Pursuing God’s Call as Gen Z Leaders

By Brittany Wagler

More and more Gen Z students and young adults are stepping into leadership within the church. As a young adult who fits into this category, I have witnessed this generation (and the generation coming up) hungry for more. As they want more of the Word, they are starting to want more responsibility in the church.

Growing up, we are taught the importance of serving and being witnesses in our current contexts. We have begun to serve in these capacities in our school, colleges, workplaces, and the church. We are the emerging leaders and the leaders of today.

I am so thankful that I have been given many opportunities to serve where I am to use my gifts to glorify God. I am blessed to be a Bible Quizzing coach at my church and pour into our teens who are learning the Word of God. I have the privilege of walking alongside of them as they grow and compete and are in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from all around the country. This is just one opportunity that I have been given to serve and to lead.

We are also a generation that is being poured into. As much as we are pouring into others, we also need to be fed. I was recently a part of the Next Gen 10:2 Gathering in Georgia where I was able to invest in my relationship with God and be invested in by other people who see us as the Next Gen leaders of the church.

Spiritual leaders and mentors play a big role in our leadership growth. Having a “mentor” did not used to be something that was talked about much, but now I am seeing many young adults asking and seeking out people in their lives to become mentors in their spiritual journey. I am thankful for my mentors who invest in me and walk alongside me as I continue to grow and step into these leadership roles.

As this generation is being equipped, we are being sent out into the harvest field as disciples to make disciples. Families and churches are sending out their young people to serve God in many different ways and in places all over the world. However, this is also the part of the process that I believe we get hung up on the most as young adults.

Anxiety and Cultural Pressure

My generation has been scientifically proven to be the most anxious. One of the biggest reasons for this is because we live in a world full of technology and a culture that puts pressure on us to become someone we are not, just to fit in. If that pressure is not enough, this is the time of our life when we are trying to find what God is calling us to do. We get asked all these questions of what we are going to do next. What college are we going to? What career path? What job? All while trying to be obedient to the Lord and hear His voice.

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 “As this generation is being equipped, we are being sent out into the harvest field as disciples to make disciples.”

While we are being sent out, we are anxious about “missing out” on God’s call on our life. What if this is not what God wants me to do? What if I choose the wrong path? How do I know what God is calling me to?

All these what ifs get in the way of just being faithful and obedient. Scripture even says that we should not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6). As we hear God’s voice, we can just be obedient and go where He leads. His will for us will be our desires. We do not have to worry because our trust is in Jesus and He will lead us when we surrender and walk in obedience.

Living the Call

Being young adults pursuing God’s call on our lives in our world today is not always the easiest, but it is also so rewarding. I am living this out in my life in many different ways. I felt God calling me into the ministry, specifically youth ministry, right after senior year. I had already decided I did not want to go to college, but God had different plans for me. When I answered the call, I began college and stepping into ministry.

Now that I am on the other side of those college days, I have been in a similar season of life with lots of questions. What am I going to do now? What job am I going to get?

God has been laying missions on my heart more lately, and He is leading me toward a season of ministry through missions. I am currently preparing to do mission work in Bogota, Colombia, for five months with Free Methodist World Missions.

Being a young person stepping into this opportunity is scary and exciting at the same time. Being able to serve with two local churches in Bogota is exciting, but learning the language and walking into the unknown seems daunting at times. Following the Lord’s calling sometimes comes with changes, and that causes us to make a choice to trust God all the more though it all.

Being a young adult stepping into the ministry and missions has been a rewarding experience. The people who have invested in me and given me opportunities to serve have helped me prepare for this next season of life. Without these opportunities and people in my life, I would not feel as prepared for this journey as I am now.

I have also grown as a young adult in my faith and with my relationships around me. One thing that I see my generation investing in is our community and relationships. We believe that it is important to be in community and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We intentionally surround ourselves with people that we can grow with and encourage each other toward God. We were never meant to do life on our own, and Gen Z sees the value and importance of having a godly community.

I think it’s easy as young people to make excuses or take others’ opinions to heart, and we say no to where God is leading us or what He wants us to do. We see other people who are older than we are and who have more wisdom and experience, and we say they can go because they are better suited for the job. However, I would encourage any member of Gen Z who struggles with this to remember this biblical truth: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young’ (1 Timothy 4:12).

Don’t let anyone tell you or make you think that you are unqualified or not worthy to live out God’s calling on your life today. The enemy has a way of getting in and making us believe lies that are just not true.

Living out God’s call on our lives is something we desire and seek out as Gen Z young adults. I see my generation on fire for God, and we have the desire to “go” throughout the nations and make disciples.

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 “Don’t let anyone tell you or make you think that you are unqualified or not worthy to live out God’s calling on your life today.”

We are looking to God as our strength instead of anything in the world. We are desperate for something greater than ourselves, and we want others to find that as well. It’s a calling that we are willing to do because we know that the Lord goes with us. We are daring to be bold and pray the prayer of Isaiah: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
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