Algorithms, entertainers and artificial intelligence are competing to shape children’s beliefs, and the church cannot afford to treat discipleship as a once-a-week responsibility.
That warning emerged during an episode of “700 Club Interactive” examining how churches and parents can reach Generation Alpha with the Gospel amid the pressures of an increasingly digital childhood.
“I would even call it a discipleship war, meaning if they have a screen, if they have a tablet, if they have a smartphone, they’re being discipled by something or someone,” student ministry leader Shane Pruitt said. “They’re being discipled by an algorithm, entertainer, a cultural agenda.”
Behind the constant stream of information and entertainment, young people are searching for someone who knows them beyond the image they present online.
“They don’t need more connection. They need deeper and authentic, real relationship. That’s what they’re looking for,” CBN News reporter Charlene Aaron said.
Aaron described connecting with a girl who began opening up about bullying after they spent time together outside church. The experience underscored the importance of adults taking an interest in students’ everyday lives.
Order Abby Trivett’s New Book, “The Power of Suddenly” on Amazon.com!
That need becomes especially urgent as children turn to AI chatbots for companionship and share struggles they may not disclose to parents or church leaders.
“So if they feel a chatbot is more empathetic to them than parents, then we’ve got problems,” Aaron said. “The church, we’ve got problems.”
She urged adults to ask questions, learn about the technology children use and make room for honest conversations.
The young people interviewed also challenged assumptions that their generation has little interest in God.
“Part of it is you have to build a relationship with a student as you’re preaching the gospel to them because you have to trust a person,” said Sophie Knox, 15.
Aaron emphasized that meaningful discipleship requires involvement beyond scheduled services, including shared activities, personal conversations and prayer. Personal testimonies also help students understand how Jesus transforms lives.
“So teach the Bible, show them in scripture how relevant Jesus is to what they’re dealing with in their lives,” she said. “They love the gospel and we’ve got to fill them with the hope of the gospel in that way.”
Preparing young people to face challenges to Christianity also requires more than familiarity with church.
“It’s not about how much you know about God or know about church,” Aaron said.
“I think that is really something that we need to stress, we need to really drive home and we need to really give the young people tools so that when they go away to college, they are able to defend their faith according to the word of God, let them be anchored in the word.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
