WASHINGTON—As churches worldwide struggle to keep younger generations engaged, missionary leader Steve Richardson believes the solution isn’t to water down faith—it’s to challenge young people to step up.

Richardson, the president of the missionary organization Pioneers, has dedicated his life to global evangelism. Born in Canada, he was just six months old when his parents moved to Papua New Guinea to share the Gospel with an indigenous tribe. Their story became famous through Peace Child, a book written by his father, Don Richardson, detailing their work among the Sawi people.

“Young people are realizing that in order to really have fulfillment in life and meaning, you need more than just a good career,” Richardson said in an exclusive interview with The Gospel Herald. “Life can be very empty if you’re just chasing after entertainment.”

Now leading an organization with 3,000 missionaries in over 100 countries, Richardson has witnessed a growing crisis: young people walking away from their faith. But instead of seeing this as a lost battle, he sees an opportunity.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard of the Peace Child story, but it’s a famous missionary story,” Richardson said. “That’s the story of my parents’ work among the cannibals and headhunters in the jungles of New Guinea. I grew up there for 15 years.”

Gen Z’s Hunger for Purpose

Despite reports of declining church attendance among Gen Z, Richardson believes there is a rising spiritual hunger that Christian leaders must harness. He pointed to the growing number of young people publicly declaring their faith, as well as spiritual revivals happening on university campuses.

“I think we need some of the younger generation to be really bold and courageous in taking leadership,” he said. “Some of the most famous sports figures are being quite open about their Christian faith, and that’s encouraging.”

During his recent speech at the CMC Global conference in Baltimore, Richardson saw this hunger firsthand.

“The theme was from 2 Corinthians 5, where it talks about how God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus and given us the ministry of reconciliation,” he said. “Our ministry is to create peace between people and their Creator.”

After his talk, 15 to 20 attendees stepped forward, committing to pursue mission work. For Richardson, this was proof that Gen Z isn’t uninterested in faith—they just need a vision big enough to inspire them.

Faith in a Changing World

Some church leaders fear that the "Golden Age" of missions, particularly among Chinese Christians, has passed. From the 1990s to mid-2010s, China saw explosive church growth and global missionary efforts. But with increasing restrictions, some wonder if that momentum is fading.

Richardson, however, remains hopeful.

“The Church is going to continue to grow significantly in China,” he said. “God has placed pressure from time to time on the Church in China and other countries so that it will continue to grow—so it does not become too relaxed, too content.”

He sees a future where Asian Christians—particularly young people—play a pivotal role in global missions.

“I believe that the era of Chinese missions is really starting to gain momentum,” he said. “We have Chinese workers in other parts of the world, we have workers from Mongolia, and I’m really excited about the tremendous potential of the Church in Asia.”

A Challenge for Young Christians

So, how can young people avoid losing their faith? According to Richardson, it starts with a shift in priorities.

“I challenged everybody at the conference to pray daily, ‘Lord, bless the nations through me and my family,’” he said. “And then, more specifically, I challenged everyone to financially support at least one missionary involved in cross-cultural ministry.”

He also emphasized the importance of perseverance, especially for those who feel called to leadership.

“A key to successful leadership is endurance—it’s not giving up, not getting discouraged,” Richardson said. “And I would say that EQ is more important than IQ. Learning diplomacy, how to speak, how to mobilize and motivate people—that’s more important than how much knowledge you have about a particular subject.”

Looking Ahead: Missions for All Generations

While much of today’s mission work focuses on mobilizing young people, Richardson sees another untapped group: retirees. He is currently writing a book challenging older Christians—those 55 and older—to dedicate five to ten years to mission work.

“People are living longer now, and many retire with enough money but no real purpose,” he said. “I’m challenging them to consider using their later years for world missions.”

As for his own mission, Richardson has set a bold goal: to expand Pioneers' reach to 250 more unreached people groups in the next 10 years.

“It’s going to require hundreds of more people and lots of creative strategies,” he said.

For young believers looking for purpose, Richardson’s message is clear: The world doesn’t need another generation focused only on careers and entertainment—it needs a generation willing to take risks for their faith.

“Stay faithful, don’t give up, and surround yourself with people who share your vision,” he said.

For those inspired to learn more or get involved, Richardson encouraged readers to visit pioneers.org and check out Peace Child, which is available in Mandarin and multiple other languages.