Why Gen Z and Gen Alpha Are Turning to Catholicism

Oct 13, 2026

Trevin Wax, a theologian, author, and Christian commentator, explores why young people are drawn to Catholic Mass and Eastern Orthodox liturgy. The conversation examines the nuanced data behind the trend, Gen Z’s hunger for rootedness and otherworldliness, key Catholic and evangelical differences, authentic worship, structured prayer, and ways to disciple students navigating competing traditions.

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INSIGHT

The Catholicism Rise Is Real But Overstated

Media coverage magnifies high-profile, educated Catholic and Orthodox converts, although traffic still flows more heavily toward evangelical churches.
Interest in demanding liturgies is real, but headlines overstate its statistical scale.

INSIGHT

Distrust Drives A Search For Something Real

Gen Z’s distrust of social media, news, and artificial intelligence creates hunger for authenticity and something larger than themselves.
Young people may be searching for rooted faith rather than simply seeking a more attractive church experience.

INSIGHT

Young Christians Want A Faith With Roots

Historic Christianity offers young people stability by connecting them to a faith community that predates modern denominations.
Trevin Wax argues that Augustine, Chrysostom, Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin belong to the wider Christian inheritance.

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In this episode of The GenSend Podcast, Shane Pruitt, Paul Worcester, and Lacey Villasenor welcome Trevin Wax, NAMB Vice President and visiting professor at Cedarville University, to discuss the shift of young people flocking to Catholic Mass and Eastern Orthodox liturgy. Discover what’s driving this move; why “otherworldliness,” not aesthetics, is the real draw; and how youth and collegiate leaders can respond with conviction instead of panic.

Whether your students are asking questions about the Reformation, drifting toward TikTok theology, or longing for a worship experience that doesn’t feel like the rest of their week, this conversation gives you the historical grounding and practical language to shepherd them well.

Also in This Episode:

Understand the real data behind the “rise of Catholicism” narrative and why the numbers tell a more nuanced story than the headlines
Learn two core theological differences to clearly and charitably explain evangelical convictions to curious students
Get vetted apologetics resources to hand off to students without becoming a full-time Catholic/Orthodox debate expert yourself
Walk away with a working definition of “liturgy” that applies to every church—contemporary or traditional—and tools to be more intentional about your own
Hear how to disciple the mid-to-late 20s age gap that’s most drawn to higher liturgical traditions and celebrity-culture rejection

Helpful Resources:

Gavin Ortlund’s Christian Apologetics on YouTube
Talking with Catholics about the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals by Christopher A. Castaldo
Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment by Gregg Allison
40 Questions About Roman Catholicism by Gregg Allison
“Churchiness Is Back” by Trevin Wax
The Lord Is My Light by Trevin Wax
The Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take on the World by Trevin Wax
GenSend on Instagram and YouTube

★ Find more resources to lead the next generation on mission at
https://GenSend.org

★ Subscribe to The GenSend Podcast on your favorite podcast platform

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Shareable Quotes:

“Every church is liturgical; everyone's got an order of worship.”
—Trevin Wax

“The 20-year-old on TikTok did not figure out something that 2,000 years of church fathers said otherwise.”
—Shane Pruitt 

“The average student is going to go with whoever gets to him first.”
—Paul Worcester 

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