Modern Era Testimony

Brian Barcelona: Ex-Atheist Teen Now Leading Thousands of Gen Z to Jesus

Twenty-Five Thousand Watched the First Livestream

🇺🇸Dallas, Texas, USA

Brian Barcelona was a teenage atheist until age 16 when he had a radical encounter with God.

Source:
It took me 10 years to get into 100 schools. With digital, we made a huge impact in two or three months.
Gen Z evangelist Brian Barcelona preaching in Dallas. His ex-atheist testimony inspires hope in Jesus Clubs.

Teenage Atheist

Growing up, I was an atheist. I didn't believe in God, didn't want anything to do with religion. I thought it was all a fairytale for weak people.

But at age 16, everything changed. I had a radical encounter with God—the God I said didn't exist showed up in my life in a way I couldn't deny.

From Graduate to Evangelist

Just a few months after high school graduation, I felt God calling me back to my high school campus. Not to visit old teachers—to preach the Gospel to students.

I had no training. No resources. No experience. Just raw passion and obedience.

I started the first Jesus Club with 30 kids. But as I preached the unadulterated Gospel message, something supernatural happened. The club grew to 600 kids meeting regularly.

Teens from every background were healed of suicidal thoughts, the trauma of physical and sexual abuse, drug addiction, identity crises, and so much more. Lives were being transformed right before my eyes.

Jesus Clubs Go Global

It took me 10 years to get into 100 schools the traditional way.

Then COVID hit. On June 17, 2020, one of my team members livestreamed a special prayer event called "Gen Z for Jesus." 25,000 young people showed up online.

That's when I knew something was happening.

With digital ministry, we made a huge impact in two or three months that would have taken years before. God gave me the dream to start Jesus Clubs in high schools—and now they're all over the world.

Leading a Generation to Surrender

Now I travel and preach to thousands. At the UPPERROOM End of Year Conference in Dallas, I spoke to an estimated 7,000 mostly Gen Z people.

My message is simple: rid your life of compromise and fully follow Jesus.

I define Generation Z as those born between 1997 and 2015. This is my generation to reach. God took a teenage atheist and turned him into an evangelist. If He can use me, He can use anyone.

The harvest is here. Gen Z is hungry for Jesus. And I'll spend my life making sure they meet Him.

About This Testimony

What did God do?
Found Faith
Where in life?
Online, Education
How did it happen?
During Worship, Unexplainable, Over Time

Source & Attribution

Based on interviews with CBN, Charisma Magazine, and UPPERROOM Dallas.

Sources

🌐
Brian Barcelona: Ex-Atheist Teen Now Leading Thousands of Gen Z to Jesus
Brian BarcelonaPrimary Source
https://cbn.com/news/us/ex-atheist-turned-evangelist-leads-hundreds-gen-z-holy-surrender-new-years-eve

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— Psalm 77:11