What if the young people we assume aren’t interested in Christianity are actually more curious about Jesus than we realise?
We’ve heard plenty about young people leaving church, declining Christian identification and the growing number of Australians who say they have no religion. It’s easy to assume that Gen Z simply isn’t interested in faith. But that assumption could be causing us to miss opportunities for evangelism happening right in front of us. Generation Z is the demographic group that follows Millennials and precedes Generation Alpha. Most definitions place their birth years from 1997 to 2012.
While some young people are moving away from Christianity, others are asking questions about Jesus, exploring spirituality and searching for meaning. The challenge for Christians isn’t simply recognising that curiosity exists. It’s knowing how to respond in ways that help young people genuinely explore Jesus. And that may require us to rethink how we approach evangelism.
1. Stop Assuming Young People Aren’t Interested in Jesus
Sometimes we become so convinced that younger generations have rejected Christianity that we stop asking what they actually believe. But research suggests the picture is more complicated.
McCrindle’s 2025 report, An Undercurrent of Faith, identified approximately 85,000 Australians aged 15–24 who moved towards identifying as Christian between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. Meanwhile, Barna’s US research, highlighted in January 2025, found that 77% of American teenagers aged 13–17 were at least somewhat motivated to continue learning about Jesus. These findings measure different things and don’t prove that Gen Z as a whole is returning to Christianity. But they challenge the assumption that young people have completely lost interest. For Christians, that matters.
If we assume someone isn’t interested in Jesus, we’re unlikely to start a conversation about faith. Yet the person sitting beside us at university, working alongside us or attending our church’s youth programme might have questions they’ve never felt comfortable asking. In Acts 17, Paul doesn’t begin his conversation with the Athenians by criticising their beliefs. He observes their culture, notices their spiritual interests and uses what he discovers to introduce them to God.
Perhaps effective evangelism begins with paying attention rather than making assumptions.
2. Young People Need More Than Good Answers
Gen Z has grown up surrounded by information. With smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence, answers to almost any question are readily available. But access to information doesn’t necessarily mean someone has found meaning, purpose or truth.
A young person might know what Christians believe about Jesus without understanding why following Him matters. They might have questions about suffering, identity, relationships or the reliability of the Bible. And sometimes, what they need most isn’t another polished explanation. It’s someone willing to listen.
Imagine a young person asking why God allows suffering. Our instinct might be to immediately offer a theological answer. But what if we first asked, “Is there something that’s happened that’s made you wonder about that?” Suddenly, we’re not simply answering a question. We’re getting to know a person.
We don’t need to pretend we have every answer. Sometimes saying, “That’s a really good question. Can we explore it together?” creates more room for meaningful conversation than trying to sound like an expert. Curiosity about Jesus is an opportunity for conversation, not a demand for immediate commitment.
3. Trust May Be the Missing Ingredient in Evangelism
Someone can be interested in Jesus without trusting Christians. And that distinction matters enormously. McCrindle’s research found that among younger Australians who moved away from Christian identification, 49% cited religion no longer being relevant or meaningful to them. For others, negative experiences with Christians or churches can become barriers to exploring faith.
We can create excellent church programmes, engaging social media content and welcoming websites. But if someone encounters judgement, hypocrisy or indifference when they meet us, those efforts can quickly lose their impact. Jesus said in John 13:35 that people would recognise His disciples by their love for one another. Not by their ability to win arguments. Not by how impressive their church looks. But by love. That doesn’t mean Christians must be perfect. It means our character, humility and willingness to acknowledge mistakes matter.
Consider how a young person might experience your church for the first time. Does someone genuinely take an interest in them? Can they ask difficult questions without feeling embarrassed? Are they welcomed even when their beliefs or lifestyle differ from those around them? Sometimes the most important step towards sharing Jesus is becoming someone another person feels safe enough to talk to.
4. Move From Talking About Evangelism to Actually Doing It
Christians often agree that evangelism matters. But agreement doesn’t always lead to action.
The National Church Life Survey’s Faith Sharing, Discipleship and Evangelism Report, published in 2025, found that 74% of surveyed church attenders felt mostly or fully at ease talking about their faith. Yet only 38% reported helping someone who didn’t attend church explore faith during the previous year. There’s a difference between feeling comfortable sharing our faith and intentionally helping someone discover Jesus.
We can attend evangelism training, listen to sermons and read books about sharing our faith. But eventually, we need to have conversations with actual people. The good news is that evangelism doesn’t have to begin with a dramatic gospel presentation. It might begin with asking a colleague what they believe about Jesus. It could mean inviting a younger friend to explore a Gospel together. Or simply being willing to share how following Jesus has shaped your own life.
Colossians 4:5–6 encourages Christians to act wisely towards those outside the faith and to speak with grace. We can be intentional without being pushy, and confident without pretending to know everything.
5. Three Simple Ways to Share Jesus With Gen Z
If you’re wondering how to put this into practice, start with three simple words.
Recognise. Notice the person in front of you. Ask what matters to them, what they’re struggling with and what they think about faith. Don’t assume you know their beliefs simply because of their age.
Relate. Build genuine relationships. In 1 Thessalonians 2:8, Paul describes sharing not only the gospel but his own life. Care about people whether or not they respond to your invitation to explore Christianity.
Reveal. Be willing to talk about Jesus. Share what He means to you, explain the gospel in everyday language and invite questions. You don’t have to force the conversation, but don’t be afraid to take the opportunity when it comes.
These three steps can help make evangelism less intimidating and more natural. And you can begin this week. Think of one young person you know. Ask them a genuine question about their life or beliefs. Listen carefully. Pray for them. Look for an opportunity to continue the conversation.
The Opportunity Might Be Closer Than You Think
We don’t need to convince ourselves that every young person is suddenly interested in Christianity. But we do need to stop assuming that nobody is.
Some young people are curious about Jesus. Others are sceptical, disappointed or simply unsure what they believe. Each deserves to be treated as a person, not a statistic or an evangelism project. Our responsibility isn’t to control their response. It’s to love them, listen well and faithfully introduce them to Jesus. So before assuming the next generation isn’t interested in faith, perhaps we should start by asking them. The conversation that follows might surprise you.
