Last week I underscored an alarming statistic: 64% of young adults who grow up in the church abandon their faith before they reach thirty. One of the first steps in correcting a mistake is to face it—no matter how uncomfortable. Christian leaders and parents must be willing to be brutally honest about the lack of discipleship in our homes and churches—especially when it comes to the next generation.
But this week I want to share the other side of that story. There are encouraging signs that a spiritual awakening is stirring in America—and the generation we’ve been most worried about is leading it.
A recent George Barna survey revealed Bible sales are up over 40% since 2022. Spiritual app downloads have risen nearly 80% since 2019. Christian music streams are up 50% over that same period. According to Barna, the number of Americans who say they have a personal commitment to Jesus that is still meaningful in their lives jumped 12 percentage points between 2021 and 2025.
Here’s the surprising part: Gen Z is leading the charge. The 14–29 age group is now among the most frequent church attenders of any demographic—1.9 times a month, slightly higher than millennials and their boomer parents and grandparents. Gen Z’s church participation has nearly doubled in the last five years. And interestingly, the surge is more pronounced among young men than young women.
That has been my personal observation in recent months. The Asbury revival attracted youth and media attention from all over the nation. The Sunday after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, church attendance reportedly increased significantly. My son’s church in South Florida added 600 people—almost all between 20 and 30 years of age. Over 90,000 attended the Kirk memorial service, and millions watched the streamed service in which the gospel was presented repeatedly by national leaders.
In January, my 18-year-old grandson Chapman texted me a picture from a football stadium. I texted back, “Chapman, were you at the game last night?” He replied, “No, Pop, I just arrived here with my friends to attend the Passion Conference.” Forty-five thousand young people packed a stadium to worship God and magnify His name—a two-day gathering of worship and praise.
Last month I led a chapel service in a public school for their football team. Thirty-five young athletes attended the volunteer weekly service, sang praises, and opened their Bibles to study. This past Thursday I met with over a dozen college students from south-central Kentucky who are considering ministry. They meet monthly with Allen Bonnell, a Baptist preacher in Corbin, who is doing his part to raise up reapers for the harvest field. These young men were earnest, engaged, and asked probing, mature questions about ministry.
WHY?
What is the reason for the increased interest in spiritual truth among young adults? Some speculate that the culture has gone so far off the rails that young people are searching for a meaningful alternative. They sense the days are dark and evil and are attracted to the light and truth. It’s obvious political leaders don’t have answers, so they are open to spiritual solutions and receptive to what the Bible says and what the church has to offer. Luke LeFevre suggests Gen Z has gone from despair to desperation, and that has driven many to Jesus. They’re not seeking an echo of the culture but an alternative to it.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE?
Jesus urged His disciples to “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)
Our culture is ripe for revival. Church leaders should seize the opportunity to present a contrast to the world instead of seeking to emulate it. We need to give focused attention to the practical teaching of God’s Word and be less concerned about entertaining the seeker. Older Christians need to set a positive example of what a joyful Christian looks like instead of griping and complaining. Christian couples need to model marriage and demonstrate what a solid, loving family looks like. Jesus commanded us, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
My grandson Andy, who was a college freshman at the time, twice traveled an hour and a half to attend the Asbury revival. I asked him what attracted him to that event, and he responded, “Pop, there weren’t any big-name bands, no smoke machines, and no strobe lights. The words sometimes weren’t even on the screen. I think my generation likes it more simple.”
Let that sink in. The power is not in our cleverness or technology. The power is in the Word of God, which is living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword. The power is in Jesus, who said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men to me.” (John 12:32)
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16)
