What does Gen Z really want from faith and from the Church? In this episode of the Faithly Podcast, Augustine Mendoza of Oral Roberts University joins Alicia Lee for a timely conversation to explore how this rising generation is navigating identity and discipleship in a digitally saturated world.

As both an ORU alum and Senior Director of Spiritual Life & Student Experience, Augustine brings a rare full-circle perspective having wrestled through his own questions of faith and now walking alongside students doing the same. Tune in as Alicia and Augustine unpack the tension shaping Gen Z: deeply spiritual and equally as skeptical, hungry for authentic encounters with God while wary of performative Christianity and institutional inconsistency. Augustine challenges leaders to look past stereotypes and instead recognize the boldness and honesty of this generation as signs of untamed calling that require discipleship rather than dismissal.

From social media’s global influence to the local church’s opportunity for relational leadership, today’s conversation offers a hopeful reframing, that the Church doesn’t just need to reach Gen Z, it needs Gen Z’s involvement along with their hunger for authentic community, which may be exactly what re-centers the Church on Christ-like formation.

Website: https://oru.edu/

(00:00) Authentic Worship Over Gimmicks
(05:30) From a 10-Year Plan to Purpose-Driven Flexibility
(13:09) Spiritually Hungry but Needing Biblical Depth
(21:00) Turnoffs for Gen Z in Church & Leadership
(34:27) Worship & Spiritual Practices That Resonate with Gen Z
(39:50) What Gen Z Wants in a Local Church
(44:21) The Church Needs Gen Z

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