Faith is trending: Younger generations are leading the U.S. revival

October 29, 2025

Recently, I’ve been having some incredible conversations with pastors who are reporting an amazing phenomenon: right now, thousands of people are showing up to church for the first time. These first-time visitors are younger and eager to hear the Gospel. This Christian revival is happening all across the United States and even around the world. 

In fact, I was with some pastors just a few weeks ago when one of them reported that in the past several weeks, they’d seen 1,300 more people on a Sunday at their church—followed by another 1,700 new faces the following Sunday. That’s thousands more people in two weeks! And this is happening all across the country and beyond as we see this amazing movement of God! 

Christian Revival 2025: Faith is trending 

As I like to put it: “Faith is trending.” This Christian revival in America is a moment that pastors and church leaders have been waiting, hoping, and praying for over 60 years. And what makes this more amazing is that these numbers defy all trends, predictions, and projections.

Case in point, earlier this year numerous books and articles came out explaining why religion in America is trending downwards. The authors supplied ample statistics, graphs, quotes, and reasoning for why Americans have been steadily turning away from religion. 

For years, commentators have been pointing to a disturbing trend that has told the same story in churches across the country: emptier pews, a deconstructed faith, and the rise of the “spiritual but not religious.” 

I often wondered about this data as other research had shown that the number of total Christians was on the rise, church giving continued to climb, and interactions with church digital content had skyrocketed. So, what’s really going on? Were these just signs building up to today?

For many important reasons, faith is trending. Tens of thousands are attending church for the first time. Bible sales are skyrocketing, and the Gen Z and Millennial generations are now the most likely to attend church. The trends church leaders feared are turning around at an astonishing rate. 

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” As pastors and church leaders, how can we make the most of this timely moment? How can we “be strong and courageous” at a time when Americans, especially the youth, are turning to the Church for answers? 

Now is the time to be bold. Now is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for! Let’s take a look at some incredible numbers below, and then we’ll dive into how you and your church can be bold with innovations that will help attract new visitors, disciple your congregants, and make the most of this critical moment.

Astonishing numbers tell an amazing story 

A historical reversal is happening right now—let’s dive into the numbers. According to Barna, 66% of all U.S. adults report having made a commitment to follow Jesus. In 2021, that number was only at 54%. That’s 30 million more Americans who are committed to following Jesus! 

And those 30 million Americans are most likely from younger generations. For decades, Boomers and elders led the way in church attendance, and that trend had continued strong for decades. Today, the opposite is true. For the first time in decades, Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to attend church, averaging twice a month in 2025 for those attending. 

And these new Christians are turning to God’s Word. In April, the State of the Bible report confirmed some amazing and encouraging stats in regards to scripture. First, the percentage of Bible users rose from 38% to 41%, meaning roughly 10 million more U.S. adults are reading the Bible outside of church.

Second, Bible sales have been on the rise, increasing by nearly 42% since 2022. And in September, 2025, Bible sales jumped another 36% year-over-year, resulting in 2.4 million Bibles sold in one month alone

Third, scripture engagement—defined as a deeper, more consistent interaction with and application of the Bible—also climbed in 2025, primarily driven by younger generations. And from 2024 to 2025, Bible engagement among Millennials rose by 29%, while men experienced a 19% increase.  In previous years, both groups ranked among those least likely to read Scripture. Yet today, Gen Z and Millennial men are increasingly reading their Bibles and going to church, outpacing any other groups, even women

Fourth, when it comes to worship music, Spotify has seen a 50% jump since 2019 in streams of contemporary Christian music. 

These numbers tell an astonishing story: a Christian revival in America is happening right before our eyes. This renewed hunger for church, God’s Word, and worship reveals a generation not drifting from faith—but running toward it. Young people are going to church in record numbers and engaging with their Bibles. Bible sales are through the roof, Christian music is growing in popularity, and religious apps are being downloaded in unprecedented numbers. 

As this Christian revival unfolds, innovative technology will be essential for reaching and discipling these younger generations where they already are—online and on their devices.

How your church can be boldly prepared

Significantly, downloads of “religion and spirituality” apps have increased by nearly 80% since 2019! For church leaders, live streaming your church services continues to grow in popularity, especially as more and more congregants opt for a hybrid church experience. 

Churches that once worried technology might dilute the spiritual experience are now discovering that, when used thoughtfully, it can actually strengthen faith, foster deeper connections within congregations, and extend their reach to touch lives beyond the walls of the sanctuary.

Whether they’re showing up in person, downloading a church app, live streaming your services, or reading their Bible at home, the stats are in: More and more people are turning to the Church in numbers we haven’t seen in decades—and utilizing technology to do so. 

That means this is a timely and important opportunity for pastors and church leaders. As visitors pour in, we must respond well—with boldness, authenticity, intentionality, and innovation to meet the younger generations exactly where they’re at. 

Here are a few ways your church can respond: 

  • Speak from the pulpit with intentionality: If visitors are walking through your doors for the first time in record numbers, make sure you speak from the pulpit with intentionality. These visitors may not have a foundation of Christianity. Popular Bible stories, Christian vernacular, and commonly understood theological truths may be completely foreign to them. Take this into account during your sermon writing, communion, and your Sunday services. How can you intentionally speak to these spiritually curious souls exactly where they’re at? 
  • Utilize a church app - The average U.S. adult spends approximately 4 to 5 hours a day on their smartphones. They will tap, click, or swipe their phone 2,617 times a day. A church app gives you a powerful way to stay connected with them throughout the week—not just on Sundays. With tools like sermon replays, event calendars, small group sign-ups, and in-app giving and Bible reading, your app can become a daily resource for spiritual growth and community connection. 
  • Live stream your services - Your live stream is no longer just an optional add-on in our digital age. Many first-time visitors will tune in online before ever attending in person. In fact, the average person will check a church out digitally seven or more times before they visit in person for the first time. By streaming your Sunday services, you meet people exactly where they are, providing an easy, low-pressure entry point for those exploring faith. Make sure your stream feels welcoming, high-quality, and engaging. Include moments for online viewers to connect—like prayer requests, live chat hosts, or easy links to get involved. Digital tools are the new doorways into your church. 
  • Update your giving options - As new generations engage with your church, when it comes to offering easy giving solutions, you must meet them where they’re at, making generosity simple and accessible. Digital giving options—like Subsplash Giving—make it easy for people to give anytime, anywhere. These tools allow for recurring giving, fast mobile payments, tap to give, and transparent tracking that helps build trust with donors. When people feel confident in how their gifts are used, generosity grows.
  • Offer free Bibles in your lobby - With Bible sales soaring, now’s the perfect time to provide Bibles to those who may not yet have one. Create a welcoming space in your church lobby or welcome center where guests can pick up a free Bible. You can even offer different versions, sizes, fonts, or styles for men and women. Include a note inside the cover inviting them to a newcomer’s class, small group, or discipleship pathway. It’s a simple yet powerful way to encourage Bible engagement and connection at a time when new visitors are truly open to reading God’s Word for the first time. 
  • Lead the culture - When faith is trending, the Church has a chance to lead the cultural conversation—yet the digital noise online can be deafening. With endless posts, reels, stories, songs, and ads, how can the Church compete with such constant distraction? Amidst the digital noise, your church is called to be a light. Whether it’s through sermons, social media, or digital content, your church can set the tone for how believers think, talk, and live out their faith by utilizing “owned” digital spaces. 
  • Small group options - Discipleship happens best in community. As visitors become regular attenders, help them take the next step by connecting them to small groups or midweek gatherings. Promote group sign-ups through your church app, website, during Sunday announcements, and on your church live streams. Focus on groups that are welcoming to newcomers and centered on biblical teaching, prayer, and real-life connection.

Church, we must be ready! 

There can be no doubt that faith is trending in the U.S., and even around the world—especially among the younger generations. Psalm 85:6 says, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” 

As God continues to bring a Christian revival in America, more and more people are rejoicing in Him. More people are purchasing Bibles or opening their Bibles for the first time in years. More people are streaming worship music, live streaming sermons, downloading church apps, and going to church. People are hungry for the truth of the Gospel!

Now is the time to be bold, innovative, and lead intentionally in our digital spaces. During this movement of God, the hearts of young people are becoming more open to the Spirit in unprecedented numbers—and those numbers continue to climb. People are showing up to church for the first time, and we must be ready to receive them and disciple the next generation with preparedness, excellence, innovation, and authenticity. 

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Author

Chris Sharpe, Chief Revenue Officer

Chris is a husband, father to three, youth sports coach, and former ministry staffer who dreams of revival. As a "pastor's kid" turned tech enthusiast, he's helped serve tens of thousands of churches at Subsplash and believes that with innovation and technology, the church can drive authentic discipleship that changes our world.

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