Gen Zs Proclaim the Gospel in Rescue Cleveland

Story by Jamal Franklyn

Recently, young people took the lead in evangelism during Rescue Cleveland 2026, a five-night urban outreach initiative that brought Cleveland-area churches together for preaching, worship, community care and discipleship. Held at the Southeast church in Cleveland, the series concluded with 22 baptisms and a renewed commitment to equip young people for ministry.

Nine youth and young adult evangelists proclaimed the gospel throughout the week, including 11-year-old Malachi Howell, a Ramah Christian Academy student and member of the Alpha & Omega church in Warren, Ohio. Their participation reflected the project’s conviction that youth and young adults are the church of today.

Pace Fordham, Allegheny West Conference (AWC) young adult coordinator, led the combined youth and young adult worship team and made appeals following the nightly messages. Bible counselors Minger Nesmith and Wilmar Ward worked with new believers to strengthen their biblical foundation and prepare them to disciple others.

Rescue Cleveland also demonstrated intergenerational ministry and collaboration across the city. Participating pastors included Stanley Hood of Southeast, David Pluviose of Temple of Praise, Pace Fordham of Cleveland Bethel and Canton, Keith Hackle and Jonathan Fields of Grace Community, Maurice Belle of West Side, and Maurice Howell of Alpha & Omega. The Southeast church, under Hood’s leadership, hosted the series with support from deacons, deaconesses, treasury and hospitality teams, Pathfinder leaders and other volunteers.

Southeast youth leaders Corey Thomas and Tyrese Leslie, along with Cleveland Bethel Pathfinder Director, James Harris, provided Jesus-branded T-shirts and welcome bags for the newly baptized disciples. The AWC Youth and Young Adult Media Ministries team, led by Media Director Cherlo Cherestal, produced and streamed the series online—sponsored by Evangelism Director Jerome Hurst and his department.

According to the 2026 Lifeway Research, Gen Z (ages 18–28) churchgoers attend church 6.2 times per month, more frequently than previous generations, and they intentionally form relationships within their churches and communities for evangelism and discipleship. The research shows that “in the past six months, the average Gen Z has shared their faith story with someone 6.7 times, compared to 2.7 times for those 61 and older.”

Rescue Cleveland reflects Joel 2 as evidence that God’s Spirit is being poured out on youth to proclaim the truth of the gospel to the world, say event leaders.