively minister to and mobilize this younger generation.
At the end of this edition, you’ll find two articles in our extras section. One explores ways to welcome disabled people as missions participants and the other examines a framework to help teams working in cross-cultural contexts to thrive.
Editorial
Engaging Gen Z in the Gospel and Mission
By Heather Pubols | Gen Z is the first digital native and post-Christian generation. What does this mean as missionaries worldwide seek to develop transformative relationships with the next generation? How do we effectively engage Gen Z with the gospel and mission?
Articles
Bringing Open Hearts to Engage Generation Z
By James Choung with Mary Tindall |
Generational theory helps us understand generations as distinct cultures. This demystifies how we can effectively engage Generation Z in the gospel and mission.
Helping Generation Z Flourish and be Catalysts for God’s Mission
By René and Sarah Breuel with Mary Tindall | When we thoughtfully engage younger generations in a whole story gospel, we can accept them where they are while also helping them grow into who God created them to be. At the same time, recognizing the strengths they bring into Christian community and missions prepares us to respond to where God is next leading his people.
What Research Reveals about Generation Z
By Patricia Savage | As we at OneHope researched characteristics of Gen Z youth across the world, we discovered they have much in common. While nominal faith made little difference to their shared struggles, a commitment to Christ did. Our research indicates key ways we can close the gap to help more young people experience vitality in their faith that positively changes their everyday life.
Paul’s Ministry in Greece as a Paradigm for Our Ministry Among Gen Z
By Hélder Favarin | Paul sermons in the book of Acts provide five lessons for ministry among Gen Z in any global context: multigenerational leadership, contextualization, apologetics, influencing the Areopagus, and dialogue and proclamation.
Diffusion of Youth Ministry
By Anthony J. Gryskiewicz | Ministry to teenagers in continental Europe is less developed than in other parts of the world. While Western and Northern Europe report robust youth participation, youth ministry seems underdeveloped in Central and Eastern Europe. Noting that there are global commonalities to youth ministry and how innovation is diffused, a diffusion model of youth ministry could help global workers and local churches to develop and strengthen ministry to teens in continental Europe.
Three Strategies for Engaging Gen Z in Missions
By Jolene Erlacher | The people who comprise Gen Z in North America are growing up in a post-Christian society. This poses a significant challenge for North American mission agencies which are recruiting the next generation of missionaries. However, by embracing new mobilization strategies, we can seize this opportunity to engage a committed remnant in God’s global mission.
Gen Z and Global Missions: Allies or Enemies
By Ruth Hubbard | Gen Z has several positive and negative characteristics that may affect their willingness and motivation to engage in global missions service. How do we help develop them into allies of global missions rather than enemies?
Do Missions Conferences Matter?
By Evi Rodemann | Missions conferences around the world have played an important part in mobilising young people into long-term missions service. But as we consider ways to mobilise today’s young people – Gen Z – we need to consider tools to measure events that will help improve their long-lasting effectiveness.
Go Digital Before It’s Too Late
By Andrew Feng and Nick Wu | Many missions organizations face two significant problems: limited capacity and ineffective stewardship. Embracing a digital transformation is a key to overcoming these challenges. The first digital native generation – Generation Z – can play an essential part in helping organizations enter the digital world.
Mobilizing Gen Z – A Biblical Theology
By Kyle Benner | The calling of Simon Peter, as found in Luke 5:1–11, demonstrates Jesus Christ’s recruitment strategy. By studying Jesus’s approach, we can learn principles that can help us increase Gen Z’s engagement in missions.
Extras
Transforming Frames of Marginalization
By John Trotter | To what degree has society’s frame of reference on disability shaped the Church, ministries, and perceptions of who is or isn’t qualified for mission? How do we move people with disabilities from recipients to participants in God’s Mission?
A Balanced Framework
By Tim Crouch with Mark and Cinda Wood | Teams working in cross-cultural contexts face formidable challenges. The balanced framework provides focus areas to help leaders and teams thrive, achieve mission, sustain their efforts and see vision realized.
Web Exclusives
Inviting Gen Z to Serve
By Amanda Roozeboom | Short-term missions trips that are thoughtfully planned and executed can be an important way to welcome Gen Z into missions.
The Promise of the Open Generation
By Daniel Copeland and Alyce Youngblood | In Barna’s largest generational study to date, we contemplated what it means to minister to and mobilize Gen Z, at a global or local level. The data we’ve gathered on global teens led us to a promising example that teens themselves seem to be setting: to be open.
Book Reviews
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