Last weekend, my husband served at a conference for men interested in pursuing pastoral ministry. We live in New England, a region known for its spiritually rocky soil, and the local pastors planning the event expected maybe 4 or 5 attendees. Instead, more than 30 showed up. These (mostly young) guys were members of churches across New England and were eager to build up the area’s congregations in the coming years.

In many places, Gen-Z interest in pastoral ministry is similarly on the rise. Recently, TGC editor Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra reported on this new generation of pastors and ministry leaders. They’re a group with deep spiritual interest who also bears the scars of living through a pandemic and a digital revolution.

“Today’s young church leaders,” she writes, “are unusually well-informed and excellent researchers. . . . But they also have fragmented attention and weaker reading and writing skills. They want the deep roots and accountability of denominations, but they’re also skeptical of authority. And while they’re eager to be influencers, they have less confidence than other generations did at their age.”

Like every new generation of pastors, these men need mentors—mature believers who can help them navigate the age-old challenges of local church ministry. And the church needs these young leaders—to continue advancing the cause of Christ and his church into the future.

When the generations work together, who knows what God might do?

Editors’ note: If you’re interested in developing your writing skills, join TGC’s editorial team for our next TGC Writers’ Cohort, February 25 to April 15, 2026 (8 weekly sessions). We’d love to have you!