Reaching Millennials for Christ (EP:1045)

Dr. Joe Martin
Mar 26
3 min read

How to Reach the Next Generation for Christ (Without Compromising Truth)

If you’re a Christian man, father, or leader, you’ve probably asked yourself this:

“Why are so many young people walking away from the church?”

You want to lead them. You want to guide them. You want them to know Jesus.

But it feels like there’s a disconnect.

Different values. Different thinking. Different ways of seeing the world.

So how do you reach a generation that doesn’t think like you… trust authority the same way… or even see the church as relevant?

In this episode of the Real Men Connect Podcast, Pastor Rasool Berry shares powerful insight on what’s really going on—and what it takes to reach the next generation for Christ without watering down the truth.

Key Highlights from This Episode

1. The Problem Isn’t the Message—It’s How We’re Delivering It

One of the biggest misconceptions is that reaching young people requires changing the gospel.

It doesn’t.

The truth never changes - but how we communicate it must.

As Rasul explains, there’s a difference between form and function.

The function (truth of God’s Word) stays the same
The form (how we present it) will always evolve

Every generation has wrestled with this.

From language in church…to music styles…to how messages are delivered…

The issue isn’t whether things look different.

The real question is:

“Is the truth still being taught clearly and accurately?”

Because you can preach truth in a suit…or in jeans…

Online or in person…

And still be fully biblical.

2. Young People Aren’t Rejecting God—They’re Rejecting Hypocrisy

According to Rasul, one of the biggest reasons young people are leaving the church is simple:

They don’t see authenticity.

They’re not looking for perfection.

They’re looking for:

honesty
vulnerability
realness

They’re tired of:

“do as I say, not as I do”
avoiding hard questions
pretending everything is fine

They want space to:

ask questions
wrestle with doubt
process what they’re feeling

And when they don’t feel heard…

They leave.

Not because they don’t care about God.

But because they don’t feel like they belong.

3. If You Want to Reach Them, You Have to Listen First

One of the biggest mistakes leaders—and even parents—make is this:

Talking too much and listening too little.

Rasul shared that one of his biggest growth areas was learning to ask more questions instead of giving more answers.

Simple questions like:

“What’s been on your mind lately?”
“How are you feeling about what’s going on in the world?”
“What do you think about this?”

These questions do something powerful.

They make young people feel:

seen
heard
valued

Because this generation is used to having a voice.

And if they don’t feel heard in the church…

They’ll find somewhere else where they are.

Reaching them doesn’t start with correcting them.

It starts with understanding them.

If you want to reach the next generation, it’s not about becoming someone you’re not.

And it’s not about compromising the truth.

It’s about showing up with:

authenticity
humility
and a willingness to listen

Because the next generation isn’t looking for perfect leaders.

They’re looking for real ones.

Men who will speak truth…live it out…and walk with them through it.

And when they find that?

They won’t just listen.

They’ll follow.

Rasool Berry is the teaching and online pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York. Rasool graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Africana Studies and Sociology.

Rasool has also served with Cru for 20 years and specifically with the Embark Network, a division of Cru focused on millennials and 'Gen Z'. His latest project is "In Pursuit of Jesus", a travel documentary series in collaboration with Our Daily Bread Ministries.

To contact Pastor Rasool Berry and to find out more about his ministry, just visit him at http://www.RasoolBerry.com or connect with him on Twitter @rasoolberry.