In Episode 2 of Season 6, Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor explore the hot topic of artificial intelligence. AI is reshaping the way the world thinks, plans, and communicates, but is it a tool pastors should leverage or a danger to be avoided? Next-gen leaders will gain insight into how to approach AI with wisdom, use it with integrity, and disciple students already engaging with it daily. Hear stories, practical examples, and biblical reminders to keep Christ at the center of the cultural AI conversation.
 

Also in this episode:

Discern how AI can assist in streamlining administrative tasks, planning trips, or creating resources—ultimately freeing leaders to focus more on the students they serve.

Warn students about the dangers of relying on AI for truth, identity, or belonging, reminding them that only Christ can provide real hope.

Address tough questions directly, like whether AI-generated pornography or avatars still fall under lust and sin, so students don’t look elsewhere for answers.

Guard your own integrity as a leader by avoiding shortcuts in sermon prep and letting your teaching overflow from personal time with God’s Word.

Discover how to use AI as a practice tool for evangelism by simulating gospel conversations that can help prepare students for real-life encounters. 
 

Helpful Resources:

ChapGPT

Who’s Your One in a Million

Youth Leader Coaching Network

Collegiate Coaching Network

GenSend on Instagram and YouTube

★ Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★ Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:
 

“We never want to call ChatGPT ‘Pastor Chat’ or ‘Counselor Chat.’ We have to encourage students and help them understand where they can go for real, actual help.”
—Shane Pruitt 

“People are already using AI as a pastor, a friend, even a significant other. That’s not real relationship.”

—Lacey Villasenor

“Let’s be wise and tread carefully into the waters of AI. But if we can use it with integrity for the glory of God, let's use it.”
—Paul Worcester 
 

“The best sermons are those that you've bled over the Scriptures yourself, when the Holy Spirit's worked out things in you rather than receiving a response back from ChatGPT in 10 seconds.”
—Shane Pruitt 

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Welcome to Season 6 of The GenSend Podcast! Join hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor as they launch the new season with shortened episodes to serve you as you lead the next generation. Listen in to episode 1 as they discuss how to reach and disciple Gen Alpha, students born 2010–2025. Discover what makes Gen Alpha unique, how the church can minister to them in the areas of their greatest needs, and how you can help them leverage their strengths for the gospel.
 

Also in this episode:

• Be equipped to disciple the digital generation by leaning into their online presence while helping them build stronger in-person relational skills.
• Recognize and respond to Gen Alpha’s awareness of brokenness with the hope of the gospel, pointing them to Jesus as the true Savior.
• Develop clarity in preaching and teaching, offering biblical depth that students are hungry for rather than relying on shallow entertainment.
• Model healthy family life within your church community to fill in the gaps many students experience in fractured or nontraditional homes.
• Adopt a missionary mindset by going to where students are, engaging their friend groups, and contextualizing ministry for their world.
   

Helpful Resources:

Theology Masterclass by New Churches

GenSend on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

★ Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at
https://GenSend.org

★ Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“Students can get entertainment elsewhere. They just want the Word of God. They have a hunger for that.”
—Paul Worcester 

“As an evangelist, it excites me that Gen Alpha knows they’re messed up and that they’re already at a young age looking for more.” 
—Shane Pruitt 

“This generation is all in on the few things they care about, especially their close friends. They’ll protect and advocate for them fiercely.”
—Lacey Villasenor

“Like missionaries, we need to contextualize ministry for this generation. Let’s stay focused on the basics and let God’s Word do the work.”
—Paul Worcester 

“If we’re spending more time on developing bumper videos and planning games than we are in the Word and preparing to teach the Word, we’re missing it. And this generation will reject that.”
—Shane Pruitt 

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Episode 8 of Season 5 is a recording of the recent GenSend Webinar, The Handoff. Hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by respected ministry leaders, Josh Stephenson and Trace Hamiter as they discuss how essential it is to connect with college freshmen during their first months of college to ensure they remain solid in the faith. Josh shares his top 10 ways to close the gap between youth and college ministry, while Trace emphasizes the critical role of relationships and community even before day 1 of college for freshmen. Gain additional insights as the hosts answer questions from webinar participants.

Also in this episode:

• Discover how youth and collegiate leaders can connect with one another to help their students quickly build relationships in college
• Gain knowledge on how best to structure college/young adult ministry based on your local context
• Learn new ways youth ministry can prepare graduating seniors for a successful launch into college life
• Develop strategies to keep high school seniors from prematurely checking out of youth ministry before graduation
• Learn how church-based college ministries can partner well parachurch organizations that also serve college students

Helpful Resources:

• The Oaks Collaborative
• Campus Community Connect App
• collegeministry.com

★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★     Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“One of the most strategic moments in a person’s life is that first month of transitioning from high school to the college years.” — Paul Worcester

“Ministry happens at the speed of relationships. We have to create deepening relationships quickly among college freshmen.” — Josh Stephenson 

“College fraternities spend their summers connecting with potential freshmen who could rush their fraternities. Why do secular organizations outpace churches and ministries when it comes to intentionality and recruiting?” — Paul Worcester

“The main reason students fall away from their faith in college is actually social, it’s community. And so, how do we connect them to Christ-centered community quickly?” — Trace Hamiter, The Oaks Collaborative

“The largest missing segment in any church is the 22–35 age range, but ironically, that’s the largest population segment. We need the Lord to raise up missionaries to be sent out among this people group.” — Shane Pruitt

“People become who they will be for the rest of their lives in college. That’s why I’ve served college students my entire adult life.” — Trace Hamiter, The Oaks Collaborative

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In Episode 7 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor are joined by guest Preston Perry, an apologist, evangelist, and poet. Tune in as they discuss the importance of evangelism for the growth of the Church and how to make it a natural part of daily life. Learn practical strategies and the spiritual disciplines needed to engage in more meaningful, Spirit-led gospel conversations. Find the courage to step out in evangelism with boldness and love even when you don’t have all the answers.

Also in this episode:

• Discover the significance mentors play in training and modeling evangelism for the next generation 
• Gain insights on why evangelism hasn’t been prioritized among believers in the Western Church and how to remedy these issues
• Learn how the Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers to boldly speak the name of Jesus
• Be reminded of how essential kindness is in evangelism since the gospel message is already offensive enough to the lost
• Find resources on how churches can create a culture of evangelism within the church and equip members to share the gospel  
   

Helpful Resources:

• How to Tell the Truth
• Everyday Evangelism
• NAMB Evangelism Kit
• Connect with Preston Perry:
  Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook,preston-perry.com

★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at
https://GenSend.org

★     Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“Why am I doing evangelism? Am I doing this to look intelligent, like I’m better than the next man? Am I doing this to feel good about myself or because I have a savior complex? Or am I doing this to lead somebody to the Lord? Am I doing this to win a heart?”
—Preston Perry

“Let’s redefine the win. The win is not getting the person to pray to receive Christ on the spot. The win is just starting a spiritual conversation.”
—Paul Worcester

“Every heart has a cry. We must ask the right questions to hear it. A lot of times, we don't hear the cry because we’re so busy arguing. I try to ask the right questions so I can hear the cry. And then, once I hear the cry, I can serve.”
—Preston Perry

“Evangelism is not just going and telling people about your church. Telling people about your church is good marketing, but good evangelism is telling people about Jesus.”
—Shane Pruitt

“Trusting in the Holy Spirit and being led by the Lord will help us avoid arguments during spiritual conversations. I think we often get into arguments because we are trusting in our own knowledge.”
—Preston Perry

“We’re not talking about Jesus because we’re not excited about Him ourselves. The first step to evangelism is sitting at the feet of Jesus.”
—Shane Pruitt

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In Episode 6 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome very special guests: Paul’s son, Owen, and Shane’s daughter, Harper. Instead of discussing strategies about the next-gen, we hear from Gen Alpha themselves. Discover what today’s middle schoolers wish youth leaders and pastors knew from their perspective and hear what’s impacted them most in their walk with the Lord. Learn fresh ways to reach students who need the gospel and how to equip believing students with gospel-sharing tools.

Also in this episode:

• How to encourage students as they stand out from the culture because of their faith
• How to strategically leverage students’ hobbies and interests for greater gospel impact
• The significant and influential role volunteer small group leaders play in students’ lives
• Ideas for equipping your students to reach their public-school peers with the gospel
• Pastor and youth leader sermon-prep tips from the next-gen

Helpful Resources:

• S.O.A.P Bible Study Method
• G.O.S.P.E.L. Tool for Sharing the Gospel
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes

★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★     Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“I didn’t expect anyone to show up at our first FCA meeting, but 150 students came, and we had to move out of the classroom to a hallway.”
—Harper Pruitt

“Using the S.O.A.P. method helped me read the Bible more consistently.”
—Owen Worcester

“Personal is most powerful when it comes to discipling the next generation.”
—Paul Worcester

“There are so many ways to live on mission; a lot of that is just taking the interests and passion God’s given you and using it for His glory. It’s cool to see young people doing that.”
—Shane Pruitt

“It’s hard to be a Christian on my school team. Some girls will make bad decisions, so it’s tempting to follow them, but I keep my faith in the Lord. It’s made me a better leader.”
—Harper Pruitt

“Living on mission is intentionally engaging people with the gospel where you live, work, and play. And so, pastors and leaders, encourage your students to leverage what they’re already doing to be a light and point people to Jesus.”
—Lacey Villasenor

“There is a hunger for truth with young people. They want to know the Bible. They want to know doctrine and theology. They want to understand truth. This is not us just saying this for a generation; it’s them saying it themselves: ‘Hey, teach us the text. Teach us the word. Teach us how to live this out.’”
—Shane Pruitt

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In Episode 5 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome guest Ellington Crabtree to the show. Ellington is a junior at the University of Kentucky and discusses how she is leveraging her life as a college student for the glory of God. Be encouraged as she shares how God is actively moving to ignite students with a passion for sharing the gospel and following Him fully in every aspect of their lives, on and off campus. 

Also in this episode:

• How to strategically reach college freshmen during their first weeks on campus 
• The impact of intentionally training and equipping the next generation
• Why mentorship and church community are vital for college students to live on mission and thrive
• How youth and college pastors can collaborate to bridge the gap for incoming freshmen
• The role of the Holy Spirit to work in both large-scale revival as well as in the mundane moments of obedience

Helpful Resources:

• GenSend Webinar: The Handoff
• Personal Ministry Impact Worksheet
• Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders
• Replicate, Robby Gallaty
• Sacred Fire, Ronald Rolheiser
• Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman

★     Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at GenSend.org

★     Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“The most important thing that the Lord has been teaching me is to include Him in everything that I do and getting to see college students join in on that. It expands, and you see the brokenness on the campus and want to see Jesus make change in that.” 
—Ellington Crabtree

“Shout out to our college ministries that are focused on reaching freshmen. I want to double down on the reminder that this is such a pivotal moment, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in someone’s entire life.” —Paul Worcester

“Life change is walking day by day, moment by moment, discipleship, walking in holiness, in righteousness, in the right direction. Ministry is not a sprint; it's a marathon.” —Shane Pruitt

“This is a revival generation where we're seeing the resurgence of a new passion for evangelism and for discipleship.” —Lacey Villasenor

“College pastors have the opportunity to strategically help students think through their personal ministry, their spheres of influence. They can consider that their mission field.” 
—Paul Worcester

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In Episode 4 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome guests Everett and Olivia Sinclair, who discuss leveraging their post-grad years for the gospel. Hear insights from their journey as they participated in GenSend Summer during college and intentionally chose to live on mission in Boston after graduation. Discover the essential role of the local church in equipping and preparing college students to fulfill the Great Commission after college ministry and graduation.

Also in this episode:

• The role of prayer in living on mission
• How to leverage your non-ministry vocation for the gospel
• How church leaders can best prepare students for post-grad missional living 
• The impact of faith-filled, multigenerational church life
• How to intentionally establish newlywed life for the gospel 

Helpful Resources:

• Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller
• Spiritual Multiplication in the Real World by Bob McNabb
• Meet Generation Z by James Emery White
• Loveology by John Mark Comer
• Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman
• GenSend Summer

★    Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★    Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

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Shareable Quotes:

“Through college I saw the value of the local church, so I knew that I wanted to be invested in that post-grad as well. Our ministry gave us a solid foundation in the Word and taught us through example of how families and young adults live on mission.” —Olivia Sinclair

“They're actually helping students think through what they're going to do post-grad, not just occupation-wise, but thinking through where they're going to go live and to let it be a place of impact, and then find a job in that city, find a place to live on mission in that city.” 
—Shane Pruitt
 

“Through college I was wrestling with whether to go into ministry or the workplace. During my last summer of GenSend, I was a part of a Faith and Work cohort and caught a vision for God's view of work and different ways to leverage a secular job for the kingdom.” —Everett Sinclair 

“Pray for B.O.B. Pray for a Burden for the lost, an Opportunity to witness, and Boldness to proclaim Christ every morning.” —Paul Worcester

“Especially today, as we become more and more digital, people crave that in-person connection, and it's so rare. We have an opportunity as believers to show some gospel hospitality and open up our tables, open up our homes to lost people.” —Lacey Villasenor

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In Episode 3 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with pastor and licensed professional counselor, Dr. Shannon Thomas, to discuss the mental health crisis of the next generation and to answer the question, “Have we started to lean on therapy too much?” Join the GenSend team as they unpack the role of mental health resources in light of the victory found in the gospel. Discover the truths found in Scripture and what it looks like to live resiliently with the hope of Christ.

Also in this episode:

• The impact of social media on our anxiety and lack of connection
• How to recognize the signs of a mental health crisis
• The role of biblical community in times of struggle
• How a right view of God’s sovereignty helps us in our suffering
• The ways we’ve allowed culture to sway our values as the church

Helpful Resources:

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
• The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
• Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
• Going Higher with God in Prayer by A.W. Tozer
• A Creative Minority by Jon Tyson and Heather Grizzle

★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★   Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Shareable Quotes:

“Students are living in a fear of missing out in real time. They’re aware of everything going on around them and what they’re being left out of. It drives up that fear and anxiety.” —Shane Pruitt

“If my entire world is really in the palm of my hand, and if you take that away, what else do I have? There’s not much social connection or community when all community happens electronically.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

“When life gets hard, boredom hits, or you are getting anxious, you just turn to your phone to numb it out instead of learning to cope with your feelings or the situation you got yourself in.” —Lacey Villasenor

“We’re almost building a community around how we label ourselves. There’s been a high focus on transparency and authenticity as core values for young people, and then we turned this cliche into a core value of the church when it really started in culture.” —Shane Pruitt

“Part of what we have to do is teach ourselves and each other is, ‘Okay, when I’m experiencing anxiety, what is really going on? What am I anxious about? Or what is causing this anxiety?’” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

“In terms of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we have victory, hope, and a deep sense of wellbeing—to know that no matter what my circumstances are, victory is on the other side of this.” —Dr. Shannon Thomas

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In Episode 2 of Season 5, hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor meet with Brandon Gilbert and Cody Carroll, the residency director and college director of Redeemer Church in Lubbock, Texas. Tune in as the GenSend team unpacks the impact and inner workings of the residency program at Redeemer from those who have led, built out, and participated in the early days of the program. Be inspired to raise up the next generation of ministry leaders through a meaningful residency that can change lives—and leadership trajectories—for the gospel.

Also in this episode:

• The benefits of support raising and how you can get started with confidence
• Why grittiness, creativity, hunger, accountability, and teachability are essentials for prospective residents
• Why seminary and residency training do not have to be at odds within your ministry
• How you can effectively develop your program’s interview and pipeline processes
• Why the freedom to fail is so vital for the next generation of ministry leaders

Helpful Resources:

• Calling Out the Called by Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt
• Reliant Mission
• The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
• “Creating Your Collegiate Leadership Pipeline” by Paul Worcester and Wes Smith
• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
• Center Church by Tim Keller
• Gaining by Losing by J.D. Greear
• The Making of a Leader by J. Robert Clinton
• The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich

★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★   Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
 

Shareable Quotes:

“The biggest thing I gained was the freedom to fail, to learn what does or doesn’t work, and to be really, really safe in the midst of figuring out if ministry was what God was calling me to.” —Cody Carroll

“The skills you develop in raising support are the same kind of ministry skills that you develop when starting a new church or ministry.” —Paul Worcester

“The people we want are hungry, faithful, available, and teachable. We’re not looking for perfect, polished people. We’re not looking for who has it all together.” —Brandon Gilbert

“In college ministry, if you can create an almost staff-level, intern-level role, you can do a lot of good training and utilize their gifts through your college ministry.” —Paul Worcester

“Is there a passion for the Lord and for spiritual disciplines? If we’re having to convince people to surrender to a calling to ministry leadership, then that hunger for the work is probably not there.” —Shane Pruitt

“Both seminary and residency training can be super helpful in sharpening you for the kingdom and for the local church.” —Shane Pruitt

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Welcome to Season 5 of The GenSend Podcast! Join hosts Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor as they launch the new season and are joined by special guest and friend of the podcast Mauricio Villasenor. Tune in as this campus-pastor-turned-church-planter shares his experiences in navigating his calling into vocational ministry. Discover your next steps in discerning where God is leading you to live on mission in leadership, as well as how you can move with confidence as you follow God’s calling upon your life.

Also in this episode:

• The impact of mentorship and a deep prayer life as you navigate your calling
• Knowing when to transition from one role to the next
• Key characteristics to develop within yourself as a prospective ministry leader
• What you should ask from others as you discern your calling into ministry

Helpful Resources:

• Calling Out the Called
• Youth Leader Coaching Network
• The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken
• Disappearing Church and Reappearing Church by Mark Sayers
• The Pastor’s Justification by Jared Wilson
• Tactics by Greg Koukl

★   Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at https://GenSend.org

★   Subscribe to “The GenSend Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform.

Shareable Quotes:

“I’m so thankful for the leaders who discipled me and then even let me start serving, knowing that I was going to make a mess of things, but who also knew that serving would be a part of that journey.” – Shane Pruitt

“It’s a combination of the Lord putting burdens and passions on your heart and then people speaking into your life, and doors of opportunity opening up.” - Lacey Villasenor

“Your primary job is to focus on the depth of your ministry, sit at Jesus’ feet, and grow in godly maturity, character, wisdom, and integrity. Then, the Lord will take care of what the platforms look like.” – Shane Pruitt

“God is a lot more likely to direct us if we’re moving full-speed towards His mission.” – Paul Worcester

“God is not the changing God who changes His mind on things. He’s consistent. So, if He called you to something, He’s not going to call you out of that thing unless He releases you.” - Mauricio Villasenor

“It's good to be patient. When you have a call to ministry, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be on stage rocking the mic right away. Sometimes, you grow into ministry; you don’t go into ministry.” – Paul Worcester

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