Throughout the centuries, the gospel of Christ has made comeback after comeback. In the early 1700s, spiritual and moral decline characterized England. Disillusioned by the lifeless state church, many were leaving Christianity. Against this dark backdrop, God chose to begin one of the greatest revivals of all time: The First Great Awakening. Spearheaded by the great preacher George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers, this revival began in England and spread to America reaching tens of thousands for Christ.
In recent months, many have predicted that revival is brewing. Ultimately, only time will tell. But, in the meantime, as we seek to reach the lost, we can celebrate renewed interest in Christianity from unexpected places. This year, Barna Group, a Christian research group that tracks cultural trends in relation to faith and culture, has conducted several studies that highlight shifting interest in Christianity. More than ever, young people, specifically young men, are open to faith.
This article discusses renewed interest in Christianity among the younger generations. Stay tuned for an upcoming article that will discuss a shift in religious interest in men specifically.
The Data
Barna’s State of the Church 2025[i] report highlights a steady uptick in interest in faith among Gen Z and Millennials. This study found that 66 percent of U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today, a rise of four percentage points since last year. And unexpectedly, the younger generations are driving the trend.
David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna explains the significance of this data: “Undeniably, there is renewed interest in Jesus. Many people have predicted the growing irrelevance of Christianity, however, this data shows that spiritual trends have a dynamism and can, indeed, change. This is the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal—and it’s the first time Barna has recorded such spiritual interest being led by younger generations.”
Another Barna study, The Open Generation: United States, explored the spiritual openness of today’s teenagers. The survey posed the question: “Throughout the rest of your life, how motivated are you to continue learning more about Jesus Christ?” Shockingly, 52 percent of respondents selected very motivated with another 25 percent answering somewhat motivated. According to this study, over three in four teens are at least somewhat interested in learning more about Jesus.[ii]
Beyond mere interest, Gen Z and Millennials are demonstrating their renewed commitment to faith in rising church attendance. Another portion of research from Barna’s State of the Church initiative reported an unprecedented reversal in generational church attendance. According to the data, Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than the older generations. This portion of the study surveyed churchgoers, asking them how frequently they attend church. Surprisingly, Gen Z churchgoers reported attending church 1.9 weekends per month with Millennial churchgoers close behind at 1.8 weekends per month.
These numbers reflect the highest rates of church attendance among Gen Z and Millennials since they first hit Barna’s tracking and outpace the older generations. “The fact that young people are showing up more frequently than before is not a typical trend,” Barna’s vice president of research, Daniel Copeland, notes. “It’s typically older adults who are the most loyal churchgoers. This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today.”[iii]
The Why
Why are younger generations suddenly leading interest in Christianity? A recent opinion piece published by The New York Times notes several reasons: “Gen Z is clouded by despair. It’s not hard to imagine how young people traumatized by the isolation imposed by Covid and disillusioned by the perceived emptiness of secular liberalism might be drawn to a relationship with God and a purpose in life.”[iv] Modern secularism has left Millennials and Gen Z empty, searching for answers. Christianity provides the community, purpose, and hope that they are looking for.
The Church's Response
While the growing of interest in younger generations provides encouragement to the church, it also introduces new challenges. Many Gen Z and Millennials are experimental in their faith and are more interested in personal spirituality than in associating with an institution.
Kinnaman explains, “The increase in commitment to Jesus among those under 40 suggests a growing spirituality that is quiet, personal, unconventional and hopeful, but also challenging. That’s because today’s spiritual openness is unlikely to translate into church affiliation or attendance and may not resemble renewal movements of the past. Still, Christians should be encouraged to hold greater confidence in the gospel and to meet this significant opportunity by cultivating deep-rooted discipleship.”[v]
While the interest of younger generations may look different than in the past and provide new hurdles to overcome, we must seize this opportunity to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage young believers to join local bodies of believers.
How can the church provide a welcoming atmosphere to those interested in Christianity while still keeping the gospel as their focus?
- First, we must create spaces where questions are welcome. Gen Z and Millennials have real and pressing questions about God and faith. Unfortunately, many people feel afraid to ask questions in church. Rather than shunning questions, we must welcome and encourage younger people to address their concerns and guide them to the answers. The Bible contains the answers to all of life’s questions. We have the answers they need!
- Second, we must demonstrate an authentic faith. Many people in younger generations have experienced disillusionment in faith. They have met Christians who were hypocrites and or experienced or heard about church scandals. Gen Z values authenticity. They won’t buy a faith from people who are just going through the motions. They are searching for a faith that they can wholeheartedly buy into. We must demonstrate a true and vibrant faith to those who are seeking.
- Third, we must keep the gospel as our focus. At times, we may be tempted to water down the gospel or weaken on core issues to make the gospel more palatable. We must resist these temptations. Rather than shying from the heart of the gospel, we must remember that the gospel will always be inflammatory. The message that we are all sinners in desperate need of salvation will always be difficult to swallow. But we must remember that the best way that we can show love to the lost is by sharing the gospel with them.
The younger generations’ renewed interest in faith provides an exciting opportunity for churches to reach out to searching people. We must find ways to work through new challenges to share the light of the gospel with these people.
Check back later for our next article which will discuss the rising interest of young men in the faith!
Do you know a teenager who is interested in strengthening their faith? Every summer, Wisconsin Family Council hosts LEAD Wisconsin, a worldview and leadership camp. Our goal is to supplement the work of families and churches in passing on the faith and developing strong leaders for the future. For more info, check out our website!
The work of Wisconsin Family Action is possible because of generous friends who partner with us financially and in prayer. If you value the work WFA does, we invite you to invest in this unique work that is all about you, your family, your faith, your freedom, and your future! As always, we welcome and covet your prayers.
