A Letter from Kevin Oessenich
Dear Friends of World Team,
There’s something so uplifting and hopeful about spring, isn’t there? As Song of Solomon 2:12 says, “Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come, and the cooing of doves is heard in the land.” Just like the arrival of spring, God is planting seeds and growing new life in the hearts of young people today.
I am overjoyed to share the “Rising Hope” we are seeing for the kingdom in the lives of Generation Z and Millennials. According to the Barna Group’s 2025 State of the Church report, Bible reading has increased from 12% to 42% in just two years, with nearly half of all young adults now engaging with scripture weekly.
The numbers tell an incredible story: personal commitment to Jesus has climbed to 66% of adults–the highest in decades–representing 30 million new followers of Christ. This spiritual renewal is being led by the younger generation. As David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna, noted: “Undeniably, there is a renewed interest in Jesus…This is the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal-and it’s the first time Barna has recorded such spiritual interest being led by younger generation.”
We are seeing this same “Rising Hope” across the globe. In the UK, monthly church attendance among 18-to 24-year-olds has quadrupled since 2018. Meanwhile, Christianity continues to grow at unprecedented rates across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. God is calling the nations to him in miraculous ways.
God has uniquely equipped World Team to play a key role in this movement. World Team has been dedicated for over 150 years to building relationships, sharing the gospel, making disciples, and planting reproducing churches amongst the least reached. Through your faithful support, over 300 World Team missionaries are serving in 28 countries among 50 people groups. 78% of World Team missionary candidates in the last two years have been under the age of 35.
Please join us in praying for these emerging believers and consider financially partnering with World Team Ministries in this new effort of recruitment, discipleship, training, and sending out this next generation of missionaries. Together, we can seize this “Rising Hope” for the kingdom.
Reaching the World Together,
Kevin Oessenich
President of World Team/USA
P.S. We would love to hear about how you are seeing God work in the hearts of young people in your family, community and church. Please drop me a note so we can rejoice together in this “Rising Hope”.