Hi Reader,

Why are young people losing trust in the church? And, more importantly—how can we turn the tide?

In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Kara Powell, PhD, the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, to dive deep into why Gen Z and Gen Alpha are walking away from church—and what we can do about it.

Kara shares some eye-opening research:
👉 3x more young people say they’ve been hurt by the church than those who trust it.
👉 Many young women feel the church is keeping them small rather than empowering them.
👉 Unstructured time and risk-taking might be the key to reversing mental health struggles in young people.

But it’s not all bad news. Kara and I also explore practical, hope-filled strategies that are helping churches rebuild trust, engage the next generation, and lead with authenticity.

This episode is a must-listen for any leader who cares about the future of the church.

P.S. Did you know InterVarsity just had its biggest year of growth since 1980? Something is stirring. Let’s lean in.

That's why I loved today's podcast conversation.

Kara Powell talks about why teens and young adults don't trust the church, why young women are dropping out of church, why young men are leaning in, and the keys to reaching the next generation.

Watch it on YouTube or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by...

The Preaching Cheat Sheet

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Gloo

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The Chosen

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Go Deeper

My #1 takeaway from this conversation.

Young people aged 13-25 are three times more likely to have been hurt by the church than helped by the church.

Episode questions.

Here are 3 questions you can ask yourself as you listen to the episode. You can also use these as discussion starters with friends, a mentor, or staff.

1. Are we prioritizing relationships over programs?
2. Are we answering the questions young people are actually asking?
3. Are we inviting young people to lead now, not later?

Transcript and links.

​Kara Powell's Website​

​Kara Powell's X​

​Kara Powell's Facebook​

​Kara Powell's Instagram​

​Future-Focused Church by Kara Powell​

​Download the first chapter of Future-Focused Church free​

​Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity by Eugene Peterson​

​The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt​

​Episode 152 with Eugene Peterson​

Take Action

A Response to Christians Who Are Done With Church

As Kara shared in this episode, young women are dropping out of church at an alarming rate. And, as a whole, people are walking away from church, too.

Well, almost a decade ago, I wrote a response to Christians who were​ done with church.

Do you ever wonder how to respond to the people you see walking away from church?

Do you ever think about what—and we—need to do to get them back?

​This will give you something to think about.​

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It truly helps other leaders like you discover these conversations.

Cheering for you,

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Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0