Pastor Jonathan Pokluda Declares: Gen Z Hasn’t Given Up on Jesus
A Texas pastor who regularly speaks at college campuses has a message for anyone convinced the younger generation is hopeless: They’re not – and they’re on fire for Christ.
Pastor and author Jonathan Pokluda made the comments last week after seeing 5,000 students fill Addition Financial Arena on the campus of the University of Central Florida for a night of testimonies, biblical teaching and worship that was capped by 1,600 decisions for Christ and hundreds of baptisms. The gathering was the latest stop on the Unite US movement, which began in the fall of 2023 at Auburn University and has since spread to campuses across the United States, drawing more than 140,000 college students.
Pokluda, a pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in McGregor, Texas, spoke that night at UCF.
“People love to say this generation is hopeless. That Gen Z is too far gone. Too distracted. Too addicted. Too confused. Too broken,” Pokluda posted on his social media accounts alongside a video of him baptizing UCF students. “But after last night … I’m convinced of the opposite. This generation hasn’t given up on Jesus.”
Pokluda and other speakers that night “watched God move in a way only He can,” he wrote.
“Over 1,600 students gave their lives to Christ – not because of hype, but because the Gospel is still the power of God to save.”
The pastor then recounted story after story demonstrating the life-changing message of the gospel.
“A security guard walked up and handed over his vape. Not because someone pressured him … but because he was done. He wanted freedom. A young woman who had tried to take her own life showed up … and instead of death winning, Jesus did. She surrendered her life to the One who gives life. A young man living a double life finally stopped pretending and decided to follow Jesus for real. That’s what happens when Jesus walks into a room. Chains break. Shame loses. Darkness runs.”
Baptisms outside the arena continued long after the worship service ended, as Pokluda and others watched students “go public with their faith, declaring that their old life is gone and Christ is their new King.”
“Don’t believe the lie that this generation is lost. They’re searching. They’re hungry. They’re desperate for truth,” he wrote. “And when they hear the name of Jesus lifted high … they respond. Praise God for what He’s doing. Revival is not coming … it’s here.”
At least four other Unite US events are scheduled for this spring: Pittsburgh (March 25), Florida State (March 31), Samford (April 8) and Oklahoma State (April 28).
Related Article
5,000 Students Worship Jesus at UCF: ‘God Is Moving in a Powerful Way’
Photo Credit: ©Unite US
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published February 18, 2026.
