From mental health pressures to distrust of authority, Gen Z are navigating a turbulent world. Knowing the challenges they are facing is key to knowing how we can respond.
Something is stirring in this generation. There is a deep search for meaning that is leading them to explore Jesus and Christianity. But they are also grappling with so much: growing up in the midst of a global pandemic, increasing concerns around climate change, rising living costs, and a mental health crisis, (to name a few,) it’s no wonder Generation Z (born 1997 – 2012) has been called the “anxious generation”.
Being Gen Z myself, I understand the weight of the anxieties and challenges this generation face. For Gen Z, the world can feel dangerous and untrustworthy, fuelling hyper-vigilance, stress and anxiety. Perhaps this is why so many are searching for something ‘otherworldly’, reliable, unchanging, trustworthy and loving.
Our Finding Jesus research revealed why 18 – 24-year-olds are prompted to explore faith. Their top three reasons were:
- “I needed help with life” – 47%
- “A painful or difficult experience” – 45%
- “I was looking for meaning” – 38%
All generations face turbulence, but Gen Z is particularly hungry for hope and meaning. Understanding their struggles helps us relate to them and share Jesus effectively.
Faith in an age of distrust
This generation has witnessed failures in leadership and authority, causing a growing distrust of traditional institutions. From the murder of Sarah Everard to the Covid Partygate scandal, to revelations in the Epstein files, these events have shaped Gen Z’s views on authority. Many now link these failures to concerns about economic stability, social justice and future opportunities.
"For Gen Z, the world can feel dangerous and untrustworthy, fuelling hyper-vigilance, stress, and anxiety."
As a result, Gen Z approach authority with curiosity and caution. They ask questions, think critically, and want to understand how decisions are made. Peer influence through social media and trusted friends or family often carries more weight than traditional or institutional authority figures.
As the church, we must be aware of this. Gen Z brings questions, tests assumptions, and seeks authenticity and transparency. They aren’t satisfied with surface-level answers; they want to ask “why?” and explore deeply.
The Finding Jesus research shows they are most impacted by personal connections: hearing about Jesus through someone they trust, like a friend, family member or mentor. Creating spaces of trust, openness and honest conversation is essential for engaging this generation.
The loneliness crisis and the search for meaning
The pandemic disrupted lives in ways many of us, and most definitely Gen Z, had never experienced. Routines stopped, relationships paused, and many were forced to reflect and re-evaluate.
For Gen Z, mental health has been hit particularly hard. Anxiety and depression have risen, while missed milestones, limited social interaction, and uncertainty about the future have made many vulnerable to loneliness, stress and hopelessness.
As a Gen Z myself, I felt this personally. My graduation was delayed, my study abroad program cut short, and I finished university online while looking towards an uncertain future. Even my 21st birthday was spent in lockdown, leaving me with a sense of missing out on formative early adult experiences.
"Creating spaces of trust, openness, and honest conversation is essential for engaging this generation."
At a stage when identity and purpose are still being shaped, isolation replaced connection. Yet these challenges sparked deeper questions: What is the point? What truly matters?
Secular individualism and changing values
Tensions between secular culture and following Jesus exist across all generations but are particularly strong among 18 – 24-year-olds. This group often finds lifestyle changes the most challenging aspect of faith.
Gen Z has grown up in a culture where identity is curated and explored, and where morality is often seen as personal and subjective. Many come to faith wrestling with these worldviews. Following Jesus can feel countercultural: not just requiring changes in behaviour but prompting a rethinking of identity, values and truth.
Faith is deeply personal and closely tied to identity. When young people feel rejected by the church, it can feel like a rejection of who they are. Gen Z values the freedom to form their own beliefs and is cautious where authority seems to impose outdated or intolerant views. Language, tone and cultural awareness are crucial in communicating faith effectively.
To connect with this generation, there needs to be clarity, compassion and space for honest questions and conversations, holding onto the truth of scripture while allowing room for exploration and growth.
Young people are exploring spirituality everywhere, online, in communities, and in conversation. They seek authenticity, real answers, and practical ways to live out faith. Whether it’s on TikTok or in church, they are looking for a place that feels welcoming and transformative.
Let’s be that place. Let’s be the community where young people can come to ask, explore and grow, and where lives are transformed and are rooted in something lasting and hopeful.
Finding Jesus 18–24 report
The supplemental findings for those aged 18–24
