I am Greta is a documentary that made its premiere earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival. It chronicles the journey of teen climate activist, Greta Thunberg, and her unwavering commitment to do whatever it takes to save the planet. In 2019, Greta gained attention for her cause by sailing across the Atlantic to appear before the U.N. Conference on Climate Change in New York. Then there’s Malala Yousafzai who, as a teenager, was shot and almost killed by the Taliban in Pakistan for her courageous commitment to see teen girls in Pakistan have access to free, quality education. She later won the Nobel Peace Prize for her unparalleled activism. From stopping human trafficking to fighting for racial equity to ending poverty, more and more teenagers are embracing activism as a lifestyle. Hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter, #GunControl #EndItMovement (in reference to human trafficking), #AnimalRescue, #ClimateChange and #EndPoverty flood the social media feeds of many young people. Generation Z is dying to live for a mission that matters and a cause that counts. Many churches are asking how to position Teen evangelism at center as young people pursue those causes.
Then there’s Malala Yousafzai who, as a teenager, was shot and almost killed by the Taliban in Pakistan for her courageous commitment to see teen girls in Pakistan have access to free, quality education. She later won the Nobel Peace Prize for her unparalleled activism. Her story reminds us of the Courage to share faith that can spring from trauma and conviction.
From stopping human trafficking to fighting for racial equity to ending poverty, more and more teenagers are embracing activism as a lifestyle. Hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter, #GunControl #EndItMovement (in reference to human trafficking), #AnimalRescue, #ClimateChange and #EndPoverty flood the social media feeds of many young people. Generation Z is dying to live for a mission that matters and a cause that counts. The church faces the challenge of integrating Disciple-making alongside activism while holding fast to Gospel proclamation for all.