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About

In this inspiring season opener of the Resilient Pastor Podcast, hosts Glenn Packiam, Rich and Sharon discuss their personal milestones for 2025 while exploring one of the most pressing challenges facing churches today: effective evangelism to the next generation. Glenn sits down with Shayla Visser (Alpha Canada National Director and Global Senior VP) and Dan Blythe (Global Youth Director for Alpha International) to unpack the groundbreaking new Alpha Youth Film Series, the spiritually curious Open Generation, and how churches can shift from outdated presentation-style evangelism to relational, presence-centered approaches that resonate with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Discover why today’s young people are more open to faith conversations than ever before, what they’re truly looking for from Christians, and how Alpha’s model of curiosity, hospitality, and Holy Spirit dependence is transforming both students and entire church cultures.

Key Takeaways

• Effective evangelism is shifting from presentation to presence — cultivating genuine relationships where spiritual conversations emerge naturally.
• Younger generations want to see the connection between justice and evangelism; they respond best when both are held together.
• Many Christians and churches have an allergic reaction to the word “evangelism” due to past formulaic or coercive approaches. A return to Jesus’ holistic model (miracles, healing, justice, and proclamation) is needed.
• The Open Generation (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) is spiritually curious, wants safe spaces to explore faith, and values listening without judgment, honesty about doubts, and freedom to draw their own conclusions.
• Intergenerational ministry is a gift to the whole church. Young people are not pulling away from adults — they are longing to be seen, heard, and journeyed with.
• Prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit are the true foundation of evangelism. Alpha creates space for genuine encounters with God, not just information transfer.
• Churches that run Alpha experience a culture shift from “answer-giving” to “question-asking” and radical hospitality.

Highlights

• “This generation wants to connect justice with evangelism… the work of justice opens the door for evangelistic conversations.” — Rich
• “We’ve had to go back to the basics: how did Jesus do evangelism? It was always accompanied by miracles, healings, and caring about real human needs.” — Sharon
• “Young people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Trust and relationship come first.” — Dan Blythe
• “49% of Canadian teenagers in the study asked one key question: Is Jesus good?” — Shayla Visser
• “Evangelism is joining a conversation the Holy Spirit is already having with another person.” — Shayla Visser
• “Let Gen Z fly.” The new Alpha Youth series was created by listening deeply to over 200 Gen Z voices, resulting in authentic, peer-led content that feels relevant and trustworthy.
• Glenn shares how the previous Alpha Youth series played a pivotal role in his own teenagers’ faith journeys.

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