What Gen Z Really Wants to Know about God - by Tanita Tualla Maddox (Paperback)

About the Book

"What is Good News to Gen Z? Study after study confirms what those who love and minister to members of Gen Z already know to be true: The church and Gen Z are missing each other. Many teenagers and 20somethings raised in the church are disengaging from faith, while many of their peers have no faith background to begin with. Ministry efforts that were effective with previous generations are not working for this one. Why? Because we're focusing on answering questions Gen Z isn't really asking-while ignoring the driving questions they are. In What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, veteran youth worker Tanita Tualla Maddox invites readers to better understand the unique perspective Gen Z brings to matters of faith, drawn from the challenges and values shaping this rising generation. By delving into seven core questions at the heart of Gen Z's experience, we can better translate the gospel into their cultural context and invite them to respond to Jesus' call, "Come, follow me." Maddox connects the dots between the real-life experiences of Gen Z, their honest questions and doubts, and the eternal truth about Jesus that speaks to all cultures and to every generation. With specific ideas for opening up Scripture with our Gen Z friends and suggestions for responding to their most challenging questions, What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God will equip you to communicate the gospel in a manner that is truly "good news" to Gen Z-and to empower this rising generation of the church to follow Jesus with abandon"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

What is Good News to Gen Z?

Gen Z, born into a complex and rapidly changing world, carries unique questions about life and God. Church methodologies that worked for previous generations often miss their mark with this one. Understanding Gen Z's real questions about faith opens the door to meaningful conversations and deeper connections.

In What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, veteran youth worker and Gen Z expert Tanita Tualla Maddox presents a thoughtful and powerful guide for ministry practitioners striving to connect with this generation. Based on years of research and practical experience, Maddox's book provides insights into the seven key questions Gen Z is asking about life and faith, offering actionable advice tailored to their values and worldview.

This book goes beyond just answering questions--it explores how to translate the unchanging truths of the gospel into Gen Z's cultural context. Through reflective wisdom and practical tools, Maddox equips ministry leaders to meet Gen Z where they are and disciple them toward a vibrant, sustainable faith.

This book is designed not only to answer questions but also to equip ministry leaders to apply its insights across various ministry settings, making it an essential resource for youth pastors, campus ministry leaders, seminary students, and even parents.

What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God bridges the gap between generations, empowering leaders to engage with the next generation of believers in impactful and lasting ways.

Buy your copy today and get the tools you need to disciple Gen Z toward lasting faith.

Review Quotes

"Aiming to understand rather than fix Gen Zers, Tanita Tualla Maddox's book offers hope for pastors, parents, and mentors. Each chapter delivers valuable insights to engage with Gen Z's experiences for the sake of the gospel. What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God centers around seven questions that will transform your perspective of Gen Z and enhance your ability to connect across generations. Because every generation faces challenges in understanding the next, Maddox's book is an essential resource for those who disciple the upcoming generation."

--Sharon R. Hoover, author of Mapping Church Missions

"I have been familiar with Tanita Tualla Maddox's academic work for several years. I am very encouraged to see that it is now more broadly available. It will generate many ideas among those who desire to understand and minister to Gen Z."

--David R. Dunaetz, professor of leadership and organizational psychology at Azusa Pacific University and editor of the Great Commission Research Journal

"If you are a pastor, parent, teacher, leader, or friend of anyone that is Gen Z, I urge you to run and read this book. With clarity and compassion, Tanita Tualla Maddox teaches through accessible stories, data, and scriptural reasoning how to listen, speak, and understand differently in order to love, serve, and empower the complex, beautiful, and hurting generation that is Gen Z. Read and get schooled in the best way to love the next generation and beyond."

--Sarah Shin, lecturer at Westminster Theological Centre and author of Beyond Colorblind

"Tanita Tualla Maddox provides a firsthand perspective and keen insight into the hearts and minds of Gen Z and how to meaningfully connect with and understand them. She skillfully illuminates the questions, struggles, and culture of the generation while outlining practical wisdom on how to contextualize the gospel to their real life. She displays a deep love and admiration for the meaningful impact Gen Z can bring to the church and the world. If you want to better reach and disciple Gen Z--which should be every believer--this is a must-read."

--Randy Templeton and Ashley Cope, cofounders of Darkroom Faith

"This is a breath of fresh air. A timely resource connecting those serving in ministry to the questions and, more importantly, to the reasons behind the questions that Gen Z is asking about God."

--Elliot Wnek, campus director for Athletes in Action in Southern Arizona

"As Gen Z students enter the spaces where we work and serve, many of us feel uncertain about how to connect with this generation in ways that are meaningful and relevant. What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God steps into this confusion and provides a clear path forward. Through an insightful exploration of Gen Z's values and burning questions, Tanita Tualla Maddox creatively ties these concerns to a contextualized presentation of the gospel, challenging our paradigms while equipping us to engage in fresh ways. By applying Maddox's wisdom--gained from years of working with young adults--we can open doors to discipleship for a generation eager to discover their place in the biblical story."

--Erica Young Reitz, founder of After College Transition and author of After College

"By breaking down the burning questions Gen Z is asking, Tanita Tualla Maddox gives us a window to better understand the next generation while also providing a lens to see Scripture with fresh eyes. You'll see Gen Z in a new, compassionate light and grasp how the gospel speaks directly to every generation. Winsome, well-researched, and practical, this is a book for anyone who's working with Gen Z, cares about a Gen Zer, knows a Gen Zer, or all of the above."

--Newt Crenshaw, president and CEO of Young Life

"Getting to know each new generation and learning how to love them well can be confusing and tiring. That's why I so appreciate generational guides like Tanita Tualla Maddox. Her new book What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God offers the clarity and encouragement I need to press on as an itinerant minister who's committed to getting to know and love every wonderful new generation that comes along."

--Don Everts, author of I Once Was Lost

"If you are a parent of a Gen Zer or you work with this amazing generation, you will want to read this book. Not only is it well-written and informative, but the research is amazing. Tanita Tualla Maddox gets it when it comes to Gen Z, and she lives it out in her life work. Her insight, wisdom, and passion are evident on every page. She understands the mind, heart, soul, and needs of Gen Zers like few I know."

--Jim Burns, founder of HomeWord and author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children

"Young people are tired of us answering questions they're not asking. If you're an adult who'd like to understand young people's real questions, how they are unique for this generation, and how Jesus intersects with the answers, then this book is for you. You'll gain deep principles and everyday practices to have better conversations and connections with the young people you care about most."

--Kara Powell, chief of leadership formation at Fuller Seminary and coauthor of Future-Focused Church

About the Author

Tanita Tualla Maddox (DMin, Phoenix Seminary) is the national director for generational impact for Young Life and serves as an associate regional director in the Mountain West Young Life region. With an expertise in contextualizing the gospel for Gen Z, Tanita has been featured on The Holy Post podcast and has been published in The Great Commission Research Journal, the Journal of Youth and Theology, and more. She has served as Young Life leader with adolescents for over twenty-six years and serves as a volunteer Young Life leader in her local community. She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and two children.