Episode 26: Gen Z Wants Jesus—Not Your Curated Christianity (with Virginia Boyd)

Is Gen Z walking away from God… or from a version of Christianity that doesn’t feel real? In this episode of The Formed Life Podcast, Virginia Kujabi is joined by special guest Virginia Boyd—a 20-year-old college student who is actively serving and discipling young people and enjoying her personal spiritual formation journey.  Together, they explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of Gen Z’s faith. This conversation dives into the tension many young adults feel today—caught between social media comparison, anxiety, and a deep longing for authentic relationship with Jesus. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The biggest misconceptions about Gen Z and Christianity Why social media is shaping (and distorting) faith How comparison and loneliness are impacting young believers What authentic spiritual formation looks like in everyday life Why surrender matters more than striving in your relationship with God How to move from head knowledge to real intimacy with Jesus What Gen Z needs from the Church and spiritual leaders Key Themes Gen Z faith • spiritual formation • anxiety and comparison • authentic Christianity • discipleship • surrender • abiding in Christ • mentorship Scripture References John 15 — Abiding in Christ Luke 10:38-42 — Mary and Martha Quote from This Episode “Gen Z doesn’t need a perfect version of Christianity—they need a real encounter with Jesus.” Listen If You’re: A young adult navigating faith in today’s culture A parent, pastor, or leader wanting to understand Gen Z Struggling with comparison, anxiety, or spiritual inconsistency Longing for a deeper, more authentic relationship with God You have a heart for the Kingdom of God and growing across multiple generations  About The Formed Life Podcast The Formed Life equips followers of Jesus to cultivate a life rooted in relationship with the Trinity, spiritual rhythms, and authentic community—so they can be formed more like Jesus. Connect on Instagram @vwear and @theformed life