InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is analyzing the details of a new extensive survey of Christian college students on 127 campuses across America. These Gen Z believers (roughly those born between 1990 and 2010) responded about the effects of the pandemic, pressing social issues, and staying grounded in faith while in school.
“There were a few things that surprised us about the survey – and delighted us. When we asked current college students, ‘What’s the number one discipleship tool you most want,’ 60% of them said, ‘We want tools to better understand scripture.’ And then, right after that, 52%, ‘Help us to pray.’” That’s the take from InterVarsity’s Chief Communications Officer, Greg Jao.
“They want to meet Jesus in the scriptures and they want help doing it. And they want help speaking to God and listening to God in prayer.”
That’s exactly what InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is all about.
Overall, Generation Z has a darker side. “Prior studies of Gen Z suggest that they are the generation that has the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations of any generation in history…and the pandemic has only worsened that.” In the survey, nearly two-out-of-three students said they, “faced challenges with loneliness or isolation during the pandemic and almost half of them said their mental health and emotional health has been negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic.”
With a message aimed at those who raise and minister to Gen Z’ers, Jao strongly recommends, “I think if parents and churches would not try to entertain young adults and not try to just keep them busy, but actually say ‘Let’s study the scriptures together,’ they’d find an incredibly receptive audience.’”
The survey found deep interest from students to learn bible relevance concerning “racial tension and injustice in our country,” as well as “climate change” and “issues around adoption and foster care.” These will be addressed. But the top hope of InterVarsity is to help students understand, “Your primary allegiance is to Jesus. Everything else takes second stage.”
Select results of the college survey are further below, but we invite you to listen to our complete podcast interview – just below- to learn how InterVarsity is coming alongside to encourage Christian students to continue their walk with Christ, and to share the message of eternal life with other students. And Jao says we should all remember, “The people who will lead us 20 years from now, are college students today.” That’s why discipleship is so incredibly important.
Key Gen Z survey findings include:
- Almost half (47%) of students reported that their mental and emotional health has been negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic. Of these students, 71% contributed this to isolation, lack of community, and/or a lack of social interactions.
- 60% of students are hungry for even more resources on Scripture study and 52% want more guidance on prayer; nearly half (47%) of students are looking for resources to provide guidance on dating and marriage.
- Top issues of importance to students today are: racial justice (39%); climate change (29%); foster care, adoption, and orphan care (28%). Jobs and the economy (14%); immigration (10%); and serving refugees (8%) were ranked the lowest.
“I’m deeply encouraged that the top areas Gen Z students want to grow in are in studying Scripture and developing a deeper prayer life. Scripture study and prayer are central to how InterVarsity is addressing the loneliness and isolation Gen Z students have experienced this year, and they are the lens through which we understand and engage social issues,” said Tom Lin, President & CEO of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Greg Jao, Chief Communications Officer at InterVarsity, added: “Emerging from the past year of racial unrest, we’re seeing how the social issues that our nation reckons with are also at the forefront of our students’ minds. As a campus ministry, it’s crucial for us to help students navigate both these issues and how to live out their faith from a Biblical perspective in real time on college campuses.”
The survey results are now available to read and download at https://pinkston.co/2021-Student-Survey.
About InterVarsity Christian Fellowship:
One of the largest campus ministries in the United States, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship ministers to students and faculty on 769 campuses and has over 1,100 chapters across the nation, from Ivy League schools to community colleges. For over 75 years, InterVarsity has partnered with hundreds of college campuses to see students and faculty transformed, campuses renewed, and world changers developed. InterVarsity is dedicated to establishing and advancing witnessing communities of students and faculty on college and university campuses.
