For this issue on youth ministry, the Outlook wanted to do more than ask adults what young people need from the church. We wanted to hear from the youth themselves. In this conversation, three young Presbyterians – Alex Wells, 17 (Tolono Presbyterian Church, Tolono, Illinois), Sabrina Wilson, 18 (Faith Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado) and Gracie Varn, 18 (Faith Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado) – speak with clarity and hope about belonging, authenticity, faith, doubt, community and the future of the church. Their answers remind us that youth are not simply the church’s future; they are offering wisdom, creativity and faithful witness now.
What do you need and want from the church?
Sabrina: The church has always been a place of community and inclusion for me, and I hope it stays that way. One thing everybody gets from going to church is connecting with others who share their beliefs.
Alex: I need a church that challenges me to grow in my faith while meeting me where I am, a community that’s authentic, supportive and centered on Christ. More than anything, I want relationships with people who encourage me, hold me accountable and help me become who God is calling me to be.
Gracie: As a youth, I’m looking for a church that offers belonging and community — a place to be welcomed alongside youth and adults who share my beliefs. Much of what matters to me is connecting with other youth and enjoying fellowship and worship. A church that balances fellowship with growing in faith is where I feel most connected. I want the church to prioritize welcoming everyone, regardless of background, culture or political view.
What do you uniquely offer the church?
Gracie: I offer the perspective of a young person still passionate about the church and its future. Young people in the church embrace what it means to be open and inclusive, and we can welcome others in ways that strengthen the church as a whole. This past year, I served as the youth elder on session, sharing my youth group’s ideas, helping plan events and conveying what worship meant to my peers and me.
Alex: I bring energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to serve. I genuinely care about people and enjoy building relationships. My generation has a unique opportunity to bridge tradition and the modern world, and I want to use my gifts, time and perspective to help others feel welcomed and connected.
Sabrina: As a youth, I offer new ideas and entertainment. Opinions from all ages matter, especially since the church includes so many different age groups. I enjoy being creative and funny, entertaining the congregation, and I think the congregation enjoys hearing new things and seeing youth involved.
What do you receive from the church that you can’t find anywhere else?
Sabrina: Community. I have other communities, but church is different — people are welcoming and know each other well, and so many would drop everything to help one another out.
Alex: The church offers a Christ-centered community that points me toward something greater than myself. Friendships and support can be found elsewhere, but the church offers spiritual guidance, worship and a shared mission rooted in faith. It reminds me who I am in Christ and gives me a place to grow alongside others pursuing the same goal.
Gracie: A place to express my faith without judgment or societal pressure. I love Presbyterianism because there are no cookie-cutter requirements to be a Christian — just to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. The church teaches me how to live by loving God’s creation, and it offers support and community I can’t find anywhere else.
Tell us a story about a time when you experienced a sense of love and belonging in the church.
Gracie: John Knox Ranch in Texas, the summer camp I attended throughout childhood, is where I’ve always felt love and belonging. Growing up, I often felt pressure at church to have my faith figured out and know my role from a young age. At camp, I felt free to explore my faith through nature and wonder, away from social media and peer pressure. I learned it was OK not to have all the answers.
One moment this past summer stands out. My friends and I, serving as junior counselors, were relaxing in the camp treehouse when a lighthearted conversation turned into a deep one about religion and morals. I had never felt so seen. We talked openly about not always feeling firm in our faith, and how isolating it can be when everyone else seems to know exactly what they believe. Realizing I wasn’t alone in those doubts let me start rebuilding my faith alongside my friends and the church around me.
Alex: One of my strongest experiences of love and belonging came from helping create our church camp. Seeing people come together with shared purpose was incredible; everyone was willing to serve, contribute ideas and work hard. Throughout the process, I felt trusted, supported and valued. What stood out most was watching friendships form, faith deepen, and people feel connected to God and each other. It reminded me that the church is more than a building; it’s a family working together to make a difference.
Sabrina: I attended the same church from infancy until I moved away to college. Leaving was hard. The people there have known me since I was a baby. Since starting college, I’ve received care packages from the church with homemade cookies and other snacks. It’s meant a lot knowing they put that together for me.
Many mourn the declining influence of the church in today’s culture. What gives you hope about the church?
Sabrina: Seeing so many people my age attending church and finding their way through it. The church keeps adapting and drawing more people in — the music, for instance, sounds more like what people listen to today, which makes it easier to relate to than some older songs.
Alex: God is still working through people every day. I see young people searching for purpose, meaning and truth, and the gospel speaks directly to those needs. While culture changes, the message of Christ remains the same. I’m encouraged when churches focus on authentic relationships, discipleship and serving their communities.
Gracie: The Presbyterian Youth Triennium in the summer of 2025 gave me hope. I hadn’t realized how many Presbyterian youth could come together to worship. Worshiping alongside 3,000 other Presbyterian youth in one room gave me hope to last a lifetime and proof that even amid declining attendance, a community of Presbyterians will enthusiastically carry the church’s future.
What song, show, movie, podcast, social media account or book would you recommend to the church to better understand you and your peers?
Gracie: “Funeral,” by Phoebe Bridgers. The song follows a girl singing at a funeral for a child her own age, and how she feels her own struggles are insignificant by comparison. I think many of my peers relate to the fear that their mental health struggles will seem unimportant or won’t be taken seriously.
Sabrina: A lot of the songs I sing at church camp are inspirational; there’s something special about a group singing along to a live band. A movie that’s stuck with me since I was younger is “Miracles from Heaven.” It shows that trusting God can take away pain and help you enjoy life again.
Alex: “The Chosen.” It tells the story of Jesus in a way that feels personal and relatable while staying rooted in the gospel. Many people my age connect with stories that feel authentic and human, and the show helps viewers see the people around Jesus as real individuals with struggles, questions and hopes like our own.
