In July, IFA shared a story about Jimn Kyles, a Texas pastor who sought intercessors to cover an initiative called 70 Days of Prayer for Gen Z. This had one goal: to see the younger generations saved, discipled, and activated for the kingdom of God. The prayer initiative would then cascade into a weekend of worship, testimonies, salvation, baptisms, and activations, called God’s Encounter Weekend. At the end of the Sunday service, the youth were asked to simultaneously ring a bell as a sign they were saying yes to being missionaries for God. I was excited to catch up with Pastor Jimn and hear about what God did and the continuing fruit since.

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During God’s Encounter Weekend, there were dozens of reports of healing. A friend of mine invited one person, and she went on Sunday, day two, and was healed right from her seat, without anyone touching or laying hands on her. She said the atmosphere was filled with the presence of God. She was able to ring that “missions bell,” prophetically declaring that she was answering the call to the Great Commission.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19–20).

Some youths from Sugar Creek Baptist attended the event on Saturday. One of them was suffering from suicidal thoughts and nicotine addiction, and she was delivered. Her friend was struggling too and received a breakthrough after prayer. Nearly 80 water baptisms were reported, and hundreds of young people experienced an indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The best part for many of the older adults was watching the teenagers and young people worshiping God with or without their parents, and giving God all the glory.

Though the service was set up with a vision to win Gen Z, God can, of course, touch anyone. One story comes to us from Donna, who attended the event in support of her Gen Z niece, a young lady on fire for the Lord. This aunt had turned away from God as a young adult but later was inspired by her niece’s relationship with the Lord. Donna rededicated her life to Jesus and became hungry for more of God when she was invited to the God’s Encounter Weekend.

That Sunday, though, Donna began making excuses for why she would not be able to attend. But she realized the devil was working to keep her from experiencing God. She showed up slightly after the start of the service. As the service was closing, Pastor Jimn invited anyone who wanted to receive a baptism of the Holy Spirit to stand. Donna hesitated; she knew she should’ve stood up. She thought to herself: “If he asks again, I will stand.” And indeed, Pastor Jimn said: ‘’I feel like there’s someone else who should be standing.” Donna quickly stood to her feet, already sensing a movement of the Spirit of God. As she lifted her hands heavenward, she felt overcome by the power of God’s Spirit. “I knew I was back home with my Father once again,” she said joyfully.

That was nearly two months ago, and the Prayer for Gen Z movement is still going strong and shows no signs of stopping. The lasting fruit from the prayers and God’s Encounter Weekend is evident now that the youths are back at school.

A local high school coach named Anthony participated in the prayer calls and felt God give him greater boldness to impact the students he encountered. He stepped out in faith and began to minister to them. One of his young athletes wanted to quit the team due to family problems. The coach knew the heart of the young man’s difficulties was the lack of a relationship with the heavenly Father. Anthony shared his faith, and the young man committed his life to Christ. Days later, the youth’s mother phoned the coach to thank him for praying with her son. She said she was noticing a radical change in him; for one thing, he asked to start going to church. And he decided to attend youth camp without being asked to do so. This young man’s life has been forever changed. Filled with boldness, he is sharing his faith with others. Another testimony by way of coach Anthony involves something called The Fifth Quarter, which is set for October: This event will feature student-led Christian worship and testimonies following the fourth quarter of the football games.

The Pray for Gen Z initiative prayed over every school in Fort Bend County by name. Hundreds of students have committed to being bold, sharing their faith, and praying at their schools. The atmosphere is shifting in the hallways and classrooms. One principal said everyone at his school was used to seeing fights in school every week. But he noticed that three weeks had gone by without a fight since the school year began. A hall monitor said that there are usually kids causing trouble or refusing to go to class. The teachers and faculty are amazed by the change that has transpired in the students and at the school. And it’s not that any new programs have been implemented. “It feels like walking into a different school,” the principal and the monitor said. “It’s not luck — coach Anthony said we have been praying by name for the high school students throughout the summer.”

Two students from another high school, brother and sister Chad and Alexandria, have been actively sharing their faith with other Gen Z students. They asked the principal if they could host a weekly Fellowship of Christian Athletes prayer meeting at the school flagpole, and they got approval. So far, there have been 20-plus students gathering to pray on Fridays and meeting together as an official FCA club. At the Randle High School football game, the entire team went into the end zone and took a knee to pray together. That’s the first time that has ever happened.

Wherever there is strategic and unified prayer, God is there. High schools all over Texas are being saturated with prayer. God is moving over Gen Z. We must continue to pray fervently for these young people. They are blazing trails and are moving to pray in the schools and to get Bible clubs going. Whenever we combine the word and the Spirit, we will get a mighty move of God. Lord, do it again, and do it in our schools. 

What’s Next?

There are gatherings of pastors and churches set for the end of this month. Pastor Jimn reports that there is continued unity even after the encounter weekend. Youth pastors from different cities are working together in collaboration for a See You at the Flagpole event.

Here’s how you can pray for Pastor Jimn and his team as they continue praying for Gen Z:

“This started as a prayer initiative but has become a prayer movement,” he said. “We need grace to follow God’s leading. We need guidance, and we need strategy and structure.” 

Pray for the pastors who continue in pursuit of seeing Gen Z fulfill its mission, that they would remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

Pray for parents and grandparents to pray with their Gen Z kids and grandkids. 

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)

Pray for strategies for Gen Z to enter the schools and treat them as mission fields. 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me! (Isaiah 6:8 NIV).

Pray for open doors and divine connections, and for the Church to mobilize to reach Gen Z.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17).

“We want to activate Gen Z, but that requires the next step, which is discipleship,” said Pastor Jimn. Pray for boots on the ground, and that means we will need more pastors to help to accomplish this. 

Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field (Matthew 9:30 NIV).

“We win by inches. Sometimes it’s leaps and bounds, but mostly it’s by inches,” said Pastor Jimn. “We are taking ground inch by inch and will not let off.”

Amen! Do you agree with that statement? We are not going to let off! The members of this next generation are too important for us to err that way, and that’s why the Enemy is trying to destroy their identity with confusion. They are arrows in the hand of Almighty God. Would you continue to intercede for this generation?

Father, we thank You for this prayer movement that is still producing lasting fruit. Please continue to bless the prayer calls, school campuses, Bible clubs, or any other venues at which these young people gather in Your name. Christ promised that wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them. Thank You for the divine presence, because that is what sets us apart. Yes, Your presence makes all the difference. We praise You for every soul saved during the encounter weekend, and for all those who said yes to the call. Direct their paths and make Your plans known to them. Let it be so Lord, in every city and state where youth-led worship gatherings and prayer meetings are taking place. Do it again, Lord! — what You did in Fort Bend County, You can do anywhere. Bless Pastor Jimn and his team so they’ll know the next steps to take. Give them wisdom, guidance, and supernatural answers and connections. Do what only You can do! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How are you praying for Gen Z? Share your prayers below.

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Pastor Jimn Kyles.