I’ve been preaching evangelistically for 10 years now. I’ve preached at more than 100 different events and conferences. One thing strikingly obvious has been the increase of professions of faith of young adult men to gospel proclamation. As the word is preached, more and more young adults are becoming Christians or showing interest.

I would say that I’ve seen more young adults respond with professions of faith in the past two years than in the previous eight combined. 

I recently preached at Christ Church, St Ives. The room was utterly packed, and there were 25 professions of faith. Chatting with young people afterwards, some had walked away from church or school faith backgrounds, while others had none. 

They all had one thing in common – they knew a Christian who had invited them along. That Christian lived out an authentic faith. 

Australian and overseas data is showing this. More and more American Gen Zs are professing faith in Christ. In the UK, it’s not more professions of faith but an increase in young adults going back to church across denominations. 

Closer to home, statistics from McCrindle Research reported one in 10 Australians who said they were non-religious in the 2016 Census said they were Christian five years later. 

There is an openness to Christianity among young people that is the highest we’ve seen since before World War II. And it’s not one race or class: it’s young adults responding positively. 

Theologically, we’re seeing what we always see. The Lord converts who he wants to convert through gospel proclamation. I believe we also have more access to effective evangelistic resources as a church than ever before, and a greater understanding of welcoming warmly, where we are aware people are present and we connect. 

Non-Christians and Christians are mingling over the word of God, and right now it’s very effective. People are also responding to public proclamations as well. The gospel works according to God's timing, and there is an increase in our zeal to be effective evangelistically. 

Part of this could be a cultural kickback against generations of hostility, apathy and lethargy to Christianity. After years of hostility and confusion around gender, identity and faith, many young men are searching for solid truth and foundations – something the gospel offers. 

But in one sense, why this is happening shouldn’t matter. The church should always be prepared to be the best at evangelism. 

God is not done in Sydney! He’s not done saving people. For more than 2000 years we’ve seen that he uses Christians and churches to reach people through his Spirit. There’s a great opportunity in our churches and in the lives of our Christians to reach people for eternity. God will use you. 

Whether the ground is concrete or slightly softer, be encouraged that we don’t toil and pour in our efforts without green shoots coming through. There’s no one suburb where you can say, “This isn’t happening here.” It’s happening everywhere. 

I’m persuaded that the best thing churches can do is be as prepared as possible to evangelise effectively. That means thinking carefully. 

If we had five non-Christians come and ask to find out more, what would we do with them? The churches who see conversions have a simple response. While five may not come each week, we know that those most likely to be converted in Australia are the people our churches already know. 

That means the better prepared we are in evangelism, and the more proactive endeavours we have, the better prepared we are for the non-Christians when they come. 

Start thinking now, as a church family, how we can be effective in evangelism. 

PRAY 

• that God would have mercy on our city. Pray continually for people to become Christians, and that in God’s kindness, he would bring people to himself. 
• for more Christians willing to share the gospel. Pray that God would grow us in courage, zeal and a holy fear; that we would fear God more than we fear other people. 
• for our churches and church leaders, that those pastoring the sheep will look beyond the sheep pen and out into the fields. Being a pastor is complex, with a range of pressures, but a key job is to equip the saints for works of service, including evangelism. Pray for wisdom, energy and leadership, that they would lead churches to be faithful and zealous for the gospel.