Leading the Next Generation by Letting Them Lead

One of the things I love most about my church is how full it is of teenagers, college students, and young adults. Being in a college town certainly helps, but it’s more than geography. Our church has a long-standing reputation for investing in the next generation. I can’t take credit for that work, but I get a front-row seat to it. I get to cheer, support, and learn from these young people as they step into new seasons of life.

Watching them grow has taught me a lot. Like many others, I’ve read the studies and heard the stereotypes about Gen Z, and honestly, a lot of them hold true. They crave authenticity. They live online like no generation before. They’re spiritually curious but also cautious about institutions. But here’s what stands out most to me: Gen Z wants their lives to matter. They long to live with purpose, to make a difference in the world, and to share their faith in meaningful ways.

As church leaders, we have a choice to make: Will we invest in this generation and empower them to lead? Or will we cling to control and risk slowing down the mission?

Every generation faces the task of raising up the one behind it. If we don’t figure out how to equip and release younger leaders, we’ll eventually find ourselves holding onto something that’s stuck in the past. And this generation, like Gen Alpha rising behind them, is navigating a world that’s faster, louder, and more complex than anything we’ve seen. But they’re not running from it. They want to help. They want to lead.

So, how do we help them grow into the leaders God has called them to be?

LET THEM LEAD

First, give them real leadership, not just token tasks. The Fuller Youth Institute uses a phrase I love: “keychain leadership.” It means actually handing over the keys, not just to the storage closet, but to real responsibility and decision-making.

Too often, we give young people jobs we don’t want or titles with no authority. They see right through that. But when we trust them with meaningful leadership, even if it’s risky or uncomfortable, they rise to the occasion. They learn. They grow. And they breathe new life into our ministries.

Sure, they might do things differently than we would. But different isn’t bad. In fact, it’s often better. I’ve had to fight the instinct to think and say, “But we’ve always done it this way.” And I’ve been blown away by what happens when I let go.

I’ve seen teenagers lead small group conversations that change lives.

I’ve seen college students guide peers in moments of real ministry and deep spiritual movement.

I’ve seen young adults lead us older adults in both practical ways and in thoughtful conversations.

GIVE HONEST FEEDBACK THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS

Secondly, give them real feedback that is grounded in real relationships. Empowering leadership doesn’t mean offering empty praise. It means being honest, helpful and invested. Gen Z doesn’t need to be told that everything they do is amazing. They need to be shown how to grow. When I recently told a young adult how they could have led differently in a certain situation, they were thankful for the insight and took what I shared to heart. You have wisdom and perspective they don’t yet have. Share it lovingly and directly. But here’s the key: You can’t offer real feedback without a real relationship. They won’t trust your correction if they don’t believe you care.

Gen Z can sense when you’re using them. They’re looking for leaders who are for them, not just for what they can do. Show genuine interest. Invest in their lives. Walk alongside them as they figure out a complex world. When you do, they’ll welcome your guidance, even the hard parts.

Letting go of leadership is scary. But it’s also the only way forward. If we want our churches and ministries to thrive in the years ahead, we need Gen Z fully in the game, not just watching from the sidelines. Many in this generation are already becoming true disciples. We have the privilege of helping them become disciple-makers and leaders, too. In the end, your greatest legacy might not be something you built; it might be someone you equipped.

So, hand over the keys. Let them lead. And watch what God does next.