As a generational researcher, I have often felt discouraged studying the faith trends with Millennials and Gen Z over the past couple of decades. In fact, it was these very trends that initially propelled me into understanding why the next generation was struggling to engage with the Bible, connect in their local churches, and thrive as faith-filled leaders.  However, 2025 has marked some hopeful trends.

The American Bible Society defines “Bible Users” as those who connect with Scripture on their own at least three times a year. The 2025 State of the Bible Report indicated that from 2011 to 2021, nearly half of all Americans qualified as Bible Users, with little change from year to year. In 2022, Bible Use fell dramatically and kept sliding. In 2024, the study found less than forty percent of American adults were Bible Users. However, this year, research showed good news when it came to the story of Bible engagement:  10 million more American adults are Bible Users. The total represents 41 percent of the adult population, the highest total since the 2021 State of the Bible report.

Here is what is most exciting: Millennials are taking the lead in this move toward greater Bible Use, and in every generation, men are using the Bible more! In the 2024 report, Millennials trailed all other generations, with only three in ten (30%) qualifying as Bible Users. This year they’ve jumped to nearly four in ten (39%), surpassing their younger siblings in Generation Z. Both male and female Millennials have seen a substantial year-to-year increase.

In addition, according to Barna’s State of the Church Survey in 2025, 66 percent of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021, when commitment levels reached their lowest in more than three decades of Barna tracking.

Among the biggest drivers of the Jesus resurgence are younger generations — particularly Gen Z and Millennials. This is a significant change from previous Barna tracking, which showed Elders and Boomers as more committed Christians than younger generations.
​
As 2025 draws to a close, there is reason to celebrate an awakening of faith in the next generation. May we be faithful to pray for, support, and encourage the young people around us as they pursue spiritual growth!

Many employers today are adjusting to Gen Z bringing new expectations, skills, and needs into the workplace. Dr. Jenny Sippel Tompkins recently conducted research on Generation Z healthcare workers and factors that contribute to their sense of meaningful work and intention to stay in a job. Organizational culture and leadership practices emerged as key factors. A few specific practices that increase a young employee's intention to stay include the following:

• Leaders recognizing and expressing appreciation for individual team members' contributions
• Personalized interactions and support such as checking in on employees regularly
• Leaders demonstrating authenticity that helps promotes connectedness and respect
• Helping employees understand the meaning of their role and its impact on the organization and its mission

For more on encouraging Gen Z in the workplace, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast.

Today, the distractions of our devices, and the resulting fragmentation of our attention, can make spiritual disciplines more challenging to teach, learn, and practice. In this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow podcast, I am joined by Jayelle Dolan, who has over 25 years of experience in youth and adult ministry. She offered some practical considerations as we seek to encourage the next generation in spiritual disciplines. 

1. Create experiences where they can "taste and see" that God is good (Ps. 34:8)
As leaders, we need to create experiences where young people encounter God for themselves. The key is to take them to a place where they encounter God for themselves and then teach them how to return to that place. If they haven’t tasted God's goodness, it will be difficult for them to have an appetite to pursue it. Young people need experiences where they can taste God's presence, His Spirit, and the wisdom in His Word. Group spiritual experiences often help them learn disciplines that can then be replicated individually later: 

• A powerful group prayer meeting encourages a personal prayer life
• A deep time of worship in a service fuels an individual worship time
• A teaching of the Word brings about a love for the Word that rolls over into personal study
• A connective experience of fellowship in small groups, teaches young people to pursue true community

 2. Model personal disciplines (give them options) 

You can show young people how you practice spiritual disciplines. If you are a paper and pencil kind of person, show them how you note insights from Scripture, highlight key passages, or journal. Share worship and prayer lists and talk about different translations of the Bible; discuss what you have found helpful in worship, prayer and Bible reading. Allow them to ask questions. If they prefer digital resources, help them find equivalent digital resources that help them develop their own spiritual practices. Some examples include:

• Filament Bible App
• YouVersion Bible App
• Through the Word App
• Worship Lists on Spotify (or similar) App
• Day One Journaling App

​3. Provide practical steps and help young people learn to pray

Prayer can be hard to inspire. In her book, The Throne Room: How to Pray Powerful Prayers, Jayelle explains how in her youth ministry they taught young people how to pray by providing easy to follow steps: 

1. Pray Specific
2. Pray Big
3. Pray Persistently 

After teaching that simple process, they then did it every week in the youth ministry for the rest of the quarter. Ten minutes of each service was set aside to pray together in this format. After teaching that simple process, they did it every week for the rest of the quarter. Every service had 10 minutes where they prayed together in this format. 

Example:
1. Pray for Student M’s mother who has cancer. 
2. Pray for every person on the planet who has cancer…. pray for breakthroughs in medical treatments, etc.
3. Pray daily throughout the week (give prayer card or other reminder tool)

It is important to model spiritual disciplines for young people in ways they can see and understand, be willing to engage in honest conversations, and walk with them as they learn to practice them in their own lives. Consider where there may be opportunities to do this more intentionally. 

In the past 20-30 years, cultural and societal changes have been significant. The speed of change has accelerated, so has our access to watching change happening around the world. These are among the many reasons that the differences between older and younger generations today are more than a generation gap.

Here is one way to think about generational differences today. Imagine that the Silent (b. 1929-1945) and Baby Boomer (b. 1946-1964) generations were born into a blue room. Everything in the room was blue—the rules, the expectations, the work ethic and communication preferences, the values and perspectives.

​Then, Gen X (b. 1965-1980) came along and was also born into the blue room, but there was an open doorway where they could see into a green room beyond. While they are comfortable in the blue room, they also understand a lot that is green.

Millennials (b. 1981-1995) were born into the green room. However, like Gen X, they were next to an open doorway that allowed them to see into the blue room beyond. They too often understand elements of both rooms.

Then came Gen Z (b. 1996-2010) and Gen Alpha (b. 2011-). The youngest generations were born into the green room and the door to the blue room had closed. Objective truth, influence based on title or position, phones with cords, dial-up internet, in-person only learning and work, limited access to information, and many other “blue room” realities are things that many of them have never experienced. They may hear stories, have parents or grandparents who understand them, or even see glimpses of them in old movies or television shows, but “blue room” values and expectations are not something that is a part of their everyday experience.
​
For those born into the “green room,” the world has been/felt chaotic and uncertain their entire lives. I often hear older leaders asking why young people are not interested in learning about “blue room” ways of doing things. The reality? They are usually just trying to survive in the green room, where few older, wiser mentors and teachers are willing to enter, listen, and learn to help them figure out what it looks like to live and lead well in a room where the rules and realities are “green.” We need more “blue room” leaders who are willing to step across the threshold, with “blue room” wisdom to help young people today navigate the challenges and opportunities in the “green room.” This requires sacrifice, humility, a willingness to listen and learn, and authentic care for the “green room” natives.
​
For more on this topic, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast. 

Is spiritual growth more challenging for Gen Z than other generations? While every generation has encountered barriers to growing in their faith, young people today do encounter some unique cultural challenges. Here are a few of the barriers to faith we are seeing today:

• Constant distraction due to the pervasive presence of technology. This can make it hard to be still, reflect, listen and learn. 
• Unprecedented access to information. This can create a sense of possessing knowledge and in turn suppress a felt need for mentoring, guidance, and input from others.
• Decrease in face-to-face interactions and emotional intelligence. This can hinder much needed community and healthy relationships and result in a sense of loneliness. 
• Focus on self-determined identity and truth ("you do you"). This can hinder the pursuit of understanding one's identity based on biblical truth. 

While these challenges are real and can be difficult to overcome, there are several key practices that mentors, leaders, and parents can use to engage Gen Z effectively in their faith journey. Here are a few:

• Practice humility; seek to understand the perspectives and experiences of young people before offering input or advice. 
• Ask open-ended questions and actively listen. Be discerning about what God might be doing in a young person's life and encourage them in that. 
• Give specific affirmation. With everyone promoting themselves online, young people can feel lost in a crowd. Looking them in the eyes and speaking truth and encouragement that is specific to them can help motivate them to pursue who God has called them to be. 
• Encourage them to set aside time daily to reflect, pray, read, and journal. Help them identify what would work best (time of day, setting a reminder, how to start, etc.). 

Gen Z is desiring to grow spiritually. Identifying the unique barriers they face, and supporting them in their journey, can make a difference. For more on this topic, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast. 

In 2024, 41 million Gen Zers were eligible to vote, 8 million for the very first time, making them one of the largest and most significant voting blocs in the recent election. The headlines regarding Gen Z following November 5th ranged from critical (BuzzFeed: "The Internet Is Roasting Gen Z For How They Voted In The 2024 Election") to surprised: Independent UK: "Gen Z Caused the US Election Shock – and could do the same here"). Gen Z's voting was unexpected and key to the election results. USA Today reported, "On election day, Gen Z turned out for Trump, with 49% of Gen Z men voting for him and 47% voting for Harris, according to NBC News exit polling. Trump also gained some ground with Gen Z women, though that same exit polling shows 61% of these voters still went for Harris. In 2020, voters under 30 largely went for Biden (59%) over Trump, according to a Pew Research Center analysis." Slate reported, "Tufts University found that 56 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 29 voted for Trump. Biden won that same demographic by 6 points last cycle. Other exit-poll analyses depict a more complicated picture, with young people voting for each candidate at relatively equal margins, but that is still a far cry from the overwhelming numbers put up by young people for Obama, Kerry, and Gore. It was a rude awakening for many Democrats. The assumptions that they long held about the denizens of America’s future—that they would reflexively vote left, no matter what—were simply not true in 2024."

While Gen Z voting trends surprised many, several key values and traits became apparent in the reasons for how they chose to vote: 
• Gen Z values financial security (the economy is important!)
• Gen Z values authenticity (they follow/choose those whose message resonates with their lived experience)
• Gen Z values identity and individualism (they want to feel seen, valued, and empowered)

While these values led to different voting decisions for different Gen Zers, they emerged as critical and worth noting for those who lead, engage, and seek to encourage young people today.  

Regardless of how we personally voted, I believe there are several key takeaways from this election for every leader of Gen Z: 

• We need the input of Gen Z as we engage the next generation

The votes of young men proved key to Trump winning this election. Independent reported how earlier this year, when Trump, 78, began trying to court young male voters by engaging with YouTubers and podcasters, he was surrounded by middle-aged campaign aides. So, the former president turned to his youngest son for his advice. Trump's 18-year-old son Barron is said to have had the last say on which podcasts the Republican appeared on during his campaign. Despite criticism from some, the strategy worked. 

Who are the Gen Zers in your organization, on your team, or in your family who can provide valuable input? How are you giving them opportunities to do so? 

• Gen Z is individualistic and independent; avoid assumptions

Independent explained, "This latest generation is particularly fluid. And not just in America. After all, Gen Z inhabits an unprecedentedly fragmented media environment, with more choice than ever before in news, opinion and content. And party identification appears to be on the decline, with young Americans increasingly likely to call themselves independents." Gen Z is unlikely to demonstrate loyalty to an organization, association, or even political party. They are drawn to those whose message resonates with their individual needs and experiences. 

How are you listening to and connecting with the young people around you? How could you communicate more effectively with the Gen Zers in your life? 

• Gen Z wants someone to believe in them

AP recently reported, President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary. Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump's transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Trump said in a statement, "Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel." While there are many Gen Zers who feel devastated about a Trump win, those who support him see him giving young people opportunities and expressing belief in them. Regardless of our political persuasion, showing Gen Z we value them in the words we speak and the opportunities we provide goes a long way toward building followership. 

How are you expressing belief in the young people around you? How can you create more opportunities for them to contribute and gain experience? 

The Atlantic summarized, "Of course, whatever happens next won’t affect all young adults in the same way—and ultimately, more voters under 30 still chose Harris than Trump. But anyone who was surprised by Gen Z last week might want to stop assuming they understand the young people of the world, and instead start listening to them."

As most organizations and companies now have four, in some cases even five, generations in the workplace, bridging the generation gap continues to be a critical need. This month, Vanessa Torres, a Gen Z corporate professional, joined me on the podcast to discuss what has been helpful for her in connecting across generations. A few of the key insights to emerge from our conversation are as follows:

• Show intentional interest in learning more about teammates and coworkers who are older and/or younger than yourself.
• Encourage collaboration where possible. Especially as many people are working remotely, we sometimes need to focus on connecting in person when possible.
• Get comfortable with discomfort. Be willing to experience some discomfort as you work to foster conversations and build understanding across generations.
• Consider providing specific opportunities for connection and mentorship across generations.

Consider how you are integrating these ideas into your own workplace. Are there ways you could do one or more of these more intentionally?
For more on this topic, check out this month's episode of The Leading Tomorrow Podcast. 

​This month, Katy White and I are celebrating the 2-year anniversary of our book, Mobilizing Gen Z (check out our latest podcast for new insights on this topic)! It is also the 10-year anniversary of my first book, Millennials in Ministry! What a journey it has been this past decade working with all of you as we seek to encourage and equip the next generation. 

As I reflect on all that I have learned in over a decade of researching generational trends, I am struck by the fact that the best practices for connecting across generations are contained in a list written many centuries ago by the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the Galatians, he lists traits that many people of faith often refer to as the "fruits of the Spirit." They are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If you go to Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he talks about three things that will last forever: love, faith, and hope. 

These insights from Paul's letters, penned long ago, hold great value today. In a society where cancel culture and polarization inform perceptions and behaviors, young people are desperate for patience, faithfulness, and kindness. When 24/7 news leaves us feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, young people need to see peace, self control, and hope. 

As leaders, mentors, parents and teachers, we have an amazing opportunity to model those things that will last forever. They often seem extinct in many parts of our culture, which only makes them more impactful when the young people around us experience them in our lives.

How can you model what Paul wrote about to the young people around you today?