The Fields Are Ready
How a new generation of young men is finding faith in Christ and why the church must seize the moment
Over the past few years, an encouraging shift has been taking place in the spiritual landscape, one that has been overlooked amid our social chaos and further secularization. Young men (Gen Z and younger Millennials) are increasingly turning their attention to Christ, returning to church, and deepening their faith. While the challenges facing the church remain immense, it is wise and biblical to rejoice in what the Lord is doing among these young generations and to see the fields as ripe for harvest.
A Turning Tide: Some Hopeful Indicators
One striking piece of recent research comes from the Barna Group’s “ State of the Church 2025 “ study. Their data reveals that 66 percent of U.S. adults now say they’ve made a personal commitment to Jesus. That same number says that their faith also profoundly shapes their life, a 12-point increase since 2021. (Barna Group) But even more significant is how this growth is being fueled: younger generations. Among Gen Z men, for example, the commitment to Jesus increased by 15 points between 2019 and 2025, and Millennial men saw a 19-point rise. (Barna Group)
That’s not all. Barna’s more recent findings show that Millennials and Gen Z churchgoers now attend more frequently than older adults. The typical Gen Z Christian attends church 1.9 weekends per month, and Millennial Christians average 1.8 times per month—rates that are steadily rising. (Barna Group)
We also see evidence of greater Scripture engagement among men and younger believers. The American Bible Society reported that from 2024 to 2025, the reading of the Bible among Millennials jumped 29 percent, and men saw a 19 percent increase in Bible reading. (Word on Fire) This uptick is notable not just for its magnitude, but because it reverses a long-standing gender gap in biblical engagement.
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom has seen a remarkable reversal of decline, especially among young men. In 2018, only 4 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds attended church regularly; by 2024, that number had quadrupled to 16 percent. Twenty-one percent of young men in that age bracket now report attending at least once a month, compared with 12 percent of young women. (Breakpoint) This shift is even more striking in a culture that has long been reported as drifting away from institutional religion.
Finally, when we look at patterns of church attendance among men in the U.S., there’s also reason for hope. According to one analysis, men born around 2000 show a weekly attendance rate of about 25 percent—slightly higher than men born 25 years earlier and even edging out similarly aged women in some cohorts. (Graphs About Religion)
Why Are Young Men Being Drawn to Christ Today?
These trends raise the question: Why now? What is prompting a generation that has long been presumed to be indifferent or even antagonistic toward institutional faith to return?
One possibility is the cultural and existential void many young men feel. In a society that often dismantles traditional notions of masculinity, identity, and purpose, Christianity offers clarity. The Church is becoming bolder in preaching and teaching the scriptures. They are increasingly promoting Christian identity not as a cruel restriction, but as a narrative of dignity, calling, and transcendence. Some churches are explicitly engaging the “crisis of manhood” and offering a robust vision of what it means to follow Christ as men in the 21st century. (Evangelical Alliance)
Others point to the aftermath of the pandemic: months of isolation, anxiety, and disorientation stirred a renewed longing for community, stability, and purpose. The church has historically offered these very things. (Axios) For Gen Z, especially, the post-pandemic era has prompted more profound questions about meaning, mortality, connection, and truth, and many find that the answers offered by Christ continue to hold weight.
Moreover, social media, podcasts, and apologetic voices have made theological conversation more accessible. In some cases, a young man’s path into faith begins with a YouTube video, a podcast, or a book. These things then lead to small groups, churches, and mentoring relationships.
Laboring in the Fields of Harvest
These shifts should not be viewed as incidental or temporary. Instead, they are signs that the Lord is preparing the soil. The fields truly are white for harvest (John 4:35). The response of the church ought not to be passive or merely congratulatory, but bold, strategic, and faithful.
What might faithful labor look like?
Proclaim with clarity and relevance: The gospel needs to be preached and taught clearly and effectively. Young men require discipleship that addresses their questions about identity, sexuality, purpose, and vocation, including sermons, small groups, and mentoring relationships (Titus 2:1-10). Apply the scriptures to the real terrain of life.
Cultivate discipleship pathways: It is not enough to see attenders or converts; we must promote maturity in the lives of these new Christians. Intentional discipleship is essential.
Train and release leaders: Young men who follow Christ can be equipped to lead in their generation. Prepare these young Christians to be godly in their homes, workplaces, churches, and communities. We should invest in leadership development, sending, and multiplication.
Engage culture with zeal and courage: Whatever sphere it might be, believers should bring Christ’s wisdom and love into public life, not by force but by faithful witness.
Pray diligently: Revival is birthed in prayer. The church must pray earnestly for awakening, for those far from Christ, for boldness, and for the Spirit’s power to fall.
Now is not the time to shrink back. The age is dark, but the Lord is at work. Let us labor faithfully, diligently, and zealously in this moment. Let’s pray for these young believers, especially the men, in this generation. Let’s work toward advancing Christ’s kingdom. He is worthy, and in His strength, let us reap the harvest.