This Generation is Now

By Kory Hollensteiner

My life was forever changed by an invitation—or better yet, by accepting one. 

At 17 years old, I finally accepted the invitation from a friend who had invited me every Wednesday night to youth group. When I relented and showed up to the loud coffee shop style space in the giant building, what did I find? I found hope. I found forgiveness. I found joy. I found love. I found Jesus. 

That night, I heard the gospel message, and my life—and my eternity—were forever changed. In that moment, I went all in. I was baptized. I started reading God’s Word. I began trusting him in both the big and small areas of my life. Most importantly, I sought out community. Community that extended far wider than just in the church building. 

Now, 20 years later, I serve as the Campus Pastor at that same church. And I get to witness something incredible: a fresh wave of revival, a holy enthusiasm rising among a new generation of young people who are passionately pursuing Jesus. 

Week after week, I have a front-row seat to life change. I see students and young adults confessing their faith, surrendering to Christ, stepping into the waters of baptism, and responding in obedience to God’s Word. They are the first to raise hands in worship, circle up and pray at the steps over one another. They arrive to service early and are usually the last to leave.  

There’s no doubt in my mind; God is stirring something deep in the hearts of 14–25-year-olds. At our church, we call them “ThisGen,” short for This Generation. And we believe wholeheartedly that they are not the church of the future. they are the church of now.  

We are empowering This Generation of believers to believe what 1 Timothy 4:12 says: “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (New Living Translation). 

A Movement in Motion 

Across our high school gatherings, Discovery Bible Study groups, and Tuesday night young adult services, something is happening. Students aren’t just sitting in chairs; they’re leaning in, taking notes, asking hard questions, and stepping into leadership. They’re sharing their testimonies, running tech, managing social media, leading worship, delivering Communion meditations, and baptizing their peers. 

What’s more, they’re bringing their friends with them. 

You might be tempted to believe the narrative that Gen Z or Gen Alpha is walking away from the church. But I’m not seeing that. Not here in Quincy, Illinois. Not from where I’m standing. 

I’m seeing young people run to the church. I’m seeing sports teams show up to services together. I’m watching 5th graders baptize their friends surrounded by their Sunday school class. I’m watching college students pray at the front of the church during an invitation. I’m watching movement. 

And it’s not just here. We’re hearing stories from across the country about college ministries where thousands are giving their lives to Christ and being baptized in obedience to him. There’s something real happening in This Generation. 

Creating Space to Belong 

Five years ago, I felt a burden to create a space for young adults, a community where they could ask questions about Jesus, explore Scripture, and be discipled through their 20s. That season of life is pivotal. It requires intentional teaching, relational investment, and spiritual encouragement. 

So we launched a Tuesday night gathering just for them. It’s simple: worship, teaching, community, and leadership development. It’s a place to be real, to be challenged, and to grow. 

If there’s a verse that captures our heartbeat for this young adult ministry, it’s 2 Timothy 2:22: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 

That’s what Tuesday nights have become; a rhythm of rest and renewal. Young adults come straight from work or practice, often still in their gear, and enter into a community that wraps around them with love, truth, and purpose. 

One of our core mantras is Life is better together. When you’re in a valley, you don’t walk alone. When there’s something to celebrate, you do it side by side. When you need prayer, someone’s always near. 

What This Generation Needs 

Here’s what I’ve learned about young adults. They crave authenticity. 

They don’t need performance or polish—they need honesty. They want real stories, real struggles, and real guidance. They want to know what the Bible says. They want to know how to live it out. And they’re eager to learn—from their peers and from the older generations in the church. 

That’s why it’s important that we not only create space but give them responsibility. Trust them with the platform. Equip them with tools. Challenge them to lead. 

Take Marquis, for example. He was invited by some college friends and drove 30 minutes each week to attend our gathering. Quiet and hesitant at first, he joined the worship team, playing keys. Then guitar. Eventually, he started leading worship. 

He stepped up to deliver Communion meditations. Then testimonies. Then sermons. 

A short time later, Marquis joined our staff to pastor middle school students and help lead worship for the very same ministry that helped shape him and his faith. He even met his wife on a Tuesday night.  

Stories like his are why we hold tightly to one of our core values: We Make Leaders. We develop leaders who honor God, inspire people, and change the world. 

We don’t just hope they rise up; we disciple them into it. They are literally changing the world around them and are not afraid to bring people alongside of them.  

If we want to continue to reach future generations, we must continue to be “downward for the future.” Another core value we live by is this: Downward. We gladly give up the things we love for a future generation we love even more. 

This is the fuel behind our investment in local schools, sports teams, and community partnerships. We offer preschool and after-school programs. Our building is used throughout the week, not as a museum for ministry, but as a tool for mission. 

Whether it’s youth basketball leagues or birthday parties, we’re creating connection points that open doors for gospel conversations. 

We want kids, students, and young adults not just to attend church, but to be the church. 

We want to see them using their gifts to serve, lead, and build up the body of Christ for his glory. 

Be Encouraged 

God is at work in This Generation. 

They’re showing up. They’re showing up to weekend services, to midweek gatherings, to Bible studies, to fun outreach nights at the church. They’re saying yes to the invitation. They’re choosing presence over passivity. They’re leaning into the things of God—even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s countercultural. 

They’re stepping out. They’re stepping into leadership. They’re inviting friends, sharing their faith, and boldly living out their convictions in their schools, on their teams, and in their workplaces. They’re discovering the gifts God has placed inside them and using them to join the greatest mission on earth: to reach more people for Jesus. 

They’re saying yes to Jesus. They’re not just hearing the gospel—they’re responding. They’re believing, repenting, and confessing that Jesus is Lord. They’re being baptized, stepping into discipleship, and baptizing their friends. Their obedience is sparking revival. What we’re seeing is not hype; it’s hunger. 

So what’s our responsibility as the church? 

Be authentic. Talk openly about your own faith journey. Don’t just share your victories—share your valleys. Be real about the times you doubted, struggled, or questioned. Let them see that faith is often forged in the fire. And always point them back to the Word of God, where you found strength, truth, and peace. 

Be intentional. Invest in them. Make time. Sit across from them at coffee shops, invite them into your homes, show up in their world. Open the Bible with them and invite their questions without fear. Don’t shy away from hard conversations—just lead with grace and truth. 

Give them opportunities to lead. Let them serve, teach, lead worship, or share their story. Give them real responsibility and the space to grow—even if it means letting them fail. And when they do, be the one to help them learn and get back up. 

Meet them where they are. Go to them. Be present at their games, performances, birthday parties, or even just their hangout spots. Show them they matter beyond a Sunday morning. It’s not about waiting for them to come to you—it’s about walking toward them like Jesus walked toward us. 

And above all, believe. Believe that the same God who reached us 20 years ago is still reaching this generation today with power, purpose, and passion. 

Because they’re not next. They’re now.  

Kory Hollensteiner is 48^th Street Campus Pastor with The Crossing, Quincy, Illinois.