A survey BY Streetpaper found that 100 per cent of apathetic youth were too apathetic to take part in this survey.

Okay, there was no such survey. But the prevailing image of young people in the UK is that they're so laid back they're horizontal. Unmotivated, non-committal. Or maybe just too cool to care.

Previous generations were called the baby-boomers, the post-war protesters, the generation of student marches and "ban the bomb". But today's youth are the "iGeneration", plugged into their private world, somewhere beyond their trademark white earbuds (for the over-30s "earbuds" are headphones).

That's the negative image. Maybe it's unfair. Maybe the younger generation today are fed up with the cynical sound bites of political spin and media hype. But that doesn't mean they have no aspirations.

The young people of the modern Jesus army are fired up for a cause. What are they excited about? Church. Forget empty ancient buildings or quietly dozing elderly ladies. From what these youngsters are saying their Christianity is fire-powered, energized and exciting.

Jake Ball, 19, says "I love belonging to a church that's full of energy and not afraid to show it. We're jumping over the pews and taking to the streets." Jake adds "It gives me something to roll out of bed for every morning."

And they're not all noise. These young people are making tough choices to put their money where their mouth is. James Norden, 25, and some of his friends have chosen to share a house in a council estate deliberately to bring the friendship of Jesus to people there.

James says "I'm living to see people released from the downward spiral. Jesus is the cause that gives people something real to live for."

Gideon Clark, 22, says "I'm aiming at a selfless life, not built on my own self-centred agenda. We want to help other people reach their full potential."

And Amy Williams, 18, adds "In this church we want to live differently from the same old selfish thing. We want to give our lives for something that will have a lasting impact."

One Jesus Army song belts out these words: "This cause is my life / This cause has my strength / This cause drives my soul / This cause is my breath."

Not the language of apathy. Something powerful has got hold of these young people - and they're not hiding it.

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