You want the good news or the bad news first? We all hate that question. No matter which way it’s spun, the bad news usually trumps the good no matter how good it is. You probably choose to brace yourself to weather the storm of the bad news long enough to get to the good stuff. Well friends…brace yourself. Ready or not, here it comes.
The bad news
The Church and the EFCA are at a critical crossroads. As the pool of pastoral and missionary candidates shrinks, the future of ministry leadership faces significant challenges. The reality is stark: fewer young people are stepping into vocational ministry, and the current generation of pastors is aging rapidly.
Many young people today see vocational ministry as a less-than-ideal career choice. They fear financial instability, the tremendous weight of responsibility of leading in the church and lack confidence in their calling.
In 1992, the median age of Protestant clergy was 44; by 2022, it had risen to 52. Barna reports that today, only one in seven pastors is under 40, with 25 percent of current pastors planning to retire by 2030. This trend poses a significant threat to the continuity of leadership within the church. We hear the alarm sounding, and if unaddressed, the future of our movement here and abroad is at risk.
Many young people today see vocational ministry as a less-than-ideal career choice. They fear financial instability, the tremendous weight of responsibility of leading in the church and lack confidence in their calling. This problem has compounded because many churches lack mentorship structures that encourage, coach and train the next generation for ministry. Very few church leaders are elevating this high calling from their pulpits or personally inviting young people to consider ministry as a viable path. Meanwhile, the internet is inviting them to consider becoming online influencers—32 percent of Generation Alpha want to become YouTubers, according to Fortune.
If we don’t act now, the effects could be far-reaching. As more pastors and missionaries retire without adequate replacements, churches may face closures or mergers, leaving communities without spiritual guidance and leadership. Furthermore, the diminishing number of foreign missionaries poses a threat to global outreach efforts, as unreached people groups continue to grow.
OK…take a deep breath.
The good news
The emerging generation is hungry for substance, meaning and impact. They long to be a part of something bigger than themselves and are looking to be used to make a difference in this world. In recent months, a revival has begun to sweep across college campuses. Athletes, coaches and droves of collegiates are giving their lives to Jesus and publicly testifying to the transforming work of the gospel. Within the EFCA we are seeing young people involved in mission work through Apex, Crisis Response and ReachGlobal initiatives. At Challenge, district youth events and youth ministries all over the country, high school and middle school students are saying “yes” to the gospel and committing to be gospel influencers wherever God leads them. God is moving in the hearts of this generation. The question remains: How can we effectively mobilize the emerging generation for missions and ministry?
We need pastors and leaders to actively invite and inspire young leaders in their church to take a step of faith toward full-time ministry.
Apex, as a division of ReachStudents, is here to help and seeks to answer this question by acting as a catalyst to help churches and leaders identify, invite and inspire young people to consider full-time ministry. Apex exists to serve the local church by mobilizing the emerging generation to be gospel influencers from here to everywhere. It’s our aim to set the pace within the EFCA to help you catalyze the students in your church and provide experiences where defining moments with God can occur.
We provide resources and relationships to help the emerging generation understand who they are and discover their call to ministry. We never want to lead students to a dead end, so we always point to next steps to full-time ministry within the EFCA. In doing this, we hope to reverse the trend of decline and see a wave of young, faith-filled leaders pursuing the call of God to lead the EFCA movement for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.
What you can join God in doing
While we long to see the next generation of workers join God in the harvest field, we cannot do this alone. We need pastors and leaders to actively invite and inspire young leaders in their church to take a step of faith toward full-time ministry. Together, we need to “shake the tree” and see what fruit falls. Once identified, we have the privilege of helping these students—including those in your church—understand who they are, how God has designed them and their specific call to ministry. We then get them involved right away because as a former teammate of mine frequently said, “involvement breeds commitment.”
This work is not necessarily difficult, but it requires intentionality. It could be as simple as identifying one or two young people in your church and investing in them relationally. It means sharing personal stories of ministry, guiding through spiritual questions and providing real opportunities to engage in ministry work. Churches can host vocational ministry weekends, invite young people to assist in service and event planning, provide mission trips that expose them to global ministry needs, and point them to Christian colleges.
The call to mobilize young people for ministry cannot be ignored. The Church’s future depends on today’s leaders taking proactive steps to invest in the next generation.
Practical steps that you can work on right now:
- Identify where you might see God calling a student in your church into vocational ministry. Ask yourself if that student knows you feel that way. If they don't, tell them.
- Create a culture of mentorship within the church, where older leaders intentionally invest in younger generations.
- Integrate practical ministry opportunities into youth and college groups.
- Normalize conversations about vocational ministry as a viable and honorable life choice.
- Partner with Apex to put students into meaningful ministry experiences, training and support for calling young leaders into ministry.
The call to mobilize young people for ministry cannot be ignored. The Church’s future depends on today’s leaders taking proactive steps to invest in the next generation. By partnering with Apex, churches can be at the forefront of raising up new pastors and missionaries, ensuring the Great Commission continues to advance. Take action and take heart. Let us commit together to inspire, equip and send the emerging generation to fulfill their calling in ministry to be gospel influencers from here to everywhere.
The Spirit of God is stirring the hearts of young people to join the Head of the Church in His redemptive work to bring the gospel to our world. What a privilege it is that we get to be a part of raising the next leaders for generations to come.
This article was included in the 2025 edition of The Movement, the EFCA's annual publication highlighting stories of God at work within the Evangelical Free Church America. To view and order copies of The Movement for your congregation, click here.