Rescue Generation Z

The Problem
The picture painted for the upcoming generation is bleak. In the last 45 years, suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 10-24-year-olds. We are seeing a trend of young people ill-prepared for the struggles of real life, uncommitted, overwhelmed, depressed, co-dependent on their parents, emotionally inept, without perseverance, addicted to video games, addicted to drugs and psychotropic medication, anxiety and many more ailments plague them.


Here’s the kicker, almost half the world’s population is 25 or under. Is there hope for the future of the world?

The Person
My Name is Joshua Knudsen and I believe there is and I want to be a part of that solution.

For ten years now my wife and have worked as youth pastors loving teens and walking them through their hardest moments.

I remember my wife and I sitting next to a young 13-year-old girl in the hospital who had tried to commit suicide. We cried with her and I remember thinking, how many millions of teenagers are out there who feel just like this girl? So I decided to do something about it. After praying about it and getting the counsel and support of my pastor, I began the first phase of my mission. Along with pastoring middle and high schoolers, I started a business called Josh Talks to Teens, where I travel to schools to speak to middle and high school students about managing their emotions. But, we must do more to reach them where they are.

The Next Phase
In the second phase, I want to maximize the effectiveness of this mission by engaging on two fronts.


First, We give teens the means to discover and live out their God-given potential, overcome the obstacles and traps they easily fall into, get healthy mentally, spiritually and emotionally so that they can live their best lives now and into their adult years. But to do that we must increase the push to meet them where they are.  We will use various mediums to speak into every area of their lives so that we will have the most impact on them. This includes Social Media, YouTube, Music, Clothing, School Assemblies, Books, Podcasts, and Apps.


Second, we make an impact in the arena that holds the most influence. The home. According to recent studies, parents are STILL the most influential people in the lives of adolescents. So the way to have the greatest impact is to encourage, equip and empower the parents so that they can effectively love and raise their teens to be successful, healthy adults that are pillars of society.


So this year in this second phase the goal is to speak in a minimum of 10 schools on this vital topic of emotional management. We are going to effectively leverage social media such as IGTV, and YouTube with a monthly advice show and podcast, as well as daily videos and posts that inspire, entertain and educate. We will also be publishing our first book for teens “10 Ways to Make Your Life Not Suck” in hard copy and digital form. We will launch and distribute 2 online courses for parents and teens that will build their relationships and equip them to navigate teen life together.

The Potential
Through our  hard work and partnership with other people and organizations, I believe that we will see Teens more prepared for adult life, the workforce, marriage, childrearing, college
• Teens opt out of suicide and self-harm and choose a positive direction
• Teens positively engage in society and school
• Improved home life and support systems
• Teens navigate relationships better, setting them up for better futures
• Reverse trend of depression, anxiety, drug addiction, suicide, living at home after college, lack of emotional intelligence, psychotropic drug dependence, and many more negative trends we see
And they will realize the plan and purpose God has for them.


The Partnership 
One thing we recognize is that partnership is crucial. We cannot do this without you. I want to ask if you will partner with me in making phase two happen. To help me reach this current generation by encouraging, equipping and empowering them to be the Leaders of tomorrow. This campaign will only run for 3 weeks because we are ready to move and start impacting teens. Your partnership would mean the world to us because we are passionate about impacting this generation and we believe that the engagement of adults and leaders is crucial to Rescuing Generation Z.

THE PERKS
Even though we could never fully say how much your partnership means to us, here are some small ways we'd like to say thank you. 

 $25- Get my free eBook- "The Stress-Less Teen" (It works for adults too!)
$100- You get to show that you're all in for impacting Generation Z with our #RESCUEGENZ T-shirt
$250- We are doubling up and you get the eBook and the #RESCUEGENZ T-shirt
$500- Get the eBook and trendy #RESCUEGENZ dad cap
$1000- You'll get both the dad cap and a #RESCUEGENZ sweatshirt
$1500 or >- You get the whole enchilada of the perks above

For BUSINESSES- for a donation of $500, $1000 or $1,500 or greater you will get the perk associated with it as well as be displayed as a GENZ RESCUE PARTNER on our website. 



The Plan
The funds will go to launch phase two successfully. 

Personnel- This will provide operating costs for myself and a part-time assistant. This will create the ability to get into more schools, create courses and resources for teens and their parents, author the first book for teens, and produce all the media for social media and YouTube to reach them where they are. 

Marketing- This allows us to get in front of our target audience and impact them at a greater level. 

Software and programs- Everything requires technology these days

Equipment- From props, to film equipment, to costumes, we are creating an impactful experience for Generation Z to inspire, encourage, empower and equip them to go from lost to leaders.