The Jesus Resurgence
Nearly 30 million more Americans have embraced Jesus since 2021—but they're not filling your pews.
Barna's latest State of the Church research reveals something remarkable: after decades of decline, personal commitment to Jesus is surging. In 2025, 66% of U.S. adults say they've made a personal commitment to Jesus that remains important today—a stunning 12-percentage-point jump from the 2021 low of 54%. This represents the clearest indication of spiritual renewal in America in over thirty years.
The trend defies expectations about who's driving faith in America. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the charge, not older generations. Among Gen Z men specifically, commitment to Jesus jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025. Meanwhile, Boomers and Gen X have remained mostly flat. David Kinnaman notes this creates a counterintuitive reality: younger men are now more likely to be Jesus followers than younger women.
The pandemic appears to have created space for existential questions and meaning-seeking that traditional church decline statistics missed. Yet here's the critical insight: this spiritual openness isn't translating into church affiliation or attendance.
Here's what this means for your church: You're ministering in the most spiritually open America we've seen in decades, but traditional "come to church" strategies won't capture this movement. The 30 million newly committed Jesus followers are seeking authentic faith outside institutional structures. Your growth opportunity isn't convincing people to believe in Jesus—it's helping Jesus followers discover why the local church matters for their faith journey.
Three steps to leverage this spiritual openness:
Focus on discipleship over attendance. Create pathways for spiritual growth that don't require Sunday morning commitment first. Launch community groups, service projects, or Bible studies that meet people where they are spiritually and geographically.
Reframe your invitation strategy. Instead of "Come to church," try "Come explore what following Jesus looks like in community." Lead with belonging and purpose, not obligation and tradition.
Train your people for spiritual conversations. Equip members to engage the spiritually curious around them. Most Americans are already asking faith questions—your people need confidence to enter those conversations naturally.
The harvest is ready. The question is whether your church is prepared to meet seekers where they are, not where you wish they were.
Ministry Intel
Autism and Neurodivergence Could Reshape Church Services | Christianity Today
Researchers are studying how sensory-friendly services and inclusive programming can better serve neurodivergent congregants and their families. Churches are discovering that simple modifications to worship environments create welcoming spaces for an underserved population. This represents a significant ministry opportunity as families with neurodivergent children often struggle to find accepting church communities.
This week: Audit your sanctuary for sensory overload—bright lights, loud music, crowded spaces—and consider creating a quiet room or sensory-friendly service time.
Global Christianity Surges Despite Western Decline | Lifeway Research
Christianity continues explosive worldwide growth with 2.64 billion believers, projected to exceed 3 billion before 2050. Evangelicals are growing at 1.47% annually, while Pentecostal/charismatic movements are set to reach 1 billion adherents by mid-century. This global perspective offers encouragement to Western pastors facing local challenges and provides insights for multicultural ministry approaches.
Quick application: Share global growth stories with your congregation monthly to counter discouraging local news and inspire missions engagement.
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