by Jayla Ward • 4 minutes
For years, we have been told that Gen Z and Millennials struggle the most with apathy, mental health, anxiety, depression, loneliness – and the list goes on. While everyone hopes we will take up the mantle of running society well, many have lost faith in future generations.
But I’ve seen a different story.
For decades, studies and data trends showed that each generation tended to be less religious. They’ve grown more cynical and hostile toward faith and its influence on society. Yet over the past five years, that trend has stalled.
According to Pew Research, the number of Americans who identify with a religion has remained at 70% for the past five years. What’s most encouraging is that the majority of that demographic were young people, especially young men. Another Pew Research report released last year also shows that the decline of Christianity in America is slowing.
There has been a recent rise in spiritual commitment, interest and faith activity. Studies show that the younger generation of men are running to church at a higher rate than ever.
“Church frequency is another improving trend among Millennials and Gen Z in the U.S.,” according to a recent Barna study. “While overall church attendance trends have been flat in recent years, the return to church among the next generation stands out as a powerful sign of rising openness to faith.”
“Among Gen Z men, commitment to Jesus jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men saw a similar spike of 19 percentage points,” according to Barna.
Skeptics might dismiss this as a fad, saying it won’t last. But I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.
At the beginning of this year, I attended Passion 2026, a Christian movement that hosts an annual conference for young adults. I wanted to start my year off right and be in fellowship with other believers.
Attending the conference gave me tremendous encouragement. From the floor to the rafters, there were people like me. People who wanted more from life than likes and follows. People who wanted purpose and meaning.
As I stood in the arena with over 45,000 other young people, lights bright, music low, I was completely overwhelmed. There was nothing but the voices of thousands pouring out their hearts and worshipping their Creator with abandon. My best friend was able to capture just a glimpse of that moment in the photo above.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and all I could think was, “This is what it’s all about!” Can you imagine the change, the impact, the transformation our society would see if this many young people experienced true freedom and passionately pursued faith?
Young people crave community and authenticity. They are forging a new path. They are actively seeking the truth for themselves, and they aren’t letting it stay within the four walls of a building.
So, what’s driving what appears to be a revival of faith and religious freedom?
We think it may have something to do with the seismic shift in favor of religious freedom taking place in the law and the courts. And these positive changes to the law are having a big cultural impact.
Over the past decade, First Liberty has secured several landmark victories at the U.S. Supreme Court that are causing a massive change in religious freedom, sending out wave after wave in a ripple effect being felt across the country.
Is it a coincidence that at the same time the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the right to religious expression, more people have begun to share their faith publicly? We don’t think so.
Whether it’s in the workplace, schools, sports, city hall, the halls of Congress or local public parks, Americans are getting the message that prayer and religious expression should not be hidden. In addition to being legally okay, people everywhere are recognizing that it’s simply good to express our faith in public. That freedom is what America has always been about.
George Washington said, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” That is exactly what we are seeing today in America: a movement in which more and more young Americans are boldly sharing their faith.
Some have called this new wave of radical faith and determination a Fourth Great Awakening. They may be right; only time will tell. But let me tell you from personal experience, these future torch bearers want nothing to do with the faux reality of social media. They hunger for a tangible faith that will anchor their lives.
So, we need not lose hope. Young Americans have more freedom to express their faith today than they’ve had in 50 years, and they are not being shy about it. While their methods and enthusiasm may seem unorthodox. I believe that this next generation of unorthodox leaders is exactly what we need.
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