This is part 2 of a 4-part series on engaging Gen Z.

Series Description:

Here’s a key question I hear all the time: “How do we reach the next generation?” This is an urgent question as Barna reports that atheism has doubled among Gen Z. But it is also a personal question because Christians, including ministry leaders, recognize that their own children or grandchildren are digital natives and experience the world differently than former generations. So, how can we effectively engage Gen Z? This is certainly a joint project that we are all working on, but here are some ideas from individuals with practical experience in engaging Gen Z.

Anna Gosman, our podcast guest for the first episode, invited me to participate in a presentation on Gen Z to a group of Christian school leaders at a retreat held at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. I found the information and application that Anna and John Crane (our co-presenter and the podcast guest on this episode) shared to be both thought-provoking and practical; so, we decided to reproduce that presentation here for the podcast audience. Instead of compiling all of this information into one long episode, we decided to split this discussion into several parts so listeners can focus on the key elements of the church’s response.

For Part 2, John Crane will explore worldview formation and equipping Gen Z to live out the gospel in a quickly changing culture. John Brockman Crane is a respected educator and cultural thought leader who spends much of his time equipping leaders to understand our times and know what to do through speaking, teaching, and writing efforts. In 2009, John founded the Sagamore Leadership Initiative, Inc., a leadership development non-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, whose mission is “to equip next generation leaders to influence our culture for the Good.” (www.sagamoreleadership.org). John graduated from Taylor University with a B.A. in History and Psychology, and he went on to receive his M.A. in Communications and Culture from Trinity International University. In 2008, John completed a two-month apologetics training program through the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, in partnership with Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. Previously, John has served as a pastor, as well as, an adjunct professor at Marian University and Grace College: Indianapolis. He is a Colson Fellow with the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview and serves on their national Board of Directors. John has also served as the Director of the Hoosier Leadership Series, a leadership training program whose mission is “educating Indiana leaders on policy and culture.” In 2016 John was elected to the Indiana Senate. He is currently the Assistant Majority Caucus Chairman and serves on the following Senate Committees: Education and Career Development (as the Ranking Member), Elections, Family and Children Services, Homeland Security and Transportation, Pensions and Labor, and Veterans Affairs and the Military. John and his wife, Jean, live on Crane Acres in Avon, Indiana with their four children and their dog, Cricket.

To find more information about the leadership work that John Crane is doing, or to have him come and speak to your group, please visit www.craneleadership.org.

Key Takeaways:

- An overview of the faith and worldview struggles of Gen Z.
- C.S. Lewis’ dot-in-the-circle diagram and why this is a helpful illustration.
- How to effectively and creatively use the Socratic teaching method in the church and school setting.
- Why real-world experiences and serving alongside Gen Z is so important.
- The importance of staying a step or two ahead of cultural developments.


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