CrossCurrent Podcasts

The "man-moulders of the new age" vs. Imago Dei.

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Who Gets to Define the Next Generation? Gen Z Finds Its Voice—and Its Anchor—in Christ

Is Gen Z lost in the noise of culture, media, and politics—or are they quietly forging a radical new path of faith? In this powerful episode, Catherine sits down with high school senior and gifted poet Charis Shoemaker to explore how today’s young Christians are wrestling with identity, truth, and calling in an ever-fractured world. If you wonder what the next generation truly believes, and how Christian parents can encourage their kids to pursue God in the midst of cultural chaos, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.

About Our Guest:
Charis Shoemaker is no ordinary teenager. A state award-winning actress, an eloquent poet, and—most importantly—a passionate follower of Christ, she represents a new wave of young believers speaking up for authentic faith. Charis’ original poem, “They Say,” recently brought a packed house to their feet at her homeschool graduation, voicing the hopes and struggles of a generation determined to follow Christ—no matter the cost.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• Gen Z Under the Microscope
  Listen as Charis shares firsthand what it’s like to grow up constantly defined—often unfairly—by societal labels, politics, and the relentless barrage of social media. In an era of fractured opinions, what do young people really hear about who or what they’re supposed to be?

• The Power of Godly Influence
  Charis opens up about her own journey, including profound family challenges and the steady faith of her mother, a night-shift nurse who made time for Scripture and prayer no matter how hard life got. Her story testifies to the quiet resilience that shapes faith behind the scenes.

• A Poetic Anthem for Gen Z
  Hear Charis' captivating poem, “They Say,” in full. Her words challenge generational stereotypes and culture’s attempts to define identity—while serving as an anthem for those who choose to be defined not by people, but by the voice of God.

  “If my life is to revolve around opinions, I would much rather they come from a God who is preeminent than a people who are insignificant... I would much rather they be words spoken by the Word who became flesh for me.” – Charis Shoemaker, 19:15

• Dealing with Church Hurt and Pain
  Charis recounts personal battles—including abuse and disappointment with the Church—and how those wounds could have derailed her faith. Yet, she found hope, healing, and her truest identity in Jesus. Parents will find wisdom here for helping kids process pain with grace rather than anger or withdrawal.

• Who Gets to Define Us?
  The conversation zeroes in on the theme of authority, urging listeners to ask tough questions: Is our identity determined by culture, by the Church, by ourselves—or solely by God, the Creator who names us and calls us His own?

• Hope Rising in Gen Z
  Contrary to stereotypes, Charis reveals that a growing number of her peers are returning to church and hungry for real, unfiltered truth. She challenges parents not to underestimate Gen Z's capacity—and desire—for deep faith, and encourages both generations to risk bold, loving conversations about what matters most.

  “There’s a generation coming up after you that wants truth…Be there for us. Give us that thing to hold on to.” – Charis Shoemaker, 53:38

Why This Matters:
In a season when so much is said about the failures and fears of the next generation, this episode highlights a surprising undercurrent: Gen Z isn’t just walking away—they’re wrestling, seeking, and often returning to the God who defines them.

British evangelist J.John brings encouragement for anyone who needs to change their perspective on their circumstances. He suggests that we try to see things from God’s perspective by looking up, looking in, looking back, looking around, and looking ahead.

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The Northwest Ordinance significantly shaped the future of slavery and education in America.

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Washington DC celebrated Independence Day in a big way last weekend. Two states with two very different education directives and new research on suicide has some very sobering findings. 

Segment 1 – July 4th Celebrations and Education News 

• Christian Post article on Maine school directive 

This episode is for the teachers, the homeschool parents, and anyone with a kid in a classroom of any kind. Billy Hutchinson, director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, joins the show to break down a simple but powerful idea: nothing about education is neutral.

Every teacher, every textbook, and every campus culture is shaped by a worldview, whether anyone says so out loud or not.

Billy walks through the three places where worldview actually gets formed in a kid's education: the teacher, the curriculum, and the campus culture. He explains why a "Christian school" can still function just like a secular one, why a secular curriculum isn't automatically the enemy, and what parents should actually look for at graduation season if they want to know what a school truly values.

We also get into phones, social media, and AI, and why Christian parents need to think beyond "how do I use this tool better" to the bigger question underneath: what is this doing to my kid's understanding of what it means to be human?

If you're a teacher, a homeschool parent, or just someone raising kids in this cultural moment, this conversation will change how you look at every school day.

Learn more and access free resources for educators at colsoneducators.org/tbu.