Gen Alpha Finds Authenticity In A California Church Choir – Religion Unplugged

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In a small Santa Clara classroom at Mission City Church in Northern California, a group of students huddle together, their voices rising in harmony. Leading them stands Makayla Hannah, their vocal coach for Youth Utilizing Power and Praise.
Hannah is teaching more than pitch and breath control. She’s helping students discover their voice both literally and spiritually. Her work, she says, goes beyond music. It’s ministry.
She said she believes hope is not lost in a generation often dismissed. Instead, she sees a new generation of leaders, rising up and standing up for their faith.
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Hannah is the Vocal Instructor for YUPP’s two performing arts programs: Light It Up School of the Arts and Breaking the Barriers Performing Arts. In both programs, she teaches singing technique, helping students understand their voice and how to express themselves through sound. 
She calls students her “nieces and nephews.” To her, they are family. It’s no wonder her students affectionately call her “Ms. Makayla” or “Auntie Makayla.”
“I want them to know that who they are has value, purpose, and weight in the Kingdom of God,” said Hannah. “And I want them to have the tools, confidence, spiritual grounding, and discipline to carry that into the world.”
She said God is raising up young believers who long for authentic encounters with God.
Not religion. Not tradition. But truth.
She said today’s youth desiring God’s presence over performance. 
“I often say, there is a misconception that this generation will be lost,” said Hannah. “I am someone who will stand flat-footed and say that no matter what mistakes they make or how people try to label them, this is the generation that will seek the face of God. I see it. I feel it. I work with them. They are being awakened.”
While surveys often show Gen Z and Gen Alpha moving away from organized religion, Hannah sees a desire for spiritual truth over tradition. Today’s youth want to encounter God in a real way.
Part of the disconnect, Hannah thinks, comes from older generations within the church who have grown accustomed to familiar forms of worship. Anything unusual appears strange to them. But Hannah believes the expression of God moving in today’s youth may look different, but that does not mean it is not God.
“I have watched our youth testify about the goodness of God and what He has delivered them from without shame,” Hannah said. “I have seen them show love and stand up for one another when they weren’t even aware adults were around to witness it.”
Hannah sees students asking deeper questions in search of authentic faith.
“This generation has access to so much,” Hannah said. “They are exposed to things so early. They carry so much knowledge and have many questions. So when they encounter God for real, and not religion or performance, the fire that ignites in them is undeniable.”
Hannah admitted there are plenty of negatives that people can choose to see in this generation, but she chooses to look beyond that to see their search for something real, their hunger, boldness, and courage, which makes her believe even more in what God is doing in them.
“They are going to build, expand, and carry the Kingdom further than we thought possible,” Hannah said. “I see a generation that is bold in the Spirit, not bound by program, but led by the presence of God. A generation that wants the real thing. Not polished performance. Not watered-down faith. But the raw, authentic Word of God. And they will not only receive it, they will also give it. They will minister with power because it will come from a place of encounter.”
The heart of YUPP beats in its Executive Director and Founder, Shelene Huey-Booker, who launched the organization in 2002 to uplift, support, and empower young people through the arts, mentorship, and faith.
“I believe God has called us to create spaces where young people experience the reality of their dreams coming true and the strength that comes from community and spiritual family,” Huey-Booker said. “We walk alongside our students and their families—not just in programs, but in life.”  
YUPP was born through an act of compassion. As a child, Huey-Booker experienced severe bullying, which led to anxiety and seasons of deep discouragement. But music was always Huey-Booker’s outlet for expressing her emotions and connecting with God. Huey-Booker found refuge in music and vowed to create a refuge for others.
“In junior high, I spent my lunch breaks assisting the yard duty — helping care for the younger children and playing games with them — because it was too painful being with my classmates,” Huey-Booker said. “One day, I saw the same student who bullied me being bullied by others. In that moment, God opened my eyes to the deeper need behind their actions — the desire to be seen, known, and loved. I chose to become a friend and outlet for that person, and through that act, I saw firsthand how love and compassion could transform a life.”
Huey-Booker said that experience planted the seed for YUPP, which exists to give young people a safe space to be seen, known, and loved through the arts, sports, leadership, and mentorship. She co-founded YUPP to ensure no young person would feel alone or voiceless. Since it started, YUPP has reached more than 5,000 youth across six counties in Northern California. They serve students of all backgrounds from urban centers to rural communities, many underserved and often overlooked.
“My heart is for every child to know that they have purpose, value, and a place where they belong,” Huey-Booker added. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing God move through the lives of young people. Their energy, honesty, and hunger for truth inspire me daily. Every breakthrough, every testimony, and every moment of growth I witness strengthens my faith and deepens my gratitude. I am truly in awe of what God is doing, and I can only give Him all the glory for it.”
Like Hannah, Huey-Booker sees something remarkable stirring in the hearts of today’s youth.
“I believe this generation often gets criticized because they ask hard questions that many of us have avoided answering,” Huey-Booker said. “They don’t want clichés; They want biblical truth that can be lived out in today’s world. This generation desires authenticity. They’re not moved by hype or lights. They’re moved by love, truth, and integrity. Once they see those things modeled, they are unstoppable. They’re hungry for real faith, not just religion, and when they encounter it, they live it boldly.”
Mary Lee is a reporter based in the Bay Area. She also does work for CBS News Bay Area, KPIX Digital, CBS News Bay Area streaming platform and KCBS radio.
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