The Church is experiencing a powerful renewal as young leaders rise with passion and authenticity, reshaping what it means to follow Jesus. Across the globe, from revival conferences in Europe to packed arenas in South America, a new hunger for God is emerging. This movement is refining the Church, calling believers back to genuine faith and purpose-driven leadership in an era of increased accountability.
To explore this growing momentum, we spoke with Christine Caine, an internationally renowned author, speaker, and advocate. With over 30 years of ministry experience and a global platform, Christine is at the forefront of this shift, witnessing firsthand the revival taking place. In our conversation, she shared her insights on hope, her faith in Gen Z, and the revival sweeping across generations and nations.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
In times of despair and frustration, how do you cultivate hopefulness?
Christine Caine: I love that question because it’s so practical, and sometimes we just have to be practical. It really depends on the level of hopelessness I’ve experienced. In some cases, if there’s any clinical depression or similar issues, it’s important to see a doctor and get help. I’m very much in favor of partnering with the medical profession. But many times, it’s not about that. It’s not necessarily a chemical issue; it’s more about feeling despondent.
In those moments, I’ve realized how much your environment matters. I’ve had to silence certain voices that were feeding my hopelessness. Even though some of those things might have made me feel good temporarily, they weren’t actually good for me. For instance, I’ve had to stop following certain social media accounts or stop listening to specific news feeds. Sometimes even certain types of music can pull you down.
Let’s get really practical. When you’re in a downward spiral, you might find yourself listening to sad, depressing songs on repeat—songs that make you feel like, ‘Yes, this is exactly how I feel!’ And then you just keep playing them over and over. Or you’re spending time with negative friends who, while well-intentioned, end up justifying your hopelessness. I’ve had friends like that—great people, but after a while, I realized they were keeping me stuck.
In those situations, I needed to step back. Sure, on the first day of feeling hopeless, you might want everyone to validate how unfair things are. But after 18 months, I realized I couldn’t keep those voices around. Even though they loved me and cared for me, they were unintentionally feeding my despair. I needed to be around people who had a different temperament—people who were naturally happy and joyful, even if it annoyed me a little at first!
I remember my friend Lisa Harper, who has this infectious joy, once made me wear a Buc-ee’s onesie and go out. It was ridiculous, but exactly what I needed. You need friends like that—people who can pull you out of your head and help you laugh again.
In addition to surrounding myself with positive people, I also turned to uplifting podcasts and sermons. I made a deliberate choice to fill my mind with hope-filled content. Even though it can feel a bit over the top, sometimes that’s what you need—something upbeat to counterbalance the negativity. I truly believe that your eyes and ears are gateways to your heart. When you’re feeling hopeless, it’s vital to curate what you watch and listen to carefully.
Over time, this process rewires your brain. It shifts your perspective from despair to hope. I’m not talking about fake positivity or hype—I’m talking about true hope. There’s a difference. And honestly, when you’re in the depths of despair, hope might be the last thing you want to hear. But that’s when intentionality matters most.
Is there a specific message that you have for Gen Z right now?
I can’t tell you how much faith and hope I have in this generation. When I see my daughters’ friends and their college peers, I realize how uniquely wired they are. I believe God has wired them for His purpose.
I want them to truly know that, first and foremost, Jesus is so worthy of our all. He is good, and having purpose really does matter in life. Yes, there is a lot of negativity out there. This generation has witnessed many people throwing their faith away, not running their race well, or professing to be one thing but proving to be another. But not everyone is like that. There are many of us who are the real deal. We’re in this for Jesus.
As someone who has walked with Him for 36 years, I can confidently say He is worthy. This life with Jesus is a great adventure. Selling out completely for Him isn’t just a good decision; it’s the greatest decision. I fully devoted my life to Christ when I was 22. It hasn’t always been easy—it’s not all unicorns and rainbows—but it’s been joy-filled and faith-filled. God has done exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond anything I could hope or imagine. He continues to blow my mind.
I want to encourage young people to be all in. It’s worth it. Don’t become cynical before your time. Don’t let the frauds you see make you think that’s all there is. Scripture says, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.” God has no dark side. People might; the abusers who hurt me certainly did. But God doesn’t. When you understand that He is only good, that He does good, and that even when life is hard, He remains good—it changes everything. God’s plans for us are for good, not evil. He made us, and He knows what works best for us. Being all in for Him is so worth it.
I’m seeing what God is doing among this generation, and it’s amazing. After this interview, I’m getting on a plane to England, then Warsaw, and then Krakow, Poland. There’s a revival conference happening there with 10,000 young adults, aged 18 to 22, from all over Europe. I never would have thought I’d see something like this, especially between Christmas and New Year. But it’s happening. There is a hunger for God in this generation that I haven’t seen in years—a passion for the real deal.
The exposure of frauds in faith is both good and bad. The good side is that it’s being brought into the light; God won’t tolerate deception. And when something fake is exposed, it confirms that there is something real. We can pursue that real thing, becoming what we’re supposed to be: salt and light in a lost and broken world.
You mentioned there’s a new hunger in the generation. Are you seeing that all over the world or just some parts of the Church?
Yeah, I’m seeing what I haven’t seen in decades—or in some cases, ever. This year, I’ve spent more time overseas than in America, traveling through South America, Asia, Europe, and beyond. Among all age groups, I’ve seen the Spirit of God moving in ways we only dreamed of. It’s almost surreal; we prayed for this, and now it’s really happening. I find myself thinking, “My gosh, this is that.”
Even as I’m telling you about going to Krakow, it’s incredible to think about being gathered in an arena with representatives from 18 different European countries. Speaking in stadiums in Pakistan, outdoor amphitheaters in Qatar, bullfighting rings in Peru, and packed stadiums in Argentina filled with young people—and seeing the Spirit of God move mightily—it’s awe-inspiring. The same is true in places like Jakarta, Indonesia, in a soccer arena, or soon in Helsinki, Finland, in an Olympic-style venue. I’m listing these things off like they’re normal, but they’re anything but. It’s clear: God is moving.
I’m incredibly grateful to be alive to witness all of this. At 58, I’m not cynical. Have I seen a lot? Yes. But more importantly, I’ve seen Jesus. And when you see the real thing, it changes everything. Scripture says to fix your eyes on Jesus, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. I’m more energized and excited about the future than I’ve ever been. I truly believe our best days are ahead of us, not behind us. God is doing something amazing. The past eight to ten years have been undeniably hard for everyone, but it’s a new day. God is doing a new thing, and I’m determined to be part of it.
For more of our conversation with Christine Caine, check out The RELEVANT Podcast.
