The Current

What's driving Gen Z's return to Christianity?

Dec 2, 2025
Juliana Konrad, a producer and reporter based in Vancouver, explores the surprising rise of Gen Z's interest in Christianity. She shares her personal journey back to faith and interviews young attendees at Avant Life, describing vibrant, community-focused services. Sociologist Joel Thiessen discusses gender trends in religious commitment, while Bishop Jenny Anderson links the pandemic's loneliness to a renewed search for meaning in faith. The conversation tackles critical views of the church while celebrating the warmth and belonging many young people find in this spiritual return.
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ANECDOTE

Church Service Felt Like A Concert

  • Juliana Konrad describes Avant Life Church like a concert with loud music and many young attendees.
  • The service felt modern and welcoming, with about half the congregation in their 20s and 30s.
ANECDOTE

Social Media Sparked A Real-World Welcome

  • Carter Griffin, 21, went to church after seeing religious influencers on social media and felt immediate belonging.
  • He found peers with similar interests and struggles which made him keep coming.
ANECDOTE

Immediate Conversion After One Visit

  • Nia, not raised religious, attended with her partner and was baptized soon after feeling transformed.
  • She described unprecedented fulfillment, forgiveness, and calm from her newfound faith.
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