A Bright Future Ahead
In a recent episode of Table Talk, Doug sat down with Year 12 student Sienna Pailthorpe, a young leader with a powerful perspective on faith, purpose, and the future of her generation.
“I’m honestly just trying to glorify God through how I work,” Sienna said. “Even in exams, I don’t want to be lazy at something.”
Her focus? Keeping faith at the centre of everything she does.
Leading Faith at School
Sienna leads a student-led prayer and worship group called Unite. The group meets weekly, drawing up to 120 students at its peak.
“Eighty people still come to hear the Word of God at school,” she said. “That’s so amazing.”
For Sienna, it’s about creating space for her peers to connect with God. “We worship, share messages, and pray together. Sometimes students walking by stop and look in, it’s beautiful.”
Even when the group was moved to a no-food room and numbers dropped slightly, the students stayed committed. “They gave up their lunches. It’s like a mini fast,” she said. “It shows the hunger of my generation.”
Why Gen Z Is Turning Toward Faith
Contrary to stereotypes, Sienna believes Gen Z is seeking faith more deeply than before.
“There’s that verse, ‘Seek and you shall find.’ That’s exactly what’s happening,” she explained. “As Christianity has become less of a social norm, it’s become more of a personal faith.”
She believes this shift has made faith more authentic. “People aren’t doing it because they have to. They’re doing it because they want to.”
Sienna reflected on a common theme among her peers: a desire for genuine connection with God. “They’ve had religion, but not necessarily Jesus,” she said. “Now, people are truly finding Him for themselves.”
Faith Meets Social Media
Sienna also highlighted the growing influence of social media on young people’s spiritual lives.
“Social media has had a huge impact,” she said. “Some people have started attending church after seeing videos online.”
She mentioned Christian influencers like Bryce Crawford, Forrest Frank, and Amy Morelli as examples. “What I love,” she said, “is when they point people back to Jesus rather than themselves.”
One quote stuck with her from a podcast:
“If you’re listening to my podcast more than reading your Bible,” the host said, “put my podcast down and go read your Bible.”
“That’s real humility,” Sienna added. “It’s so beautiful.”
Politics, Faith, and Perspective
When asked about the political side of faith, Sienna’s response was thoughtful and balanced.
She reflected on the impact of public figures like Charlie Kirk. “I saw him as someone representing right-wing politics,” she said. “I didn’t look to him as a model for what a Christian should be.”
Sienna acknowledged the growing mix of left and right perspectives among Christians. “It’s interesting to see left-wing Christians talking about love and acceptance,” she said. “I just want to hear both sides, pray about it, and form my own convictions.”
Her maturity shone through. “Ultimately, I just want to glorify God and stay grounded in His Word,” she said.
A Generation Hungry for More
As the conversation ended, Doug summed it up perfectly:
“It sounds like an exciting space and an exciting generation that’s coming through.”
Sienna’s story reflects a broader movement within Gen Z, one that values authenticity, purpose, and a personal connection with God.
Listen to the full conversation below.