What does it really mean to create a “safe space” for young people in our churches—not just a place free from harm, but a place where their deepest questions and unique experiences are genuinely welcomed?

In this episode, Tanita Tualla Maddox, National Director for Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, helps us understand Gen Z’s core questions about faith, the meaning of safety and trust, and how churches and ministry leaders can communicate and lead adaptively in today’s cultural landscape.

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Tanita Tualla Maddox describes Gen Z as digital natives who blend the physical and digital worlds, which shapes their outlook and identity.
• Stereotypes about Gen Z often paint them as weak, fragile, over-emotional, and self-centered.
• Tanita Tualla Maddox emphasizes that Gen Z has faced unique challenges such as growing up with social media, experiencing school shootings and lockdown drills, and living through a global pandemic.
• Social media exposes Gen Z to global comparison, leading many to wrestle with feelings of not being enough.
• The words older generations use about Gen Z—often negative—shape Gen Z's perception that they are disliked and not valued as they are.
• Tanita Tualla Maddox points out that generational miscommunication happens even when the same words are used, because their meanings shift between groups.
• Safety means more than just the absence of physical danger for Gen Z; it also encompasses emotional, psychological, and even comfort-based dimensions.
• Defining what makes a space or relationship "safe" often varies from person to person within Gen Z.
• Tanita Tualla Maddox suggests that churches should directly ask young people what makes them feel welcome and safe, rather than make assumptions.
• Spiritual leaders often answer questions that Gen Z is not asking, missing opportunities to address their actual concerns.
• The incarnation of Jesus can help Gen Z trust God, because it shows he experienced abandonment, public shame, betrayal, and other relatable human struggles.
• Trust for Gen Z is not automatically given to authority figures or institutions—they expect trust to be earned and proven.
• Safety is seen as a right by many in Gen Z, and the loss of safety can feel like a violation of that right.
• Truth has become highly individualized for Gen Z, with "my truth" and "speak your truth" surfacing as common phrases; this complicates their relationship to universal or absolute truths.
• Tanita Tualla Maddox encourages church leaders to treat generational differences as cross-cultural experiences, approaching Gen Z with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to ask questions and learn.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Tanita Tualla Maddox
  • tanitamaddox.com
• Books mentioned:
  • What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God, by Tanita Tualla Maddox
  • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
• Related episodes:
  • 35. God Wants

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Discover why real leadership is never a solo journey—and how embracing your own vulnerability can unlock the supportive relationships you need to thrive through change.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss Tod's own quote in Ep. 283, Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership:

“The vulnerability of leadership needs the security of many relationships.”

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Leaders thrive when they work alongside partners, mentors, and friends.
• Effective change leadership requires collaboration, not isolation.
• Leaders experience growth by acknowledging and praying through their personal needs.
• Mentoring relationships and supportive community strengthen a leader’s resilience.
• Authentic vulnerability in leadership attracts the right relationships for transformation.

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Do you ever feel like you’re alone in your leadership? Why is that? Why do so many church leaders feel isolated—and how did we come to believe that ministry is something we’re supposed to do alone?

In this episode, E.K. Strawser, author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, unpacks what it means to move from solo leadership to a model shaped by shared responsibility and the APEST framework—apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher—so that not only our churches, but our communities, can flourish.

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Markus Watson invites discussion about the standard view of leadership and prompts E.K. Strawser to unpack its problems and what's missing.
• Church members often expect leaders to command control, draw crowds, or have significant contributions, which influences congregational dynamics.
• E.K. Strawser argues that modern church leadership borrows too heavily from secular business models rather than biblical principles of shared leadership.
• Traditional notions of leadership in churches leave congregations disempowered, dependent, or deprived when power is centered on a single leader.
• If a leader does not share leadership, the church risks losing members' sense of identity and purpose.
• E.K. Strawser emphasizes that effective leaders must be disciples of Jesus first, prioritizing spiritual maturity over skill sets.
• Leaders should embody humility, honor, hospitality, and hopefulness as markers of mature church leadership.
• Markus Watson notes that churches often select leaders for functional skills rather than spiritual maturity, highlighting a common problem in leadership development.
• Christian hospitality means making space for others, not just providing comfort or amenities.
• E.K. Strawser teaches congregations to celebrate and honor each other to counteract envy and encourage spiritual growth.
• Leaders foster environments where others can learn, heal, experience hospitality, seek justice, and be sent out for ministry.
• Markus Watson asks E.K. Strawser to explain the APEST framework and its practical value for sharing leadership in churches.
• All five APEST gifts—apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher—should be represented in shared leadership structures at every level of church leadership.
• Implementing shared leadership and equipping environments requires intentional structure and ongoing relational attention.
• Change in church leadership provokes grief and resistance, so leaders must create environments that acknowledge loss, facilitate grieving, and cast clear vision.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• E.K. Strawser:
  • www.ekstrawser.com
• Books mentioned:
  • You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, by E.K. Strawser
• Related episodes:
  • 185. From Sunday Services to Real Transformation, with E.K. Strawser
  • 191. Thriving Church Leadership in Uncertain Times, with Heather James, Matt Lake, and Jonny Weir
  • 212: Unlearning O

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Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.

Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.