THE MEANING CRISIS & WHY GEN Z IS CHOOSING FAITH | JUSTIN BRIERLEY

Dec 15, 2025

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We're so excited to bring you this incredible conversation recorded live at Big Church Festival in collaboration with Premier! Join Zoe, Jesse, and special guest Justin Brierley, host of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast, as they unpack the extraordinary awakening happening among Gen Z and why young people are flooding back to church.

Discover the fascinating shift from the "new atheism" of 20 years ago to today's cultural moment where young people are buying Bibles and showing up at church doors without even being invited. Justin shares groundbreaking research from the "Quiet Revival" study showing that church attendance among 18-24 year olds has tripled in just six years—with young men leading the charge at 21%. From historian Tom Holland's realization that Western values come from Jesus, to the meaning crisis hitting a generation exhausted by social media and endless choice, we explore why the Christian story is suddenly making sense again.

Hear powerful testimonies of young people finding Jesus through TikTok, escaping the empty promises of crystals and manifestation, and discovering that Christianity offers grace in a cancel culture world. We tackle the pressures of crafting identity online, the "inoculation effect" of nominal Christianity, and why Gen Z isn't looking for entertainment—they're hungry for something real. Plus, practical insights on how the church can steward this movement, the importance of authentic Bible study over bells and whistles, and why this awakening is happening across all age demographics.

This isn't about slick programs or perfect presentations—God is doing something outside the walls of the church that's bringing people in. Whether you're part of Gen Z discovering faith for the first time or you've walked with Jesus for years, this conversation will inspire you to see what God is doing in our generation.

FOLLOW JUSTIN BRIERLEY: https://www.instagram.com/justinbrierley/

Want to know more? Find a church that has things happening for young people. Visit https://achurchnearyou.com/youth/ [In partnership with CofE Digital Projects]