7 Mistakes Christian Leaders Are Making with Gen Z (And How to Fix Them Today)

Let's be real for a minute. Gen Z is walking away from church faster than we can count, and a lot of us Christian leaders are scratching our heads wondering what went wrong. Here's the tough truth: we're making some pretty big mistakes in how we're connecting with the next generation.

But here's the good news – these mistakes are totally fixable. I've spent years working with Christian leaders who are successfully reaching Gen Z, and I want to share what I've learned. If you're ready to bridge the gap and actually connect with young people in a way that matters, keep reading.

Mistake #1: Turning Church Into Disney World

We've got this backwards. We think if we make everything fun and entertaining enough, young people will stick around. But what we're actually doing is creating spiritual bubble wrap. We're raising a generation that can't handle real-world pressure because we've never taught them how to build spiritual muscle.

Gen Z doesn't need more entertainment – they've got TikTok for that. They need resilience. They need to know their faith can handle the hard questions and tough situations they're facing every day.

The Fix: Start creating challenging environments where young people can grow stronger, not just have fun. This means difficult conversations, service projects that push comfort zones, and mentorship that models real faith struggles. Sometimes skip the flashy multimedia and focus on genuine community building instead.

Mistake #2: Avoiding the Hard Stuff in Scripture

Here's a shocking stat: only 4% of Gen Z has a biblical worldview. That means 96% don't have solid answers to basic questions about who God is, who they are, and what their purpose is. And we're partly to blame because we keep tiptoeing around the challenging parts of faith, thinking it'll make Jesus more appealing.

Wrong move. Gen Z is actually hungry for truth – 44% say they're extremely curious about the Bible and Jesus. They don't want watered-down Christianity; they want the real deal.

The Fix: Teach the whole Bible without shortcuts. Be willing to tackle the tough conversations with wisdom and patience. Young people respect leaders who don't dodge their hard questions. They want to know both what following Jesus costs and what not following Jesus costs.

Mistake #3: Making Gen Z Feel Invisible in Church

Nearly 60% of non-Christian Gen Zers say church isn't relevant to them. But here's the kicker – about the same percentage of Christian Gen Zers say they find God elsewhere. That tells us we're not making them feel like they belong.

The fundamental question every church needs to ask is simple: "Is Gen Z important to us?" Because if they can't feel that answer is yes when they walk through our doors, they're going to keep walking right back out.

The Fix: Create genuine belonging from day one. When young adults walk into your church, they should feel seen, expected, and welcomed. Give them real roles in ministry where they can learn and grow. Make sure they're not just tolerated but actually embraced and valued.

Mistake #4: Misunderstanding Their Digital Reality

Gen Z are "screen-agers" who've never known life without internet and smartphones. We're talking about 57% using screens four or more hours daily, and 26% using them eight-plus hours. They're dealing with constant pressure to look perfect online, information overload, cyberbullying, and widespread exposure to harmful content.

Instead of helping them navigate this reality, we often either ignore it or demonize technology entirely. Neither approach works.

The Fix: Guide them in using technology wisely while teaching biblical identity. This is a huge opportunity to help young people understand their worth comes from being God's image-bearers, not from likes and followers. Also, support parents who are trying to raise kids in this new digital landscape – they need our help too.

Mistake #5: Creating Unsafe Spaces for Questions

Gen Z is bombarded with competing worldviews and moral frameworks every single day. They're trying to figure out what's true while being told by culture that truth is relative. Instead of giving them safe spaces to process all this, we often shut down questions or make them feel bad for having doubts.

The Fix: Make questioning not just okay, but welcome. Create environments where young people can express doubts, ask hard questions, and wrestle with what they believe without judgment. This takes time and personal investment – there are no shortcuts. They need adults who will walk alongside them, not lecture them.

Mistake #6: Presenting Cultural Christianity Instead of Real Discipleship

Here's what I've noticed: many young people aren't actually rejecting Jesus. They're rejecting the cultural, political version of Christianity they see in adults around them that doesn't reflect biblical values. They can smell fake from a mile away, and they're not interested in a faith that's just about fitting in with a certain group.

Gen Z is looking for something that costs something – they want authentic faith that makes a real difference.

The Fix: Model radical discipleship and complete surrender to Christ. Show them what it means to live countercultural lives that are genuinely grounded in Scripture, not political affiliations or cultural expectations. A post-Christian world that demands real commitment to Christ is actually more attractive to Gen Z than lukewarm cultural Christianity.

Mistake #7: Preparing Them for Yesterday's World

We're often preparing young Christians to face a world that no longer exists. The cultural landscape has shifted dramatically, but many of our ministry approaches haven't kept up. We're giving them armor for battles they're not fighting while leaving them defenseless against the real challenges they face every day.

The Fix: Acknowledge and engage with their actual context. Stay current with what they're really dealing with in school, online, and in their relationships. Address real challenges, not imagined ones. Gen Z is spiritually open, curious, and craving deep connection – but we have to meet them where they actually are, not where we wish they were.

The Real Heart of the Issue

Look, all these mistakes come back to one core problem: we're not really seeing Gen Z for who they are. We're seeing them through our own lens, trying to reach them the way we wanted to be reached when we were their age. But they're not us, and this isn't then.

The good news? Gen Z is actually incredibly open to authentic faith. They're looking for belonging, purpose, and truth – all things that Jesus offers in abundance. But they need leaders who are willing to do the hard work of really understanding them and meeting them where they are.

Ready to Turn Things Around?

If you're a Christian leader who's serious about reaching Gen Z, you don't have to figure this out alone. The challenges are real, but so are the solutions. Sometimes you just need someone to help you see your blind spots and develop strategies that actually work.

That's exactly what I love doing – helping Christian leaders like you bridge the gap with the next generation. Whether you're a pastor, youth leader, parent, or mentor, I've got tools and insights that can transform how you connect with young people.

I'd love to offer you a free 30-minute consultation where we can dive into your specific situation. We can talk on the phone, or if you prefer, we can text back and forth – whatever works best for you. I also work with teams and offer workshops for entire leadership groups.

Ready to start making real connections with Gen Z? Head over to LayneMcDonald.com to schedule your free consultation. Let's work together to reach the next generation with the love and truth of Christ – in ways that actually work.

The future of the church depends on how well we love and lead Gen Z. Let's not mess this up.