Greg Laurie Says This is the Answer to America’s Loneliness Epidemic
By Movieguide® Contributor
Pastor Greg Laurie explained why he believes God can solve America’s epidemic of loneliness and what he is doing to help share the Gospel.
In recent years, the United States has been ravaged by an epidemic of loneliness, anxiety and depression. It’s no secret that these three things are all linked together. Researchers have also recently proven that these things are connected to social media which, ironically, has driven us apart. Laurie also believes that social media, loneliness, depression and anxiety have also fueled searching in America, which provides an opportunity to lead people to Christ.
“I think that social media has sort of been that gasoline on that fire [of searching], you know, they have found direct links to social media use and depression and loneliness and people are just searching,” Laurie told Fox News host Shannon Bream.
“I think people really are searching. I read a poll that said, for young people, what are the two top things you want from life, and the two top answers were ‘I want to be rich and famous.’ You know you see all these people who have literally had instant fame today,” he continued. “Through social media you can be an overnight famous person…and so all of a sudden you’re famous and all of these influencers even, you read about all of these young people in their twenties, they just took their life because they get to the top and they realize there’s nothing there, and meanwhile God has the answer to all their problems.”
Meanwhile, religion in America is at an all-time low. However, prayer has been up in recent years, with 80% of Americans saying they had prayed within the past year, according to a study from April 2023. This highlights the confusion that so many people have and the desperation that they feel in wanting to connect to a higher power, despite distancing themselves from Christianity.
Laurie looks to reach those people, and although they might not be willing to come to church, they might be willing to engage with videos or movies that would help them understand the Gospel and come to know Christ.
“We’re always looking for new ways to build bridges with people and so sometimes — I don’t want to say sneak up on them — but I want to say, reach them,” he explained, “because there’s a lot of people that will not darken the doorway of a church but they might click a link to a video, they might watch a movie and so we’re using all of these mediums as ways to give people the good news.”
One such way Laurie is hoping to reach people is through his new animated show, THE ADVENTURES OF BEN BORN AGAIN AND YELLOW DOG which brings the Gospel to people in a fun, approachable way.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Pastor Greg Laurie announced that his evangelism cartoon, THE ADVENTURES OF BEN BORN AGAIN AND YELLOW DOG, based on a caricature of himself, will be released soon.
“I am excited to announce that my cartoon character, Ben Born Again and his buddy, Yellow Dog are now animated and our first cartoon is coming very soon!” Laurie announced social media along with a sneak peek. “The first one is titled THE BRIDGE IS OUT. These cartoons will be both entertaining and evangelistic. I think you are going to like them.”
Laurie first revealed that he was working on this project last September as a fun way to share the Gospel with people of all ages.
Laurie’s story was told in 2023’s JESUS REVOLUTION. Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
JESUS REVOLUTION is incredibly well made and captivating. It has many scenes with jeopardy and inspiring, well-written presentations of Jesus’ Gospel. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution because the movie accurately depicts the drug scene from an impartial viewpoint that might attract younger children. The movie also shows Greg Laurie’s mother’s constant drunkenness and philandering. The immoral behavior is part of the true stories in JESUS REVOLUTION, which, to an amazing degree, have been made into an exciting, cohesive, uplifting movie.
