The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
CNLP 700 | 2025 Church Trends: Gen Z Is In Revival and Retreat At the Same Time, Evangelism is on Life Support, and More
Jan 2, 2025
Explore the future of faith as Generation Z experiences a unique blend of revival and retreat. Church closures are rising faster than new plants, prompting a rethink of evangelism strategies. The need for diverse and personalized worship experiences is more crucial than ever. Additionally, the mental health challenges faced by church leaders are brought to the forefront, highlighting the importance of authenticity and support. Discover how resilience can turn struggles into growth opportunities in today's evolving spiritual landscape.
24:06
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Generation Z shows a paradoxical spiritual engagement with revival and retreat, indicating a need for church adaptation to their evolving beliefs.
- The alarming decline in evangelism and church closures outpacing new plants highlights a crucial need for revitalization and effective outreach strategies.
Deep dives
Gen Z's Spiritual Contradiction
Recent statistics reveal a paradox within Generation Z's relationship with spirituality, as they experience both revival and retreat simultaneously. While spiritual openness remains high among Gen Z—over two-thirds identify as spiritually curious—church attendance has plummeted, declining from 22% to 16% attending weekly since 2020. Additionally, the proportion of Gen Z individuals who never attend church has surged from 28% to 37% in the same timeframe, suggesting a troubling trend towards disengagement. This disconnect implies that, while many Gen Z members express spiritual curiosity, they may not find traditional church settings conducive to their evolving beliefs.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
