How College Students Fit into the Church’s Global Mission

Negative headlines about Gen Z abound, but what if we begin to see this generation as full of potential instead of problems?

College graduates increasingly want something more meaningful than a high-paying job and a white picket fence. The church can offer them the most meaningful endeavor of their life––to know Jesus and to take the gospel to ends of the earth. 

Most Christian students don’t show up as college freshmen with this vision for their lives. Research shows that Generation Z is more isolated and financially stressed than previous generations. 

We’ll need to build up students’ capacities to consider moving overseas. Here are four ways to help them consider this vision for their life:

1. EXPOSE THEM TO THE NEED

Many college students are still unaware of the immense gospel need around the world. Phrases like unreached people groups and the 10/40 window may be met with blank stares. But students may still be curious. The church needs to find ways to expose them to these realities through options like Explore Studies, classes like Perspectives, or other resources aimed at showing the needs.  

2. GIVE THEM EXPERIENCE

Once students see the need, they need an opportunity to go and serve. Trips should push students out of their comfort zone (but not too far). A couple of ways to do this is through evangelism and serving in an unfamiliar context. This can sometimes feel daunting, but a safe and cost-effective place to start can be Latin America.

This allows students to get their feet wet in missions, share the gospel, and see an international church at work. It also gives opportunities for discipleship: Team leaders should lead morning devotionals and evening debriefs. Long car rides can be a blessing through meaningful conversation. All of this will help students process what the Lord is teaching them and how it intersects with their life.

3. EQUIP THEM FOR THE TASK

Once students get a vision for serving the nations, they need further development. Our church does this through a summer project that includes a two-week international trip, typically to a 10/40 window location. Students are taught sessions by staff, elders, and guest speakers, and learn how to apply new skills in the most unreached contexts.

4. ENCOURAGE A BIGGER STEP

After equipping students, encouraging them to spend two or three months abroad can be helpful in deciding if they want to seriously consider becoming a long-term missionary. 

Summers can be the obvious window for students to take this step. But they could also consider studying abroad for a semester. This is especially strategic because students get an opportunity to organically interact with locals in a similar life stage. They can also potentially connect with missionaries or a local church, and learn more about serving. 

Another possibility is to encourage students to consider ministry careers outside of vocational ministry—leveraging business skills and credentials to gain access to hard to reach areas. Teachers could make the intentional choice to work in places where there are no Christians. 

Perhaps more than any generation before them, many in Gen Z long for a meaningful life. A life spent taking the gospel to some of the most unreached edges of the world can certainly be part of that vision for some. 

It’s the church’s job to develop them, mentor them, assess them, and help them believe they can do this—then give them the tools to leverage their lives to that end.