{"id":307270,"date":"2021-10-23T07:00:38","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T11:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z\/"},"modified":"2021-10-23T07:00:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-23T11:00:38","slug":"generation-z-reaching-generation-z","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z\/","title":{"rendered":"Generation Z Reaching Generation Z"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Emerging from generation Z, Emma Jenkins and Jordan Whitmer share what they are doing to propel the gospel in their age demographic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/d2c17sq0nj1f7e.cloudfront.net\/flw2021-10-23.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:27:41","filesize":"25.35M","filesize_raw":"26576806","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2867,2821],"tags":[7007,6515,2643],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[9498,9499],"series":[10388],"class_list":["post-307270","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","hentry","category-church-involvement","category-reaching-out","tag-adults","tag-generation-z","tag-missions","cwp_profile-emma-jenkins","cwp_profile-jordan-whitmer","series-familylife-this-week"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/10\/FLTW-Podcast-Cover-2-1400x1400-1-300x300-1.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/307270\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z","player_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/307270\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-this-week","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"v2FGepNrsJ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z\/\">Generation Z Reaching Generation Z<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/generation-z-reaching-generation-z\/embed\/#?secret=v2FGepNrsJ\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Generation Z Reaching Generation Z&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"v2FGepNrsJ\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Emerging from generation Z, Emma Jenkins and Jordan Whitmer share what they are doing to propel the gospel in their age demographic.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/flw\/flw2021-10-23.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Twenty-year-old Jordan Whitmer is an evangelist to his own generation\u2014a generation that we would call Gen Z\u2014and he is concerned. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> According to a study by the Barna Group just this year, only 4 percent of Generation Z\u2014American teenagers today\u2014have a biblical worldview. We are at some very low percentages. Their takeaway is that Gen Z is the <em>least<\/em> Christian generation in American history. Over 19 out of every 20 teenagers you meet on the street\/they don\u2019t see the world the way that Christians do. They, very likely, don\u2019t know Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Well, Jordan is not giving up on his generation. Today, we\u2019re going to hear how Jordan Whitmer and his friends are taking <em>the gospel<\/em> to Gen Z. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWelcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle Hill. Today, we are going to dive into hope for Gen Z. As new generations graduate into life, there is usually a little apprehension of the young people who are coming onto the scene; but I wanted to give us a little bit of hope for the new generation that is graduating onto the scene. That\u2019s because I have two young people who are joining me in the studio today, who are just excited about what God has done in their life; so they are passionate about sharing it. I\u2019m talking about Jordan Whitmer and Emma Mae Jenkins. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJordan and Emma, thank you so much for joining me today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Thank you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Thank you! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> We\u2019re so glad to be here. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Now, obviously, you guys are some <em>awesome<\/em> Gen Zers. We have another awesome Gen Zer in the other room, our intern, Raven Simmons; so I\u2019m excited about some of the Gen Z\u2019s that we are seeing. We have been, as a ministry, studying the \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGen Z\u2019s; and there has been little alarming things that have been going on. Give us some <em>hope<\/em> for Gen Z\u2019s that you guys have seen through your ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> It\u2019s been very, very interesting, studying Generation Z. Some people didn\u2019t even know what Generation Z was called even just a year ago. It\u2019s really been more popularized even in the last year or two. The name has been around for a little while; but now, people are finally realizing, \u201cOkay; yes, I\u2019m not a Millennial.\u201d People say, \u201cOh, Jordan, you\u2019re a great Millennial.\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cI\u2019m not a Millennial. I\u2019m a Generation Z; I\u2019m the <em>next<\/em> generation.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnyone born between 1996 and 2012, give or take\u2014people classify that in different ways\u2014but Gen Z, according to a study that came out by the Barna Group just this year, they came out with the results that only 4 percent of Generation Z\u2014American teenagers today\u2014have a biblical worldview; meaning that, over 19 out of every 20 teenagers you meet on the street\/they don\u2019t have a biblical worldview. They don\u2019t see the world the way that Christians do; they, very likely, don\u2019t know Jesus. We are at some very low percentages. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Their takeaway was that Gen Z was the <em>least<\/em> Christian generation in American history. It talked about lots of other issues with Generation Z with social media and technology\u2014that can be used as a good thing; and in our case, has been a very good thing\u2014but for many kids, it\u2019s a terrible thing. Suicide rates are up; depression is up. Generation Z, overall, is not in a very good place in America and in many other parts of the world. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s sad where things are at; but as I often say, there is some good news; it\u2019s the fact that there are some Christian teenagers out there. When teenagers do step up for Jesus\u2014the ones that do know Jesus\u2014they are willing to stand up, and it\u2019s amazing what can happen when teenagers share with other teenagers about Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Most definitely. Okay, Emma, what are you seeing with Gen Z? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> I think it\u2019s really cool how, when you are willing to step up and be bold\u2014not that others <em>need<\/em> permission\u2014but I feel as though they <em>feel<\/em> they need to see someone else do it to feel as though they can. I think\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> They are not the only one. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> No! Absolutely! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> When you are lonely, you don\u2019t want to be the one standing up all alone. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So if they see you doing it, they are willing to follow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> It\u2019s so exciting! It\u2019s like, \u201cOkay, let\u2019s go!\u201d When we realize that God has made us for such a time as this\u2014and we are willing to be bold; and we are willing to love; and we are willing to shine; and we are willing to walk out in truth\u2014other people will see: \u201cOh, if she is confident in who she is, maybe, I can stand up too\u201d; or \u201cWhy\u201d\u2014I have gotten this all the time\u2014\u201cWhy do you smile <em>all of the time<\/em>?\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI think the joy of the Lord is pretty powerful\u2014because it\u2019s very easy to smile when the sun is out, but it\u2019s really easy to start frowning when it starts raining\u2014but the joy of the Lord\/it\u2019s like an evergreen tree. Regardless of the seasons of life that you walk through, you can remain fruitful; and you can remain bright, and full of life and full of joy; because we serve a God, who is steadfast and who is constant. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo when we\u2019re\/as children of God, when we realize we belong to God\u2014we are His treasure\u2014whenever He has called us to be His royal priesthood, and we stand up in that boldness, knowing that we are loved and knowing that we are called to love, other people will be like: \u201cOkay; I don\u2019t really know about this Jesus thing, but they have this hope. They seem whole, and they just look like they have it. I don\u2019t know what <em>it<\/em> is, but I want that.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m really excited because Generation Z, just like every generation, are people wanting a relationship with Jesus; and they may not realize that that is what they are looking for. By us realizing that\u2014that\u2019s what we have, and that\u2019s the answer that fulfills your heart\u2014\u201cLet\u2019s go share it, because that is what they are looking for,\u201d and \u201cThat\u2019s what will truly fill their heart.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Also, anytime anybody can just invest into the life of a teenager\u2014teenagers want to be genuine; they want genuine relationships; they want truth; they don\u2019t want small talk\u2014they want to get to some deep issues very fast. My grandpa has often said that: \u201cGeneration Z, while they might be the least Christian generation in American history, they are the most <em>ready<\/em> generation for Jesus in American history,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Interesting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> \u2014as well, probably because of how lost they are.\u201d I see it as a <em>huge<\/em> opportunity for the gospel, and we need to do something about it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So Jordan, just to give a little bit of background on <em>you<\/em>. You are the founder of a movement called How to Life. Emma, you\u2019ve been helping out a little bit with How to Life. Now, Jordan, help us understand: \u201cWhat is How to Life?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> For sure; yes. About three years ago, I helped start a completely teen-led movement. It started in Arkansas and has now been spreading all over the country. The whole premise is teenagers sharing the gospel and reaching their friends for Christ through events and through a movement of young people, [who] are passionate about reaching Generation Z for Jesus. Often, a lot of Generation Z teenagers listen to their friends more than any other voices in their life. While usually that\u2019s a bad thing, what How to Life has done is it has made that a good thing by seeing teenagers step up to share the gospel. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe have seen many, many teenagers come to Christ through this movement\u2014and teenagers all over the country\u2014we\u2019ve now had 34 events across 13 states and are expanding even more around the world and around the country in the future. It\u2019s so exciting what God has been doing through a movement of teenagers, sharing the gospel through events and through a very exciting fast-growing movement. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So why would you build a ministry, students to students? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Other teenagers have such a <em>huge<\/em> influence on the life of their friends. When teenagers step up and share the gospel, often, that is what it takes for someone to respond. Teenagers often are looked down upon, like, \u201cOh, they can\u2019t do anything. They are just 15-,16-,17-, 18-year-old kids; what could they do that is good?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut for teenagers\u2014who do love Jesus; and are growing; and are mature, leader teenagers\u2014it\u2019s <em>amazing<\/em> what can happen when they are turned loose to take a stand for Jesus, and to lead, and to share the gospel. That\u2019s what we have been seeing happen all over the country, and even more now into the future, through teenagers reaching their friends for Jesus. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So Emma, what have <em>you<\/em> been seeing? What have you witnessed through the movement as you\u2019ve\/you\u2019ve been speaking at a couple of the How to Life events. So what have you seen with some of the students? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Well, it\u2019s been beautiful; because it\u2019s truly an image of 1 Timothy 4:12 that says: \u201cDon\u2019t let others look down on you because you are young; but set an example for believers through your faith, your love, your conduct, your speech, and your purity.\u201d I think it\u2019s beautiful, because God doesn\u2019t look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. So God doesn\u2019t see you\u2014that He can use you or He can\u2019t use you based on your age\u2014He just sees a heart that is willing; and He says, \u201cYes, let\u2019s go!\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat is what this vision and this ministry has been\u2014of beautiful kids, [who] are growing into who God has called them to be, and realizing, \u201cI don\u2019t have to wait until I am a certain age to live for Jesus; but God sees my heart that is willing, and let\u2019s do it now,\u201d\u2014because something my dad says is: \u201cThe right time to do the right thing is right now.\u201d That is what this has been. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI have gotten to see kids step up and realize that God is in it\u2014He has made them for such a time as this and that they were made to be a light for Him\u2014a light for Him, not only to share what He has done in their heart privately, but to share it publicly so that He can continue to do that in the hearts of other people too. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> And that is so great, Emma. I\u2019m just wondering, \u201cWhat are some of the stories that you have seen through the ministry?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Hmm; oh, it\u2019s been so beautiful. It\u2019s been kids, who may not have realized how much God loves them. I think, sometimes, we have a vision of God being on His throne, looking down His nose, waiting for us to mess up. I think that it\u2019s been a beautiful walk of people realizing that it\u2019s not religion, but it\u2019s a relationship. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s been something really cool, that I have personally been so humbled, to get to share with people\u2014from being in a relationship with God and getting to help others walk in a genuine relationship with Him, too\u2014and getting to see their hearts be open to: \u201cWow! I get to have a relationship with Him! This isn\u2019t a list of do\u2019s and don\u2019ts, and making sure I do everything right; and if I don\u2019t, then I\u2019ve screwed it up. My God is a God, who wants to walk with me and who never stops pursuing me.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat has been\u2014wow\u2014I don\u2019t want to stop; because it is priceless, getting to see hearts awaken to the fact that God is a God, who pursues them and already knows everything about them; but He wants to walk with them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Emma, this is such great stuff, but we need to take a break. When we come back in two minutes, I want to hear <em>more<\/em> about How to Life. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Radio Station Break] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Welcome back to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle Hill. Emma Jenkins and Jordan Whitmer join me today. We\u2019re talking about How to Life, the events they lead to reach <em>their<\/em> generation. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere\u2019s a Sara Groves song\u2014and this is totally going to date me, because I\u2019m pretty sure that she came out with it about the time you guys were toddling around\u2014it\u2019s a song called <em>Tent in the Center of Town<\/em>. It\u2019s all about an event\/it\u2019s all about a crusade that comes to town. In the chorus, it says, \u201cThere is a tent in the center of town, where the people can gather around, who wouldn\u2019t step a foot in a church; but who aren\u2019t afraid of the Good News Crusade.\u201d Now, with <em>your<\/em> events, are you noticing that some of these students that come probably wouldn\u2019t step foot in a church? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> For sure, it\u2019s amazing what has been taking place. Often, a lot of the people [who] attend these How to Life events that have taken place: some of them are Christian young people, [who] have grown up in churches and things; but often, a lot of those Christian young people are not necessarily [in] the best place themselves; and they really need to be impacted by the gospel and by Jesus again. And then others are\/there are people\u2014many stories of people, [who] are not connected with churches at all, that might not go to a church on a weekly basis or much at all\u2014that come because a friend invited them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat is exciting is that, through an event that is led by teenagers\u2014when a Christian teenager invites their friend to something like this and says, \u201cHey, would you be willing to come hear me speak and share at this completely teenage-led event?\u201d\u2014some of these people, who attend, say, \u201cWow; that\u2019s incredible. I thought that church was something for adults, or something that happens at churches.\u201d They come; and they hear their friends, and say, \u201cWow; I never knew this was about a personal relationship with Jesus and that this is what we need to focus on.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt\u2019s incredible what takes place through a How to Life event and through a movement of young people reaching young people. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Okay; so as I\u2019m thinking about this\u2014and I am fascinated to see this student-led event\u2014but as an adult, and I\u2019m speaking for probably several\/many adults\u2014that it\u2019s kind of scary to hand the gospel over to a student, and hand that over and say, \u201cOkay; now, just go forth and share with these other students.\u201d What is your grid for allowing students to speak on a platform on the stage to other students? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> That is a <em>great<\/em> question. The good news is that there are some teenagers and young people out there\u2014it\u2019s definitely a minority\u2014of this minority, there is a strong percentage and a strong amount of teenagers that do love Jesus: they have grown up in churches; they\u2019ve grown up with good Christian parents\/families. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOften, I say that anybody that is a strong leader for Jesus that we find, they\u2019ve either had really, really good parents or really, really good churches\u2014or a combination of both\u2014that have been investing and pouring into their lives. There are some good people out there\/some good teenagers that do know Jesus\u2014they are strong theologically; they understand the gospel\u2014and we help coach and train them in how to share the gospel clearly through an event\/through things like that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Now, Jordan, your grandfather is Ron Hutchcraft; and for some of our listeners, they are familiar with him as being an evangelist, and an author, and a speaker, and a radio show host. Do you feel like you are walking in his footsteps? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Maybe a little bit. It\u2019s been so amazing to have such an exciting and influential grandfather in Ron Hutchcraft, who has poured so much into my life. He has been a huge mentor and voice in my life as I\u2019ve grown up over the years. He\u2019s very much influenced my entire family to just be passionate about the gospel, and to make that such a huge priority in our life, and to seek out evangelism and to see people all over\u2014lost people\u2014come to know Jesus. That\u2019s just something that has really grown up in my family DNA\u2014you might say literally and figuratively\u2014it\u2019s very exciting what God has been doing through this. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Now, Emma, you, along with working with Jordan and the How to Life Movement, you also have a platform on Instagram<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> and YouTube<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. How did your ministry come about that way? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Yes, ma\u2019am; when I was in eighth grade, I would say that is when I fell in love with Jesus. There is this beautiful saying of: \u201cGo private before you go public.\u201d God\u2014my heart fell into His hands privately; so I couldn\u2019t help but share this publicly. Being in this <em>beautiful<\/em> time that we get to live in\u2014we do have social media, and we do have YouTube, and all these cool ways we get to talk to people\u2014so I was like, \u201cWow! What a <em>great<\/em> opportunity to share Jesus with some precious hearts that may not know how fearfully and wonderfully made they are.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI started using my Instagram, that I had previously been using for selfies and let people know I ate Chick-fil-A that day\u2014I started using it to let them know how much God loved them\u2014I started making YouTube videos. I did this for about a year\u2014my whole freshman year of high school\u2014then in tenth grade\u2014I\u2019m originally from Louisiana\u2014one of my dear friends, Sadie Robertson\/we went and got yogurt together\u2014because that\u2019s just what friends do\u2014friends go get yogurt together. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That\u2019s right; they do\u2014or coffee. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Oh, yes. And like a lot of teenage girls, we took a picture in front of the yogurt place after we ate our yogurt. Sadie posted a picture with me: it was me, and her sister-in-law Mary Kate, and Sadie. We were all in this picture together, and I was in the middle. She posted it, and pretty quickly after it got posted, a lot of comments started scrolling in of: \u201cWho is that girl in the middle?\u201d and comments all about my physical appearance and just a lot of bullying. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI chose to respond in love\u2014because in Luke 6:27-28, it says, \u201cYou\u2019ve been told to love those who love you back but to hate your enemies,\u201d\u2014but Jesus; I love Him; Jesus said\u2014\u201cVery truly I tell you to love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, and bless those who curse you.\u201d What is so cool is, when you realize that hurt people hurt other people; you see it in a different way. You see it as a heart that just doesn\u2019t know how loved they are yet, so the only way they know how to respond is through hate. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat an incredible opportunity to introduce Jesus to someone by loving them, so I responded in love. In my response\u2014Sadie saw my response\u2014and Sadie responded of how: \u201cWe are called to honor people, and how we\u2019ve got to shake the hate. It\u2019s not personal; we are here for a mission.\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> It says in Acts 20:24 that my life is worth <em>nothing<\/em> to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by Jesus\/the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of Him. Sadie just posted something of just protecting me and about the love of Christ. From there\u2014I now just graduated high school\u2014and from there, along with more bullying, God has been shared on even greater platforms. Because my dad says, \u201cGod will place you where He entrusts you with His name.\u201d So from there, the platforms just skyrocketed. Yes, more bullying took place; but, hey! That\u2019s just more people I get to love on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Well, I\u2019m reminded of: \u201cWhat man meant for evil, God meant for good.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> He sure did; He did. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> He is <em>multiplying<\/em> your message through that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Yes, it\u2019s so beautiful; it\u2019s so beautiful. I love Him! It\u2019s so cool, too; there will be comments of atheists, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t believe in Jesus whatsoever; but there is something about this girl. She makes me smile.\u201d I\u2019m just going to keep on loving them, because you introduce God to people by loving them. You never know where people are coming from. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Now, how have your parents been helping you along this way and encouraging you in ministry? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> They are the best. They are the epitome of what God said when He said, \u201cTrain your child up in the way they should go so that when they grow old they will not depart from it.\u201d I\u2019m about to move out of the house; but even though I\u2019m about to depart from my house, I\u2019m not departing from my faith; because my faith is my own. That\u2019s something that my mom and dad really instilled in our home; was that, \u201cYou choose the journey that you take. \u2018As for us and our house, we will serve the Lord\u2019; but you get to choose if you want this relationship with God. This is your choice you get to make.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was a choice I got to make; and in the midst of making that choice, they walked with me in it. As the bullying came, and as the higher platforms got, they realized that their role was not to protect me and shield me from the world; but we are supposed to go <em>into<\/em> the world and be the light in it. They really taught me how I protect myself in the way of: \u201cI have my shield of faith; I have the Word of God; I have the helmet of salvation,\u201d\u2014from Ephesians 6\u2014that my thoughts are going to honor Him, but I\u2019m still going out into the battle. We\u2019ve got our boots on the ground. We are on the front line, knowing that we are already victorious in Christ. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThere are too many people that don\u2019t know how loved they are, because they don\u2019t know love Himself. We can\u2019t stay sitting down all comfortable; we\u2019ve got to go! They really have trained me up to be a strong warrior for Christ in such a way of: \u201cLet\u2019s go! Let\u2019s be wise in how we shield ourselves, but let\u2019s go!\u201d They do that, not only by teaching me with their words, but they live that out. I couldn\u2019t honor them anymore than I do today because of who they are. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> That is so neat how they poured into you, and now you are pouring into others. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma: <\/strong>Yes!\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle: <\/strong>It is just so neat how God does that and how it just happens\u2014and it doesn\u2019t just happen\u2014it took a lot of determination on your parents\u2019 part, and discipline, and hard work; but the rewards are incredible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Yes; yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Very cool. So how did your parents\u2014Jordan\u2014how did your parents pour into <em>you<\/em> and prepare you for ministry? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Yes, I have been very blessed to be in such an <em>amazing<\/em> Christian family\u2014a passionate family about the gospel, and making a difference, and Jesus\u2014it\u2019s been so incredible to see what has happened through just some amazing parents in my life. They invested into my life; and they, at a very young age, would read the Bible to me; and just invest in my life; and take time to help me grow spiritually and to help me grow as a child; and ultimately, into a teenager; and now an adult. It\u2019s been a very exciting process. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI began my relationship with Jesus at a young age. My parents were able to communicate the gospel to me clearly and help walk me through what that meant. Then, over the years, we just continued to have family Bible time. Often, we will have family Bible time and have had family Bible time, growing up. Sometimes, we\u2019ll even have family worship time, where we\u2019ll worship together once a week on Sunday evenings. My dad will play the piano; we\u2019ll do exciting stuff. There is always a vibe\u2014and has been at my house\u2014of just: \u201cWe\u2019re all about Jesus,\u201d and \u201cThis is what we are all about.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> That just exudes into every aspect of our life. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> What I think is really neat about both of you, Emma and Jordan, is that you have a faith that you haven\u2019t held privately. Emma, the verse that you shared a little bit ago\u20141 Timothy 4:12: \u201cLet no one despise you for your youth; but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity,\u201d\u2014how are you guys setting an example for others, who are watching you? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> I think it\u2019s a daily example of: \u201cHow are you daily living?\u201d\u2014not just when you are on stage and you have a microphone in your hand, and when you are in front of a bunch of people\u2014but: \u201cWhat are you doing when you are walking the hallways of your school?\u201d and \u201cHow do you treat the janitors?\u201d and \u201cWhenever you are doing your homework, do you work at it wholeheartedly?\u201d I think it\u2019s a daily: \u201cHow do I treat people?\u201d \u201cHow am I going to honor God in the clothes that I wear?\u201d \u201cHow do I honor Him in the words that I am speaking?\u201d \u201cHow do I honor Him in doing the dishes without even being asked to do it?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt goes from the smallest of things, because God delights in the details. It\u2019s the quiet mornings of seeking Him first in His Word when no one else is watching\u2014not because you want the attention of it\u2014but just because you want to be with Him. You know that: \u201cIf you don\u2019t go with Him privately first, I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to be doing publicly. I need Him.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> So good; so very good. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, Emma Mae Jenkins and Jordan Whitmer, thank you so much for joining me today\u2014and for sharing just all that God is doing through you guys; and how He has laid on your heart to reach the next generation, Gen Z\u2014thank you so much for sharing your hearts with us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Emma:<\/strong> Thank you! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Jordan:<\/strong> Thank you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Of course, if you want to know more about the How to Life Movement, go to our website, FamilyLifeThisWeek.com; that\u2019s FamilyLifeThisWeek.com. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHey, coming up next week, we are going to talk about money, money, money! We\u2019re going to talk about debt, and giving, and what it takes to live the life that we live. That\u2019s next week on <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHey, thanks for listening! I want to thank the cofounder of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, Dennis Rainey, and the president, David Robbins, along with our station partners around the country. And a big thank you to our Generation X engineer today, Keith Lynch; and to our producers\u2014Millennials\u2014Marques Holt and Bruce Goff. Justin Adams, also a Millennial, is our mastering engineer; and Megan Martin, another Millennial, is our production coordinator. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur program is a production of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, and our mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m Michelle Hill\u2014and I am the Beatnik Generation\u2014inviting you to join us again next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<sup>\u00a9<\/sup>Song: <em>Tent in the Center of Town<\/em>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tArtist:\u00a0\u00a0 Sara Groves\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAlbum: <em>Conversations <\/em>(p) 2005 by INO Records\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2021 FamilyLife. 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