The Statement of Dissolution for Generation Joshua On 11/20/2025, Michael Farris (HSLDA Founder) and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) released a statement explaining the decision the HSLDA Board came to regarding Generation Joshua. They expressed their gratitude and support of the GenJ community over the decades, explained that they were dissolving Generation Joshua because of fiscal responsibility to the core mission of HSLDA, and acknowledged how Generation Joshua has shaped so many lives. 

 With HSLDA’s decision to permanently close Generation Joshua, teenagers will no longer be impacted by the leadership, ministry, and inspiration that have shaped the lives of over 32,000 people over 21 years.  Because of this, today is the day to fight for a legacy spanning generations. Will you support the shaping of young lives in their leadership abilities and through the work of Jesus? What’s the ask of HSLDA? -To stop the shutdown of Generation Joshua by continuing the program themselves or allowing it to fall under new leadership as a separate organization unaffiliated with HSLDA entirely.  What is Generation Joshua? Generation Joshua actively serves two main purposes: To minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a set of youth who may not otherwise hear it. To build leadership ability in teenagers and young adults by letting them explore politics through an accurate political simulation.    What Generation Joshua Stands For According to Generation Joshua's own website: "As the Generation Joshua Program continues to grow, more conservative godly youth get involved in the political system, making a real difference in our nation. The future of Generation Joshua will continue to be an exciting journey as the next generation shapes this nation and becomes tomorrow’s leaders." This is the legacy of GenJ--will you help protect it? Learn more about Generation Joshua at GenerationJoshua.org, or the Generation Joshua Wikipedia page. Ways You Can Help Pray. Ask God to save Generation Joshua, if it is His will. Share the petition link on social media, through messages, or in person. Numbers matter. Additionally, share it in any homeschool groups, alumni groups, across GenJ clubs, to staff, to Leadership Corps volunteers--anyone you know that cares about GenJ and the future of our country. Leave a written or video impact testimonial on Change.org explaining how Generation Joshua has shaped you. Send us an impact statement/testimonial to place in a special document that will be sent to HSLDA and put in the description of the petition. Send HSLDA an email telling them to stop the dissolution of Generation Joshua, alternatively asking them to spin it off; include why it matters to you. You can email them at hslda@hslda.org. Note: any money that is given through change.org automatically goes to send the petition to more people through the platform. Any donation is appreciated, but the best thing you can do is to send the petition in your network. We plan on creating a GiveSendGo if this gains traction. Generation Joshua Impact Testimonials*: The beginning of this interview highlights the importance of Generation Joshua: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn4TweQoUMc "I first heard about GenJ last summer. My friend was talking, and he said, 'Hey, there is this great camp where I got to simulate France, and I think you would really enjoy it!' Well, one year later, I went to camp and had a lot of fun. I was in Daniel's leadership class with some dear friends, and he dramatically read Yurtle the Turtle (lol). We had late nights, a lot of fun, and WW3 over Poland and some Livingstone. All of us sang songs on the Capitol steps while waiting for legislators to show up, and I got to go on my favorite intern’s joint monuments tour with Jeremiah. I really wish GenJ were alive and well. It was fun while it lasted. P.S. Glenn, if you read this, your wing was the best!"  -A former GenJ student and alumnus "I first heard about Generation Joshua in 2019 when I was 12 years old. My good friend was doing the iElect program, and though I wasn't interested in government at all at the time, it piqued my interest.  Fast forward two years, and I was in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the HSLDA leadership conference, where they were holding iObject for the teens. I wasn't able to participate in it with my friends, but I decided I had to next year. The next year, I was back at the same CHEA [conference] I had been originally in 2019, except this time I participated in the iNegotiate program and loved it. Later that fall, I attended HSLDA's iCommand simulation in St. Louis, Missouri, and there I got to know several kids who'd been to iGovern. Early the next year, I had the opportunity to meet Generation Joshua’s then deputy director, Jeremiah Lorrig, at a Capitol Day event in Sacramento, California, which my dad was running. After talking with Jeremiah and hearing more about the iGovern program, I was determined to attend. I almost wasn't able to. The money wasn't moneying, and I ended up signing up about two weeks before the beginning of iGovern East. Going in, I knew almost nobody, but then a group of kids who were part of the notorious Emerald Party befriended me at the Leadership Institute intensive we were all attending before camp. I joined their group and well...the rest is history. Through Generation Joshua, I have learned how to speak and present myself. I learned how to lead others through humility and kindness. I learned to be a voice for the voiceless and how to stand up for the things I believe in, even under opposition from all sides. Generation Joshua taught me that fighting for your values is one of the most important things you can do in your life.  After serving in the UN four times, helping run four presidential campaigns (two of which were successful), serving as the Director of Diplomatic Security, one term in the house of representatives, and two terms in the senate one of which I served as the blue party majority whip, I am glad to say that Generation Joshua was the most impactful thing I ever did in the entirety of my teenage years, possibly in my entire life. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities it afforded me, including the critical learning opportunities it had afforded me, the valuable community it has provided, and the incredible and deep relationships I have made with others who have benefited similarly from the hard work of Generation Joshua."  -A former GenJ student and alumnus "Friends, GenJ-ers, countrymen, lend me your ears! Gen J has meant a lot to me, from the first time I got involved with Gen J in a two-day event in Richmond, Virginia, at a homeschoolers conference, to being the Mexican ambassador for my last year of camp as a camper. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to be at Gen J and the friends I made while there, like think about it, I went there basically knowing only some of the staff, and then I met a dear friend when I was Germany at Regent, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Honestly, some of you people were crazy enough to see me and my personality and were like ‘You know, I can vibe with that’ A lot of my favorite memories from the summertime will be from going to camp and the lessons GenJ taught me about how our government works and functions and having the ability to be an ambassador on the world stage, was a lot of fun. 
I want to share two stories about camp this year. The first one is when I showed up at camp, I was literally not expecting people to be outside waiting for me to show up, nor was I anticipating them to literally start cheering. The second one was after chapel one night had ended, don’t ask me when because I don’t remember, but a really good friend had mentioned he hadn’t prayed for me, and asked if there was anything that I needed prayer for. I was at a loss for words. After we had prayed over each other, I admit it was a bit emotional, and I said to him, 'You crazy kid, you gone and made me emotional.' 
Gen J will always have a special place in my heart. It’s been a wild ride, folks, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world"  -A former GenJ student and alumnus “Generation Joshua helped me discover my passion for government as well as my future career path! I want Generation Joshua to continue so it can help many other teens and young adults, while also teaching them the Word of God!” -Laurelyn R. (Petition Commenter) “I don't know what will come of it. Or if this will work[,] but Gen J has been a massive part of my life.” -Cheyenne P. (Petiton Commenter) “Gen J has been something I’ve looked forward to each summer. I’ve made friends there, learned there, and grown as a person. The experience is unreal and I’m so grateful for [the] time I’ve spent there. I wouldn’t change it for the world[.]” Dustin T. (Petition Commenter) “I’ve heard amazing things from my beautiful young neighbor. Her experience there was life changing.” Jill C. (Petition Commenter) "Please, this is a program worth fighting for, please hear me, don’t give up on us kids[;] this is your sign from God to keep fighting for the future of America ... I’m begging you all please don’t give up on me.” Heaven B. "I first found Generation Joshua by accident. As homeschoolers, we were part of HSLDA. They offered us a free recorded lecture by some odd guy with cool hair and a tendency to wear long sleeves all year round. We were enthralled by his class, and at the end, he offered a code for $50 off iGovern, so we looked into the camp. We also looked into his classes, but fainted at the cost. I wanted to go to iGovern, but it wasn’t until two years later that I was able to. I found the crazy conservatives a little nuts, but they grew on me, and most of them are ok. I had the greatest time ever at camp for one week. I went again and again and had a great time, and it inspired me to do more. I volunteered on the Student Action Teams (SATs) and participated in the weekly Book Club and Current Events Chat. -A former GenJ student and alumnus *Some impact testimonials have been edited (under the approval of the OP).