Meet the 2 Influencers Turning Gen Z into a New Generation of Jesus Freaks
A pair of 20-something social media influencers are combining their clout with their faith in a push to turn Gen Z into a new generation of Jesus freaks. Ally Yost and Ashley Hetherington last year launched a YouTube series, Jesus Freaks, that follows their lives as two Christian women living in Los Angeles, navigating faith, friendships, and culture in a city not exactly known for biblical values. It's been streamed more than one million times -- an impressive number that was born out of their combined 5 million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
Yost and Hetherington shared their testimony this month on CBN's 700 Club, saying they wanted to see a faith presence on a specific genre -- reality TV -- that is often dominated by raunch.
"Growing up, I would watch these shows where people would be partying and doing things that were not godly," Hetherington told CBN. "And I would go, 'Okay, when I grow up, I'm going to do that because that's what you do.' And so the Lord put a burden on my heart for this next gen, because they don't have much to look to, except for what culture is saying."
God "downloaded" the idea to Hetherington's heart, she said, to launch a faith-based series.
"I was like, 'Okay, God, I don't know who's going to be doing that with me.'"
The two women already had built reputations as bold social media voices for Jesus when Hetherington felt prompted by God to reach out to Yost. They met over coffee in Nashville and instantly clicked. The two then moved to Los Angeles.
"We just found each other on Instagram," Yost said. "I think it was one of those things where we both were doing the same thing -- online ministry and just talking about our faith. I had seen Ashley's content, and she had already seen mine, and we connected, and we just were each other's hype girls."
Their posts cover everything from skincare, clothing and day-to-day life -- but lean heavily on their faith, highlighting what they're reading in Scripture, new music they've heard, and their personal testimonies.
They take their massive followings on social media seriously.
"The only thing that grounds me is just locking eyes with Jesus because it can be tempting when there's other voices and other things coming in," Yost said. "But when you look at the Lord, it really just takes all the pressure off."
Sometimes, they receive pushback for their stances.
"When God puts a message on my heart, on Ali's heart, it's our job to be obedient, to share it -- even if it doesn't hit, even if it doesn't go viral, or even if it offends people," Hetherington said. "There's been things I've posted [that] offended a lot of people, but I'm like, 'God told me to post it, so I have to be obedient, even if I get scrutiny.'"
Vulnerability is important, Yost added.
"If we're not willing to show all the things of our life, I just don't think it's going to be nearly as impactful," she said.
Meanwhile, the two women are preparing for Season 2 of the series. Their long-term goal, Hetherington said, is to partner with a mainstream streaming platform "so it can truly be an evangelistic tool to reach people," Hetherington said.
"Even if they don't follow Jesus, they're like, 'Wow, I feel something different through this show versus the other shows I was watching.'"
WATCH: Two IMPOSSIBLE Friends + One INSANE Idea = Jesus Freaks TV
Photo Credit: ©Jesus Freaks
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published April 11, 2025.
