#88 - What's Up With Youth these Days? Helping Youth Encounter Jesus Through Prayer, Relationship & Leadership With Charles Karugu

In this episode of The Sowers Podcast, Charles Karugu shares his journey of faith and the deep “holy discontent” that drew him from a business path into vocational ministry. From his early church involvement and life-changing junior high conference experience, to his leadership in youth ministry today, Charles reflects on the critical role of relational connections in reaching this generation. He discusses the updated Alpha Youth Film Series, the “Made For This” prayer initiative for local schools, and why youth are more spiritually open than we often think. Throughout the conversation, Charles highlights the need for prayer, community engagement, and eyes to see what God is already doing among the next generation.Charles Karugu serves as the Alpha Youth Associate at Alpha Canada, where he’s passionate about helping young people encounter the life-changing love of Jesus. Married to his better half, Ashley, and expecting their first child this December, Charles is more committed than ever to seeing a generation of youth lead with courage, compassion, and unshakable faith.Key Takeaways+Early church experiences and a pivotal junior high conference shaped Charles’s faith.+A sense of holy discontent led him to ministry instead of business.+Relational leadership is essential for effectively engaging youth.+Gen Z is spiritually curious and ready for meaningful conversations about faith.+The revamped Alpha Youth Film Series connects powerfully with today’s culture.+Youth are taking ownership of their faith and stepping into leadership.+Prayer is the foundation for youth ministry and school engagement.+The “Made For This” initiative mobilizes churches to pray for local schools.+God is at work in the next generation, and the church must pay attention.To learn more about Youth Alpha and the Youth Film Series, please visit https://alphacanada.org/youth/. To learn more about the 'Made For This' Initiative and sign-up, please visit https://wearemadeforthis.com/.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background03:26 Journey to Faith and Personal Transformation06:38 Navigating Post-High School Decisions09:37 Holy Discontent and Leadership Development12:26 Creating Relational Spaces for Youth15:26 Youth Culture and Spiritual Curiosity18:37 Empowering Youth as Change Agents22:59 Empowering Youth Ownership in Ministry25:30 The Alpha Youth Film Series: A New Approach31:29 Engaging the Next Generation with Alpha34:15 Made For This: A Call to Prayer and Action41:24 NEWCHAPTER