DON’T OVERLOOK THE GOLDMINE OF YOUTH: GEN Z
Have you ever been surprised at seeing a young child progress through childhood and into teenage years, and then walk across the stage at high school graduation? You wonder, “Where did the time go? I can’t believe that this kid is now an adult!” Maybe that has crossed your mind with your own child, a nephew or niece, neighbor, or friends of the family. Well, certain little ones who once were cute kids have now grown up, and we must recognize them as important and necessary for the future of our organizations and of the Church. After all, they are the future…and we should understand what makes them tick.
Gen Z (born from 1997 to 2012) is a unique group. Right now, in 2025, they are between 13-28 years old. One encouraging piece of data shows that, since 2019, the percentage of Gen Z church attendance has increased 8 points (24% to 32%). The signs point to a growing interest in deepening their faith. Based on recent research as it relates to their faith, this group is looking for two main components:
• Faith practices that are immediately relevant to their daily life
• Faith practices that make a positive impact on the world around them
These young people are looking for real connections to faith and community that help give them direction while also allowing them to make a tangible difference in the world. They want to go “all in” on their faith and are not interested in Christianity ‘light’ or merely attending a church service. They want to follow Jesus with passion and are drawn to participating in community. Serving, giving, and evangelism are all by-products of their all-or-nothing faith. Gen Z is a generation hungry for God, searching for hope, and a generation that will overlook hype for authenticity.
Furthermore, for those in this group who are non-churchgoing, 77.7% are looking for churches that help the poor, 73.6% are looking for churches that address mental health, 72% have doubts about the existence of God, and 69.2% are looking for churches that provide opportunities to help others. Do you want to grab the heart of this demographic? Meet the tangible needs of your community and bring them along. Provide real answers and solutions to questions and needs that they are unsure how to address. Be a source of Real Faith and model it. The next era of the church will likely be more personal, less performance-based, more authentic, and more heart-driven.
A good piece of wisdom is to invite certain Gen Z’ers around your leadership table and welcome their input to help make decisions. They’d like a voice and a vote. It's been said that if church leaders run church the “old way,” they risk losing a generation passionate about Jesus. This occurred in past generations, and it could happen once again if we’re not careful to adjust methods and “speak the language” of these rising young adults.
DON’T OVERLOOK THE GOLDMINE OF YOUTH: MILLENNIALS
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are an important group of individuals who are becoming the new core of many churches. This group is currently 29-44 years old and are no longer the “up and coming” generation. Statistically, they now make up the majority of the adult population and workforce. They are also the most racially, socially, and culturally diverse generation in modern history.
In recent Barna polling, 39% of Millennials reported attending church weekly, up from 21% in 2019. That’s an 18% increase! Non-white Millennials have driven the increase in church engagement – 45% of non-white Millennials are attending church weekly, compared to 35% of white Millennials. Millennials have embraced church attendance faster than any other demographic. This data is encouraging! The work, though, to reach the unchurched must not be overlooked as 40% of Millennials are still religiously unaffiliated.
Millennials are less likely to commit to serving ‘forever’ than previous generations. They have busy lives with their kids and careers that take up a lot of time and resources. It is wise to be flexible with serving commitments if you want them to volunteer. In the realm of giving, more Millennials donate to churches than the aging Boomers do! Millennials, those leading us into the future, display a remarkable giving rate of 42%, a whole 12% more than their parent/grandparent Boomer counterparts, who clock in at 30%.
Interestingly, Millennials have expressed in no uncertain terms that they would not endure the misery of unhealthy workplaces that previous generations put up with. These days, a good salary is not big enough to compensate for making them feel miserable. Whether they’re on your payroll or volunteering, Millennials have shared that they ultimately work for themselves. Yet, they also want to work for a cause that’s bigger than their superiors or making a profit for the organization. Furthermore, the way they are treated may be valued more highly than their compensation.
What does this mean for church leaders? Millennials strongly desire to be valued and respected. They are the demographic that is most likely to hop offboard if they’re not “feeling” the investment and care of their leaders. Honor their busy lives and graciously challenge them to commit and stay involved. Help them see how their contributions are making a tangible and eternal impact in the world.
Churches that focus on helping people become whole-hearted followers of Jesus who then serve others will continue to grow. Leaders cannot overlook the need to disciple kids, youth, and young adults. Those who seek to better understand these two demographics will keep a constant pulse on how the church can pivot in a timely manner and remain relevant. We will reap what we sow; those who sow less will reap less. And those who intentionally pour into both Gen Z’ers and Millennials will reap the benefits.