Upperroom Shares Gen Z’s Hunger for an Authentic Relationship with Christ as Salvations Abound
Gen Z is not lost as some may have said. Instead, they’re seeking out an impactful relationship with God.
Upperroom Pastor and founder Michael Miller recently shared with the Christian Post how the ministry is seeing Gen Z reach out for authentic experiences in their prayer lives and relationships with Christ. While many modern churches have watered down the truth of the gospel for seeker-friendly experiences, Miller says this isn’t the reality of what the next generation is looking for.
“I think the church, in the name of being relevant, has placated. We’ve actually built communities that the purpose of them is to attract people,” Miller says.
Instead of physical church expansion, Miller shared that Upperroom’s ministry is focusing on knowing and experiencing a deep and meaningful relationship with the Holy Spirit.
“Gen Z is looking for Jesus. They’re hungry for Jesus, and they’re tearing down the scaffolding that we put around Jesus,” Miller says.
It’s through the power of prayer that this next generation is seeking out the presence of God. With Upperroom alone, about 400 volunteers spend 80 hours a week in prayer. These times have helped to drive many to go deeper with Jesus.
“A lot of them are coming in and actually getting saved,” Miller said. “They’re rediscovering their faith…I think hosting God’s presence and building communities marked by this reality is really resonating with them.”
Just as we saw at Asbury, the next generation has not been forgotten about by God’s Spirit. Instead, He is igniting them to know Him in an intimate way. This past winter, Asbury students and many others from across the country saw the glory of God poured out. Charisma Magazine reported on one young man’s testimony from TikTok and how he declared that revival is already here. There’s a profound truth in this; God’s Holy Spirit is here right now, ready to speak to His children.
The upcoming generation isn’t shallow or inherently worse than any previous generation; many are simply in need of guidance and desire to cling onto something real. Not only does Gen Z benefit from the truth of the gospel being preached, but all other generations do as well. The spread of the gospel and the fire of the Holy Spirit wasn’t just meant to be a one-time event or experience, but something every single person can encounter.
In Acts 2 during Peter’s speech that brought the masses in to know God, he said, “For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call,” (v. 39). To commune with God and experience His presence is a promise that we all, Gen Z included, can cling onto for a future filled of hope. {eoa}
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
