📌 This essay was originally published on Deep Spirituality. Read the original here.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Gen Z still wants anything to do with God, this conversation is for you. Dr. Tanita Maddox has spent 26 years on the front lines of Gen Z ministry, and what she taught me about talking to Gen Z about God completely reframed how I see this generation — and it’s the most hopeful conversation I’ve had in a long time.
We dig into why relationships — not statistics, not sermons, not slick programs — are still the doorway into faith for young people. Tanita shares the three things Gen Z says makes them actually feel listened to, why so many of them trust a stranger on TikTok more than the adults in their own home, and the surprising reason AI is becoming a competing spiritual authority in their lives. We also talk honestly about why being comfortable with being uncomfortable might be the most important skill we can give our kids — and ourselves.
This one is for parents wondering how to reach their teenager, for pastors wondering why Gen Z church attendance doesn’t always translate into real faith, and for anyone who’s ever felt rejected while trying to love someone well. There is so much hope found in this conversation, and I think you’re going to walk away encouraged, equipped, and ready to show up differently in the lives of the young people God has placed around you.
Who is Tanita Maddox?
Dr. Tanita Maddox is a Gen Z expert and the National Director for Generational Impact at Young Life. With over 26 years of youth ministry experience, she specializes in analyzing modern adolescent culture, diagnosing where legacy models fail, and training leaders on how to build authentic, localized relationships with Generation Z.