For years, Generation Z has carried a reputation.
They're anxious.
Disconnected.
Spiritually indifferent.
Many headlines suggest they're abandoning faith altogether.
But after spending nearly an hour listening to the young men and women behind K-LOVE's newest digital ministry, Goodsource, a very different picture begins to emerge.
Not a generation running from God.
A generation desperately searching for Him.
As Goodsource team member Garth Wheeler put it,
"We're tired of fake. We want authenticity. We want people to tell us what's really going on."
That simple statement became the heartbeat of the entire conversation.
Again and again, these young creators returned to one central truth.
Their generation isn't looking for polished Christians.
They're looking for genuine ones.
The conversation you'll hear in the full God Stories podcast is both honest and hopeful. During my conversation with seven members of K-LOVE's Goodsource team, they pull back the curtain on their own lives, sharing stories of addiction, anxiety, surrender, loneliness, forgiveness, and the faithfulness of God. Their testimonies reveal not only what Christ has done in their lives, but what they believe He is doing in Generation Z today.
From Coffee Shop to Calling
One of those voices belongs to Garth.
Not long ago, he was serving coffee inside the K-LOVE café.
On the exact day he became eligible to apply for another position within the ministry, someone walked up and told him Goodsource was hiring.
Six months to the day.
"It was all God," he said, describing the remarkable timing that moved him from serving coffee behind the counter to helping lead a ministry designed to reach his generation with the hope of Jesus.
Today, he is part of a diverse team of young adults from different backgrounds, denominations, and life experiences who share one mission: introducing Generation Z to authentic faith through honest conversations.
Their Stories Are Real
What makes Goodsource different isn't polished production.
It's vulnerability.
Bailey Jamieson openly shared how alcoholism during college nearly destroyed his friendships and left him carrying shame, anxiety, and PTSD.
He eventually sought counseling from a pastor but struggled with one overwhelming question.
"Pastor...I understand this Jesus guy, but I don't know if He could forgive everything I've done."
His pastor opened Psalm 103:12.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
"A month later," Bailey said, "I gave my life to Christ."
His testimony is a reminder that God's grace reaches farther than our greatest regrets.
For Grace, following Jesus meant surrendering the future she thought was already taking shape.
She lost her dream job.
Her mother became ill.
Friendships fell apart.
And even Sydney, Australia, where she was living and believed she would build her life, was something God asked her to surrender.
"The Lord asked me to give up all those things, and He stripped me of a lot," Grace said.
But what once felt like loss looks very different to her now.
"Now in 2026, I can say that my life looks so much better than how I would've planned it. I'm happy that it cost me those things because He's restored everything that I've lost a hundredfold."
Following Jesus Sometimes Costs Everything
Sydney Green's testimony may have been the most heartbreaking.
She was engaged.
Planning a wedding.
Preparing to move.
Instead, God called her to Tennessee.
She remembers driving away with an engagement ring still on her finger.
"I drove away weeping."
Then came the question she believes changed her life forever.
"Do you actually believe that I'm good?"
Today, Sydney answers that question without hesitation.
"Even when things don't go your way...God is at work, and it's a really good work."
Her story is a powerful reminder that obedience often requires surrender before it reveals God's purpose.
The Loneliest Place Isn't Always Alone
Throughout the conversation, the Goodsource team challenged common assumptions about Generation Z.
Sara Laine McNew believes many young adults aren't lonely because they're physically alone.
They're lonely because they've built their identity on everything except Christ.
"You may have everything you've ever wanted...but if Christ isn't your foundation, you'll be the loneliest you've ever been."
Za Smith believes many young men are facing another quiet crisis.
They don't know how to admit they're hurting.
"When you don't feel safe in the world around you...Jesus becomes your safety."
Danielle Wood believes one of the greatest needs facing her generation isn't more information, it's God's wisdom.
"There really is wisdom that only comes from the Lord," she said. "Whether you're making career decisions, choosing relationships, or trying to discern your next step, the Holy Spirit is the only One who can truly guide you."
For Danielle, following Christ means trusting God's wisdom over the countless voices competing for attention every day.
Meet the Voices Behind Goodsource
Goodsource is more than a digital platform. It's a growing community of creators using their unique gifts to help Generation Z discover authentic faith through biblical truth and honest conversations.
Each member of the team brings a different perspective, but they share one mission: pointing young adults to Jesus. The team continues to grow, with Danny Hernandez joining most recently. You'll hear more about his story in an upcoming feature.
- Gritty Gospel – Sydney Green hosts honest conversations about following Jesus through life's victories, disappointments, and everyday challenges with courage, authenticity, and hope.
- The Made for More Podcast – Sara Laine McNew reminds listeners they were created by God for a purpose, encouraging them to build their identity in Christ rather than the expectations of the world.
- How to Be Him – Garth Wheeler and Za Smith explore biblical manhood, authentic friendships, discipleship, and what it means to follow Jesus in today's culture.
- Open Invitation – Danielle Wood creates a welcoming space where young adults can bring their questions, doubts, and struggles into honest conversations rooted in biblical truth, reminding them there is always an open invitation to know Christ more deeply.
As Goodsource continues to grow, the team hopes to create even more opportunities for young adults to encounter Jesus, build authentic community, and discover the purpose God has for their lives.
More Than Content
Goodsource isn't trying to create influencers.
The team says they're trying to create disciples.
Rather than chasing views or viral moments, they hope to produce content that helps young adults grow spiritually while encouraging authentic conversations about faith, purpose, identity, relationships, and mental health.
As one team member explained, the goal is to replace "doom-scrolling" with conversations that point people toward hope, truth, and the Gospel.
They believe today's digital landscape doesn't need more noise.
It needs more truth.
What This Generation Wants the Church to Know
Listening to the Goodsource team, several themes surfaced again and again.
They weren't asking for bigger platforms or better production.
They were asking for something much deeper.
"I'm happy that it cost me those things because He's restored everything that I've lost a hundredfold."
— Grace Bonds
Rather than polished perfection, this generation longs for believers who are honest about both their victories and their struggles.
"When you don't feel safe in the world around you…Jesus becomes your safety."
— Za Smith
For many young adults navigating anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional isolation, Christ is more than a belief. He is their refuge.
"You may have everything you've ever wanted…but if Christ isn't your foundation, you'll be the loneliest you've ever been."
— Sarah Laine McNew
Success, relationships, and achievement cannot replace an identity rooted in Jesus Christ.
"Even when things don't go your way…God is at work, and it's a really good work."
— Sydney Green
After surrendering the future she thought she wanted, Sydney discovered that God's plans are often better than the ones we write for ourselves.
"Gen Z needs you. We need your wisdom. We're all in this together."
— Garth Wheeler"There really is wisdom that only comes from the Lord."
— Danielle Wood
Rather than creating distance between generations, these young leaders are inviting older believers to mentor, disciple, and simply walk alongside them.
A Generation Looking for Mentors
One of the conversation's most surprising moments came when the team began talking about discipleship.
Sydney admitted that for many in her generation, technology has changed how they seek answers.
"It's a lot easier and less scary to ask ChatGPT a question than a real-life individual."
But she quickly added that what Generation Z truly needs isn't artificial intelligence.
It's authentic relationships.
The team believes young adults are hungry for mentors, accountability, and people willing to answer the questions they're often too afraid to ask.
Rather than pushing older generations away, they are inviting them into the conversation.
The Bottom Line
For years we've asked whether Generation Z is losing its faith.
Maybe we've been asking the wrong question.
Maybe this generation isn't rejecting God.
Maybe they're rejecting performance.
Maybe they aren't looking for perfect Christians.
They're looking for authentic ones.
The young adults behind Goodsource aren't claiming to have all the answers.
They're simply inviting others into honest conversations about faith, purpose, identity, and following Jesus in a complicated world.
If their stories are any indication, God is raising up a generation that isn't afraid to ask hard questions, wrestle through difficult seasons, and point people back to Christ.
And perhaps that's exactly what revival has always looked like.
Learn More About Goodsource
Whether you're a member of Generation Z searching for answers, a parent trying to better understand your child, or a pastor, youth leader, mentor, grandparent, or friend looking to encourage the next generation, the Goodsource team wants to walk alongside you.
Visit MyGoodsource.com to explore original videos, podcasts, articles, devotionals, and conversations designed to help young adults discover authentic faith in Jesus Christ. You can also follow Goodsource on social media @MyGoodsource for encouraging, Christ-centered content created specifically for Generation Z.
Podcast
Hear the complete God Stories conversation with Crystal Thornton and the Goodsource team in the podcast below.