Unashamed: Gen Z Rising in Worship and Wonder

If you’ve been to a modern church lately, you’ve probably seen it: the lights go low, the worship team steps up, lyrics fill the screens, and the room is full of voices—Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials—lifting up praise or watching from home with coffee in hand.

For the last 15, maybe even 20 years, this has been the rhythm. It’s familiar. It’s steady. And in many ways, it’s beautiful. But lately, a quiet question has been rising in small groups,  leadership circles, and even in my own heart: Where’s Gen Z?

At first glance, it can seem like this generation—born between 1997 and 2012—is slipping away from the Church. But look closer, and you’ll see something different. You’ll see a generation not abandoning faith, but abandoning performance. A generation not walking away from Jesus, but longing to meet Him in a way that’s real, raw, and unashamed.

And you’ll see something even more incredible: revival.

Worship That Feels Like Revival

Gen Z doesn’t just show up differently. They are different. They’ve grown up online, scrolling before they could even speak in full sentences. They’re hyper-connected—and yet, often, deeply alone. They’re used to endless noise—and they’re hungry for something sacred.

I saw it firsthand recently at a Forrest Frank concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with our homeschool community—and it wasn’t just a concert.

It was a revival.

Sure, there was a little stage fog—but none of that was the focus. The real show was what was happening in the hearts of the people. An entire room of young people—singing, weeping, praising Jesus—hungry for His presence, not a performance. It felt like the early church.

It felt like my first mission trip, worshiping barefoot with 2,000 youth in an abandoned soccer stadium in the Philippines.

It. Felt. Good.

And this hunger isn’t isolated. Across the country, spontaneous movements of faith are breaking out—at Asbury University, where a simple chapel service turned into weeks of nonstop prayer, and at Liberty University, where students fill overflow rooms late into the night. At Ohio State, players from the football team led a gathering that drew nearly a thousand students—sharing testimonies, worshiping, and baptizing their peers. That spirit of unity carried them through a challenging season and all the way to a national championship.

Gen Z isn’t lost. They’re leading. They’re inviting us all back to the feet of Jesus.

And artists like Forrest Frank are meeting them there—bringing worship back into everyday life.

His music is joyful, raw, and deeply personal. It’s creative yet unpolished—and it speaks the language of a generation longing to encounter Jesus in spirit and in truth.

They Don’t Want to Watch Church—They Want to Be the Church

And I couldn’t be more excited for them. As a mom of one of those Gen Z’s, it’s beyond refreshing for my soul. Watching my son, Caden, step into his own faith has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I’ve seen firsthand how this generation isn’t interested in shallow answers—they want truth. They want a relationship with a living God, not a scripted performance. Seeing Caden worship, ask bold questions, and live out his faith with honesty and passion has inspired me more than I can say. He’s proof that God is raising up a generation that isn’t afraid to go all in for Jesus. They don’t need another polished production. They scroll past perfect posts every day.

What they’re craving is something deeper—something real.

I’m grateful for artists like Forrest Frank—for being a modern-day evangelist to our kids. Gen Z wants to be part of something that matters. They want to experience God, not just hear about Him. They want real discipleship—built on relationships, not performances. When they show up, they’re all in. They ask bold questions. They’re not afraid of the hard stuff—they’re just tired of the fake stuff. They’re not looking for watered-down faith. They’re looking for something sacred. Something that costs something—and changes everything.

They don’t need us to market Jesus. They need us to model Him. That means being honest about our struggles, open with our stories, and unafraid to welcome hard questions with grace.

This has been a core belief of mine and Caleb’s for a long time. Breaking generational curses requires telling the truth. We don’t sugarcoat. We are honest and real—and we are endlessly grateful for God’s grace. Because the Gospel is big enough to meet us all right where we are.

My Prayer: The 2.0 Church

If there’s one prayer rising in my heart through all of this, it’s this:

Less fog machines. More Holy Spirit. Less hype. More holiness. Less performance. More presence.

I believe we’re seeing the early signs of the 2.0 Church—a Church that doesn’t need a bigger show to draw people in, but a deeper encounter with the living God. A Church not built on productions, but on Jesus Himself—alive and moving. The next great move of God may not happen on the biggest stages. It might happen in living rooms, parking lots, and fields full of young people simply hungry for Him. And it will be beautiful.

Let’s not miss it.

They Could Be the Ones to Wake Us Up

I believe we’re standing at a crossroads filled with opportunity. Gen Z is asking us to slow down, go deeper, and remember why we do what we do. They want to see the Church be the Church again. They’re not asking for perfection—they’re asking for purpose. When we invite them into community, entrust them with leadership, and walk with them in truth and grace, we don’t just awaken something in them—we see revival in all of us.

Gen Z isn’t a problem to solve. They’re a generation to champion. They’re not looking to be impressed. They’re longing to be inspired.

Let’s show them Jesus—not just on a screen, but in how we live, love, and lead. Because if we do, we won’t just see Gen Z rise—we’ll see the Church rise too.

xo,

brit