Here's some good news to brighten your week.
American churchgoing is growing, and the younger generations are leading the way.
Kids these days!
The study being referenced here is one from the Barna Studies ongoing State of the Church survey from last month and it's showing that younger generations of adults, Zoomers and Millennials, are filling the pews at a higher rate than other generations.
Here's part of Barna's summary:
A historic reversal: For the first time in decades, younger adults — Gen Z and Millennials — are now the most regular churchgoers, outpacing older generations, who once formed the backbone of church attendance.
The young folks aren't merely being discipled online or by podcasts, as some commentators and observers in the Christian space have feared. They are in the trenches and in the sanctuaries.
The headline: Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than before and much more often than are older generations. The typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends per month, while Millennial churchgoers average 1.8 times — a steady upward shift since the lows seen during the pandemic.
These are easily the highest rates of church attendance among young Christians since they first hit Barna's tracking.
Here's more statistical data that dropped last week that backs up the "revival" talking points.
Bible sales ⬆️ Bible app downloads ⬆️ Christian music streams ⬆️
Here's how Barna breaks down churchgoing by generation:
The rate of churchgoing among millennials has actually nearly doubled in just five years since 2020.
Barna's conclusion seems like very important food for thought for pastors and church leaders.
If these trends continue, the spiritual explorations of the next generation could redefine the makeup and momentum of Christianity and of congregations in the coming decade. The data points to a future where the vitality of the Church may hinge on how well leaders engage the spiritual curiosity and commitments of younger adults.
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