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How do we reach the younger generation with the gospel? In this episode, Evan Wilkerson and A. J. Nicandro join Joshua West to discuss their own testimonies and the obstacles that this next generation faces with coming to know God then growing in their faith. No generation is harder to reach spiritually than any other, but the young people of today face unique challenges in the arena of Christian faith.
Key Points from the Podcast
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Each person’s testimony is a story about how God uniquely reaches us with his love but also his call to submit to him.
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Each generation has the misconception that their generation is more difficult to reach than any other.
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What are the difference challenges of reaching those who are ‘dechurched’, people who have left church, versus the ‘unchurched’ who have never been in church?
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Although the modern culture has a lot of skepticism about Christianity and organized religion, secular individuals often have a great deal of interest in spirituality.
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Almost everyone knows someone who has left church or who has never been to church. How are we reaching them? How are we demonstrating who Jesus is through our own lives?
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One of the biggest concerns for evangelism for the younger generation is delineating between what is true like emotions, experiences and what is truth like God’s laws for the world and the consequences of when we violate that law.
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Blaming a different generation for why modern society has certain struggle leaves no room to love that generation well and reach them with the hope of the gospel.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 15:1-10, Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 10:14-15
About Evan Wilkerson
Evan Wilkerson is the son of Gary Wilkerson, President of World Challenge. In 2013, Evan felt the Lord’s call to be a minister and evangelist, preaching and teaching the Word of God. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Colorado Christian University and currently works at World Challenge as Director of NextGen Ministries where he lives out his passion to bring sound doctrine and apologetics to the next generation. Evan and his wife, Carmen, have two children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
About A.J. Nicandro
A.J. Nicandro serves on the Next-Gen Ministries team at World Challenge alongside Evan Wilkerson. When he was 17, he fully surrendered his life to Christ at a youth retreat and was called into the School of Ministry program at Calvary Worship Center. There, he became the first youth pastor at CWC’s satellite campus and served there for three years. Now at World Challenge, A.J. has a passion to see his generation of young adults and the Filipino American community encounter Jesus. In addition to working at World Challenge, he also works at his family’s church, International Christian Fellowship, and is a realtor. He and his wife live in Colorado Springs, CO.
About Joshua West
Joshua West serves as the Church Leadership Network Director at World Challenge helping equip and empower pastors all over the world. Joshua’s desire is to raise up ministers who will correctly and boldly preach the word with passion and integrity. The point of all his work and writings is to preach the gospel, glorify God and to teach sound doctrine.