'Generation Alpha' with Mark McCrindle
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Welcome to Sunburnt Souls, the podcast where faith meets mental well-being. I'm Dave Quak, your host, and today we’re diving into a fascinating conversation with Mark McCrindle, a leading social researcher, demographic expert, and the mind behind the term Generation Alpha.
In this episode, we explore:
The unique challenges and opportunities facing Generation Alpha (kids born 2010-2024)
The impact of technology, mental health, and faith on young people today
How shifting cultural trends affect evangelism, parenting, and the future of the church in Australia
Practical strategies for raising resilient, faith-filled children in a digital world
Key demographic trends shaping 2025 and beyond
Mark’s research has shaped the way churches, leaders, and organisations understand the changing landscape of faith, mental health, and social behaviour. Whether you're a parent, pastor, educator, or youth worker, this episode is packed with insights and strategies to help navigate the rapidly evolving world.
Subscribe now and join the conversation on faith, culture, and mental resilience. Let’s make a difference together!
Meet Mark McCrindle
The Team at McCrindle Research (2025)
We are so blessed to have Mark McCrindle from McCrindle Research here. And you've got your finger in many other pies. But Mark, thank you so much for being here this morning, my brother.
Mark McCrindle
Thanks, Dave. Great to be with you. And great to be on board.
Dave Quak
It's a huge blessing. Usually, when we have a New South Wales guest on—because I'm a staunch Queenslander—we like to banter about why we're better. But we’re just not bitter at the moment. You are killing us in every way. It’s like ten degrees and raining up here at the moment. You've just wiped the floor in Origin.
Dave Quak
More medals came in the Olympics from New South Wales than Queensland. So it's a good time to be a cockroach, Mark.
Mark McCrindle
Right! We're having our moment in the sun—quite literally. But, look, I think we’re not beating you in one key area. Australians are voting with their feet and moving to Queensland in record numbers. In fact, New South Wales is losing more people than it’s gaining in terms of internal migration, and much of that exodus is heading up to the Sunshine State.
Mark McCrindle
So, the people can’t be wrong.
Dave Quak
The people can't be wrong. And it’s true—we’ve got a lot of people moving here. I live on the Gold Coast, and a lot of people are migrating here, especially. So we welcome you guys. We're happy to have you.
Also, I just wanted to thank you. I know you don’t need much of an introduction because a lot of people who listen to this podcast have already told me how excited they are to have you on as a guest. But you do have your finger in many, many pies.
Dave Quak
You're the principal of McCrindle Research, which has been helping us pastors for decades—helping us understand which trends to look out for. The research you did with Olive Tree Media, maybe five years ago now, was a linchpin for our church changing direction, especially in how we do evangelism.
You're also on the board of some of my favorite organisations—Compassion and Pacific Coast Christian School, which is just down the road. You’re on TV, you’re writing books... What’s it like for you being a prominent Australian leader in this space? And I guess my question is, how’s your mental health? How do you manage all this?
Mark McCrindle
Well, you know, the Lord calls and the Lord equips, and it's our job just to steward what He has put in front of us. That attitude of being a faithful servant means we don’t have to build it in our own strength. We don’t have to grasp at it—we just have to be faithful.
Paul writes to the church at Colossae and says, "The one who called you is faithful, and He will do it." He strengthens us, but He is the one who ultimately does the work. So I just feel called to step into these areas, do my best, and present whatever that best is up to the Lord—trusting that He will establish it and have an impact.
Mark McCrindle and his other passions
Of course, there are responsibilities we have in business, family, and other areas. But I also believe there’s a responsibility to serve. That’s why I’ve found great value in being on boards and using whatever skills, experience, and guidance I’ve gained to help steward these important organisations. Hopefully, it’s been helpful for them. It’s certainly been a blessing for me.
Dave Quak
Yeah, it is important work. Are you still on the Compassion board, Mark?
Mark McCrindle
Yes.
Dave Quak
Yeah. I have had a heart for them for so long. We’ve been a Compassion-supporting church since we planted. We've got a continual rotation of Compassion children represented on our fridge. When they graduate, we sponsor a new young one. It’s such an incredible ministry.
Mark McCrindle
Oh, great to hear! Absolutely. The global impact of Compassion is phenomenal. It’s not only the leading child development organisation, but also an incredible evangelistic organisation.
These children, regardless of their background or faith, receive support through local churches in their countries. They get healthcare, education, and, most importantly, spiritual input and pastoral care.
Mark McCrindle
What an opportunity we have to support these field workers and church pastors in these far-flung lands—impacting the most vulnerable and their families, not just in practical ways, but in spiritual ways as well.
Here’s the edited and formatted text with names bolded, timestamps removed, and errors corrected:
Dave Quak: Yeah, it's amazing. Selah. Well, our current child, she's an Islamic girl from Indonesia, and she's delightful. She just always writes the most beautiful letters. I just love it. I love what you do there. You were kind enough to come on. I sent an email asking if we could chat about mental health in Australia. Obviously, that is just a massive topic.
So many organisations are trying their best to bring it to the forefront of people's thinking. I would just love to let you be Mark McCrindle and tell us what is going on in this space in Australia.
Mark McCrindle: Well, it's importantly front of mind at the moment for us because the data is highlighting the challenge. In the latest census, for the first time, Australians were asked if they are living with a long-term health condition. The number one condition—above asthma (and we know there's lots of asthma in Australia) and above arthritis (and we've got an ageing population with more arthritis)—is mental health.
That highlights, I think, the scale of the challenge. We just ran a study of education across Australia. We asked teachers what they think the biggest challenges are moving forward. On top of administration challenges, funding issues, and getting new staff on board, managing the mental health of students was the biggest challenge.
So it's an issue that affects people across all age groups, but it's particularly evident with young people. They’re growing up in a time of financial uncertainty, global machinations, geopolitical shifts, and anxiety about the future—their own future and the global future. I guess it's no surprise that, despite us being in the "lucky country" with so much opportunity, stability, and economic options compared to other countries, mental health is still a significant challenge because of the uncertainty and anxiety in the world today.
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Generation Alpha
I've read some of your research around Generation Alpha. It must be cool that you coined that term, by the way. I've never coined a term—you get credit for coining that term! I've got a couple of Alphas at home. I know because every now and then my name's "Dad," but sometimes it’s "Sigma."
I think that's a good thing because it's when I buy them KFC. They like saying "Sigma," so my name changes. I still try to embarrass them at school by saying their mum has "mad Riz." Apparently, that means their mum's an attractive lady. I still don’t fully understand their lingo. But I’ve got such a heart for that age group, as you do.
What do you reckon is going on? Why is it accelerating for them? I mean, all generations are struggling with mental health, but what's going on with the Alphas?
Generation Alpha refers to individuals born between 2010 and 2024, marking them as the first generation to be fully raised in the 21st century. They are the children of Millennials (Generation Y) and the successors of Generation Z.
This generation is characterised by their seamless integration with technology from a very early age, earning them the label "digital natives." They have grown up in an era of smartphones, tablets, and constant connectivity to the internet, making them highly adept at navigating digital landscapes.
Mark McCrindle: Well, I think despite our efforts and the breakthroughs we’ve made, this generation has more education than ever—they’re the most formally educated generation. They’re also the most materially endowed generation in history. And that can be a positive thing.
They’re the most globally connected and the most technology-supplied generation ever. They even have a longer life expectancy than the generations before them. So there are incredible opportunities for them. And yet, it's almost as if we've given them more options, more pathways, more opportunities—but no purpose and no clear foundations.
I think at a national level, that's the situation. We say, "You can do anything. You can be anything," but we don’t provide values, foundations, or a sense of belonging and hope. A lot of parents are uncertain about the future. We tell them that environmentally, things are falling apart, that they won’t be able to afford a home like their parents, and that it’s globally competitive.
We pressure them to work hard, get good grades, and succeed in their studies—and then continue studying later. But we forget to tell them, even at a national level (and hopefully Christian parents don’t forget), that they’re made in the image of God. They are loved by Him, and He has a heart for children.
We see Jesus saying, “Don’t keep the children away, thinking they’re not important.” He says, “Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” If we can help this important generation—who have so much in life but are missing spiritual purpose, a sense of belonging, and hope for their future—with the truth of Jesus, I think that’s key.
As we’ve moved into more secular times, we’ve leaned on science, technology, medicine, and pharmaceuticals to solve these problems. But at the heart of it, some of this anxiety and uncertainty flows from soul sickness—people not knowing, “Why am I here? What’s my purpose? Where do I belong?” If we can offer coherent answers, that will greatly help our young people.
Dave Quak: Yeah, it’s the ultimate purpose. And we know that as followers of Christ. Are there any indications that there’s a smaller percentage of anxious people within the body of Christ compared to people who don’t have faith or have a different faith persuasion? Is there any correlation, or is anxiety the same inside and outside the church?
Mark McCrindle: That would be a great thing to study. No doubt, anxiety exists across the community. It’s not as though there’s less physical sickness within the church. That’s just life.
In fact, God often uses trials, turmoil, and sickness—whether physical or mental—so that we might trust in Him and learn through those dark valleys. Often, we grow more through those valleys than through the hilltop experiences.
I don’t know if there’s data on that, but I would say that when, as Winston Churchill called it, the "Black Dog" follows us—when there’s uncertainty, anxiety, or a sense of depression—we as Christians have hope. We have the peace of God, which passes understanding, and we have the truth of God that we can access in His Word.
Mark McCrindle
And I'm sure you found, David, as I have, that when there is stress or tough times or dark days—when it seems like the clouds are closing in on us due to circumstances in life, or even for unexplained reasons—we find comfort in the Word of God. We have that open line of communication through prayer.
Mark McCrindle
We have the Holy Spirit—He guides us. We have the example of Christ. And we have the counsel of great believers in history that we can turn to and learn from—people who have been through tough times. Look at Jeremiah—he seemed pretty depressed to me. Look at Elijah—after his great victory, the next thing we see is him curled up in the fetal position, thinking he's the only follower of God and scared of Queen Jezebel. We see these people go up and down. Peter had incredible highs, but also deep lows—he had to be reinstated by the Lord after falling into a rough place following his denials.
Mark McCrindle
And that's the work of God in our hearts, in our heads, and in our lives. I think we, as Christians, need to offer the comfort we've received and share the breakthroughs we've experienced with others. We have the truth, and we have access to spiritual resources that can help others as well.
Dave Quak
Yeah, fantastic. And I love your point that physical illness is no different in or outside the church—it's indiscriminate. I think that's important for Christians who might feel like they've failed spiritually if they experience mental health struggles. It's not an indication of poor discipleship or a sign that they're not drawing near to God. As you said, it can simply be a part of living in a broken world, or even something God is using to draw us closer to Him. You've been walking with Jesus a long time, Mark—how did you come to faith?
Mark’s McCrindle’s story of meeting Jesus
I grew up in a family with faithful parents. I was at church from birth and saw my parents live out their walk with the Lord. We had devotions, and I was surrounded by Christian things as a child. But as I approached my teenage years, I realised that I needed to make my own decision—that my parents' faith couldn't be inherited. Each of us has to do our own business with God.
When I was about 11, going on 12, I made a decision to follow Christ. And, you know, it's transformative to have that walk with the Lord. It's certainly shaped my life. Imperfect though I am, and as circuitous as my path has been, I've seen God's faithfulness—His love, comfort, and guidance—throughout the journey.
Dave Quak
Yeah, it can be a crazy journey, but it's a good one. It really is. I saw on your LinkedIn that you went to Morling College for a while, too.
Mark McCrindle
I did, yes. After school, I went to the University of New South Wales and studied psychology. It was an excellent degree—helpful for understanding people, life, and how groups interact. That experience forged my path into researching communities and societies as a social researcher. But I also wanted to integrate my professional knowledge with my Christian worldview.
I found my master's study at Morling to be really beneficial. It integrated professional training with a biblical worldview, and that's how I strive to live my life. That mix of secular professional training with biblical and theological perspective has been so helpful. I've done other studies since, but that integration was especially valuable.
Dave Quak
Because you understand community—you've studied this and looked at trends—how important do you think community and connection are, especially post-COVID, in the context of mental health?
Mark McCrindle
It's essential. We've been made for community. We're designed as social beings. God's vision—and indeed His guidance—is centred on community, starting with the family unit as the foundation of broader society. The Bible gives us so much instruction on how to live with an "others-minded" perspective—caring for and comforting others.
We're called to look out for the alienated, the fatherless, the orphan, the widow. We're instructed to take care of the vulnerable. Scripture tells us not to flaunt wealth but instead to share with those in need. And, of course, these principles are most clearly communicated through the church—how the church is supposed to function. So much of the New Testament is dedicated to instructions for Christian community—how believers should interact with one another.
““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,”
If we look at society today, particularly in response to your question about the rise in mental health challenges among young people, it's no surprise that these struggles have increased alongside the rise of technology. While technology can add value to our lives, it can also be addictive and reduce real-world interactions.
Social media, despite its name, can be pretty anti-social. You often see young people together but glued to their screens—not really engaging with each other. This has had a detrimental effect on community, relationships, and young people's overall well-being.
At its best, technology should facilitate community, not replace it. We need genuine human connection—real, face-to-face interaction—because we are designed for it.
Mark McCrindle And I think when it's across the generations, when it's authentic, when it's about going to serve, not to get, and when we bring a sense of humility to that community and a sense of wanting to engage and facilitate others in their belonging, I think it's at its best. And that's what society needs.
Dave Quak Yeah, I agree. I especially like what you said about that across generations. One thing I love about our faith community—it's not perfect, no church is—but there are a lot of older guys who have taken an interest in just mucking around with my son, telling him jokes, interacting with him, empowering him, blessing him with stuff, or even just making sure he knows he exists in that community and that he's an important part of it.
Dave Quak I know he wouldn't be flourishing without the input of those gentlemen. And yeah, we do miss out on that when we're just heads down in the phone.
Mark McCrindle Totally. I think that's important. You see older people in church, and I know when I was younger, I would look across at the older ones. I knew some of the challenges they'd been through, the ups and downs with their own children. Yet, there they are, faithfully standing up and singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness—summer, winter, springtime, and harvest, whatever the season. Great is Your faithfulness unto me.
Mark McCrindle That is such an encouragement to a young person. As a young person, you don’t go to many funerals, you go to all the parties, and life is ahead of you. But seeing older people who have been around the block a few times, who have buried loved ones, faced turmoil and unexplained challenges, and yet remain solid in their faith, is such an example. We can't do church without the young and the old.
Mark McCrindle We need each other, as you said. And on the mental health side, that's an encouragement for all of us. We see how they've stayed the course, that they are still surviving. I know they've been through challenges, but as Jesus said, Do not worry about tomorrow. That’s a commandment. If we can learn from others who keep trusting, turning up, and committing it to the Lord despite their stresses—if they've done it for that many years, surely I can do it for this season. That’s the beauty of community and a multi-generational church.
Dave Quak Yeah, absolutely. One of the elderly ladies in our church was actually in England during the shelling in the big wars. She's brilliant. We get her to preach every Mother's Day—she's 92. Because who else are you going to get? You've got to get the mother in the faith.
Dave Quak She tells stories that put things in perspective. Yes, we have troubles in our lives. The cost of living is insane. There are problems. But when you see what they’ve been able to overcome and then thrive in the subsequent decades, you can learn something from them.
Mark McCrindle Yes, exactly. That’s a testament.
Dave Quak Do you have any advice for people raising children now—Gen Alpha—about helping them balance the digital age they’re growing into? It’s all around them. So many of our children’s classes at school have iPad lessons. They get an iPad in Year 3, then a Mac in Year 5. It’s all so digital. What advice would you give to parents ten years younger than me? I’m 43, my kids are 15 and 13, but what about those bringing their children into this world now? What can they do to win?
How to raise children in a digital age?
Well, I wrote a book on Gen Alpha, and we had a simple acronym to help raise children in the digital age—DCBA. The D stands for delay—delay giving them their own device. They might have a device for learning at school or one we give them when they go to the shops for security, but if it's not their own, that's helpful.
There's no reason for a 6, 7, or 8-year-old to have their own phone. The fact is, they will be on it all the time, and it does develop addictive behaviors and takes up more and more time. So delaying that is key.
Mark McCrindle The C stands for communicate values. Over time, communicate: This is what we believe. This is what we look at. These are our values. These are our expectations when you use this device. As parents, we are guiding them from dependence to adolescence and ultimately independence. Early on, we set boundaries, but over time, we loosen the reins so they can navigate their own path. If we communicate values, they’ll internalise them and make good choices.
Mark McCrindle The B stands for behavioral input. We need to give them behavioral strategies to manage their screen use. And part of that starts with us as parents—monitoring our own screen use. What do we do when we have a few minutes? Do we just reach for the phone and doom-scroll? Instead, we should prioritise, limit our time, and model self-control. If we can manage our impulses and be an example, it helps them develop self-regulation.
Mark McCrindle The A stands for accountability. Ultimately, parents buy the device, parents pay the plan—it’s a parent contract. We can’t just blame the kids for being addicted to screens. If we’re the parents, we have the responsibility and accountability to set boundaries.
Mark McCrindle A simple strategy: delay giving personal devices, reduce access, maybe even have a screen-free day once a week, communicate values, set up good behavioral strategies, and take accountability. And look, it’s going to be messy. It won’t be perfect. But if we can manage it so that technology becomes a net benefit rather than a negative spiral, that’s a win.
Dave Quak Well, thank you for that because I think people are looking for a strategy. I think sometimes we're just—I know a lot of the guys in my life get sick of their kids being on screens and don't know what to do about it. So they might take it off them for a day or bust them doing something they shouldn't do.
Dave Quak And then there's an instant consequence. But we need strategies because that's not going away. All their jobs are going to be tied to it. I like that. The DCBA—well, what do you think about radically incentivising the D? Because I have a friend who basically said to his child, "If you don't get social media until you're 17, I'll buy you whichever car you want."
Dave Quak Yeah. Is that helpful? Is that a hindrance? What do you think of that?
Mark Mccrindle Oh, I think it's fantastic.
Dave Quak Okay. So it's worth it?
Mark Mccrindle Oh, definitely. Because we're helping them to have a bigger vision in life. We're helping them to not sacrifice their future on the altar of the present. Delayed gratification—that's what it's all about. Go for the bigger prize. People might say, "But it's a digital future. The digital natives, they'll get it. They're okay with that." But even in the future, the most valuable skills will be the distinctively human ones.
So if they can develop some sporting skills where they're interacting with a team, if they can get a job where they're interacting with customers, if they spend their time talking, serving, and interacting with other people, developing those people skills, communication skills, and interaction skills—that's going to serve them well.
Because everything that can be outsourced to technology will be. But what technology won't do is the people stuff, the caring stuff, the interaction stuff. So let's set them up for time invested in that area because that will future-proof them.
Dave Quak Absolutely. My daughter is actually quite a good communicator. We've got her to preach as well. She's young—she's 12. And the reason I did that is because you can't outsource public communication. It's an innate skill. I think anyone who can communicate publicly, away from their phones, and communicate one-on-one is just guaranteed success in the future because it's a diminishing skill. Right?
Mark Mccrindle So true, David. And that's a great example with your daughter. In my field—social research—we have to get up and communicate the results, speak to the core audience, and give presentations at conferences. I've found my team is so adept at that because, growing up in the church, you end up running a Bible study at 14 or 15.
You're participating, contributing—maybe giving a testimony when you're young. And, as you said with your daughter, getting up and giving a talk—maybe at a youth camp, youth group, or even in front of the congregation—is invaluable.
We have this great opportunity in the church to hear the voices of young people, to give them those platform opportunities, and to help them develop communication skills. The main thing they're communicating is the truth of God. But in the process, they're developing communication and engagement skills that will help them for life.
Dave Quak Absolutely, absolutely. What are you interested in at the moment? I'm sure a lot of topics come across your desk, and people solicit you for research. What do you think is coming up next? What are you looking at?
Mark Mccrindle Each year, we look at the emerging trends shaping society, and it's always fascinating. We've been doing some demographic analysis, looking at the future of Australia because we're growing so strongly. How are we going to manage population growth? The shift to regional areas has been fascinating over the last few years.
It used to be that people were moving closer to the CBD because that's where the work was. But now, we're seeing a decoupling of work from location. The future is going to be hybrid—we'll still gather as a workforce, but working from home will remain part of our week. Looking at the future for our children—can they achieve the Aussie dream of homeownership? That's fascinating, given that housing prices are out of control.
These trends are important to study because we need to make the right changes as a nation and as communities to ensure there is hope and opportunity for the next generation. When people have homeownership, they’re committed to that future. But if we have a generation that doesn’t own a home, isn't part of a community, and is a lifelong renter, it’s harder for them to integrate into the fabric of that community, stay long-term, or feel they have a stake in a stable future.
Dave Quak For the church, with this shift in population, do you think there needs to be a push toward regional cities to prepare for an influx of people?
Mark Mccrindle Yes, absolutely. There's such opportunity there. We've seen a rebalancing of Australia's population. It used to be Sydney and Melbourne focused—1 in 5 Australians lives in Sydney, and 1 in 5 lives in Melbourne. Add Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, and more than three-quarters of the entire population is in five capitals.
Now, we're seeing a change. Secondary cities are growing, coastal cities are rising, and there's phenomenal growth in inland, regional areas—the tree change and sea change movement. For church planters and Christians looking to impact their communities, this is where we need people to focus—to build communities in these fast-growing areas.
If Sydney grows or shrinks by a few thousand people, it doesn’t make a huge difference. But if a smaller city that usually grows by 2,000 a year suddenly grows by 3,500, that's a massive transformation. Those extra 1,500 people represent new church opportunities, new community hubs, and new ways to serve. If church planters and community builders keep an eye on demographics, they’ll see where the opportunities are—emerging hotspots, new areas of need, and ways to serve growing communities.
Mark McCrindle: Just generally in society, are we going to be mature drivers, or do we want technology to take over? But demographic modeling is pretty secure. You see the trends, and we can predict where the population will be in five years. We know in ten years which city will be larger—like Melbourne is about to overtake Sydney, for example.
Mark McCrindle: That has implications. When you've got a new number-one city after more than a century, it takes the lead. These things matter, and you can predict them. So yes, demographics provide opportunities to know where to grow, what the opportunities are, and certainly how to serve our nation.
Dave Quak: Well, I'm thankful for you, Mark, and I'm not alone. At so many of our pastors' gatherings, we bring up your research and ask, "Okay, what do we need to do to implement this?" Because you've done the hard yards to get data that, if we just applied it, would give us insight. You're appreciated by people all over the world.
Key Trends Every Christian Leader Must Prepare for in 2025 with Mark McCrindle
I'm also glad when you get your TV opportunities because, you know, when a Christian representative is on TV, there's always that worry—"How will they make us look this time?" But you always do so well, and you never seem to get nervous. Mark, do you enjoy it?
Mark McCrindle: Yeah, I think it's important. My team and I, we aim to be articulate. There's a lot of negativity out there, people talking doom and gloom instead of seeing the opportunities. As Christians, we speak life because we know who holds the future. We're not dismayed—we shape things, we take action, we serve others.
Mark McCrindle: We're community builders and makers; that’s what we're called to do. So yes, I'm always happy to take those opportunities and encourage my team to do the same. All truth is God's truth, so if it's data, if it's accurate, we need to be people who share it and provide guidance to any listeners.
Dave Quak: Absolutely. On logistics, if someone wants to buy your Gen Alpha book with the DCBA, what's the best way to do that?
Mark McCrindle: It's available on any online bookstore—just search Generation Alpha. You can also visit generationalpha.com, which has lots of free resources. We put many reports on our website, mccrindle.com. So any of those places will have helpful resources.
Mark McCrindle: And if you have questions, feel free to get in touch—we’re always happy to help.
Dave Quak: Yeah. And I've noticed you have a speaking team because you can only be in one place at a time. You've got people who focus on different areas—leadership, trends, and so on. If people want to engage them, they just go through your website?
Mark McCrindle: Exactly. We often speak at parents' nights at schools, staff development sessions, church days, and business events. We’re happy to add value—that’s what we’re called to do: help society understand the times, recognise trends, and make wise, informed decisions.
Mark McCrindle: That only happens when you look ahead and see what’s coming. Through data analytics, we guide people so they can make the best decisions. So yes, we'd love to contribute to any events people have in mind.
Dave Quak: For anyone hearing about McCrindle Research for the first time—especially our international listeners—just get online and explore the demographic studies and infographics. You’ll be sold. It’s such solid, helpful material.
At one point, Mark, I may have broken copyright laws—please forgive me—but I printed out one of your 54-page reports and plastered the demographic charts all over our church for six months. People started reading them, noticing what was happening, and it changed the course of our church.
Dave Quak: Our church is called Living Temple Christian Church—we get teased about the name! But the point is, the people are the living temple, taking God into society. One of your studies equipped us to realise evangelism today is about genuine personal faith sparking conversations with those open to change. That insight helped us shape our mission.
Dave Quak: Mark McCrindle, I appreciate what you're doing—not just in my life but in the body of Christ in Australia. We really do. Your generosity, the quality of your research—it's second to none. Thank you so much for being on.
Mark McCrindle: Thanks, Dave. Thanks for what you do. I trust this conversation blesses many. Keep up the great podcast—it's a blessing to us all.
Dave Quak: We love having you on. I always ask our guests to close in prayer. Would you mind praying for those who heard today’s discussion?
Mark McCrindle: Lord, we thank you for the opportunities new technology provides, like podcasts, to communicate truth and interact with others. We thank you for Dave, his ministry, his church, and his podcast—the many ways he impacts society and makes resources available.
Lord, for all listeners, we ask that you guide and bless them. May they use your truth to impact their communities, be examples, build connections, and point people to you. May they have hope and direction, knowing why they were created and for whom. May they have peace with you and a secure eternity.
We thank you for these opportunities and for the truth of your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Frequently asked Questions
What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing Generation Alpha?
Mark McCrindle explains that Generation Alpha (born 2010–2024) faces unprecedented challenges, despite being the most educated, tech-savvy, and globally connected generation. Increased screen time, a lack of deep community engagement, and societal uncertainty contribute to rising anxiety and mental health struggles. They have access to more opportunities than any generation before them, yet many lack a strong sense of purpose and resilience. Providing clear values, mentorship, and faith-based foundations can help them navigate these challenges.
How Is Technology Affecting the Mental Health of Generation Alpha?
Mark McCrindle highlights that while technology offers educational and social benefits, its overuse is linked to increased anxiety, social isolation, and reduced attention spans among young people. Social media, in particular, creates unrealistic comparisons and a lack of genuine connection. Parents and leaders can mitigate these effects by setting screen-time boundaries, encouraging offline activities, and fostering real-world community engagement.
How Can Christian Parents Raise Resilient Children in a Digital Age?
Mark McCrindle recommends the DCBA strategy for raising children in a tech-driven world:
Delay giving children their own device for as long as possible.
Communicate values about healthy tech use and online behavior.
Build behavioral strategies, such as screen-free times and family discussions.
Accountability—monitoring usage and ensuring open conversations about digital content.
By integrating faith-based values with these practical steps, parents can raise resilient, well-balanced children who navigate the digital age wisely.
What Trends Will Shape Churches and Christian Communities in 2025?
Mark McCrindle predicts that demographic shifts, decentralization of cities, and hybrid work models will reshape church engagement. More Australians are moving to regional areas, creating opportunities for church planting and community-building outside major cities. Additionally, churches that prioritize intergenerational connections and authentic community experiences will thrive. Digital discipleship, while valuable, should complement—not replace—real-world faith communities.
Why Is Community More Important Than Ever for Mental Well-being?
Mark McCrindle emphasizes that strong communities are crucial in an age of digital isolation. While technology can enhance connection, it should not replace genuine relationships. Multi-generational church communities provide wisdom, mentorship, and stability, helping young people develop resilience. The presence of older believers who have navigated life’s hardships reinforces the biblical truth that faith, hope, and perseverance are key to overcoming challenges.
How to get help with your faith and mental health?
For more candid conversations on faith and mental well-being, check out Sunburnt Souls. You can subscribe to our podcast on any major platform or contact us to book us for speaking engagements.
Sunburnt Souls is a faith-based ministry, and we’re grateful for everyone’s generous support. If you’d like to help, pray that our message reaches those who need it. And if you feel led, you can donate online. But if you feel obliged or manipulated to give, you’re better off buying a loved one a coffee instead.
