Despite declining church attendance, 77% of Gen Z is open to learning about Jesus. The Church has an opportunity — if it is ready to change its approach to engagement.
A generation searching for more
Lena sat in church every Sunday. She knew the Bible stories. She went to a youth group. But deep down, she wondered, “Does any of this really matter?”
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By college, she left. She never saw how faith mattered.
Lena is not alone. Millions of young people feel the same way. Yet, they are not rejecting Jesus. According to Barna’s Gen Z Vol. 3 research, 77% of teens say they are at least somewhat motivated to learn about Jesus, with 52% reporting they are very motivated. Only 20% of teenagers said they were unmotivated to learn about Jesus, while 7% were unsure.
This is not just a Gen Z trend. A 2022 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that 77% believe in a higher power, and 74% want to grow spiritually. The problem is not that young people aren’t interested in faith. The problem is that the Church isn’t engaging them in ways that feel relevant, real and transformative.
The curse of knowledge: Why we’re losing the next generation
Have you ever been in church when the pastor starts talking about justification and sanctification — and everyone just nods along like they totally get it? (Meanwhile, you are silently hoping there is no quiz afterward.) That is the curse of knowledge in action.
The curse of knowledge happens when experts forget what it’s like to be a beginner. A Stanford study demonstrated this with a simple experiment. Participants were split into two groups: “tappers” and “listeners.” The tappers were asked to tap out the rhythm of a song, while the listeners had to guess what song was being tapped. The tappers assumed that the listeners would guess correctly 50% of the time. In reality, the listeners got it right only 2.5% of the time. Why? Because the tappers could already hear the melody in their heads — but the listeners only heard random beats.
This is exactly what happens in the Church today. Many assume young adults understand faith, but for many, faith is like a song with missing notes. We talk to them instead of walking with them, then wonder why they leave.
The real reason young people leave church
Christian affiliation among young adults has dropped significantly over the past 50 years. In 1972, 85% of 18 to 35-year-olds identified as Christian. By 2022, that number had fallen to 45%. Meanwhile, those claiming “no religion” have risen sharply. In 1972, only 5% of young adults identified as religiously unaffiliated. By 2022, that number had increased to 35%.
Most “Nones” aren’t atheists or even agnostics — they are simply spiritually disengaged. Research shows that 63% say they are “nothing in particular.” Only 20% are agnostic, and 17% are atheist. They aren’t rejecting faith — they just don’t see why it matters.
Part of the problem is that the Church has largely shifted from Jesus’ multiplication model of discipleship to an assimilation model. Success is too often measured by attendance and program participation rather than by disciple-making. Many churches have unknowingly replaced Jesus’ Great Commission with a functional Great Commission that sounds more like this:
“Go into all the world and make worship attenders. Baptize them into small groups. Teach them how to serve a few hours a month.”
But this is not what Jesus commanded. Jesus didn’t say, “Gather crowds and measure success by how many show up.” He said, “Go and make disciples.” The biblical Great Commission isn’t about filling church buildings — it’s about filling the world with disciple-makers.
The future church: a vision for what’s possible
The church of the future won’t be built on attendance — it will be built on disciple-making. It won’t just be a place we go; it will be a movement we live out. Instead of measuring success by how many people show up, we should measure it by how many people are trained and sent out.
Imagine a church where believers don’t just listen — they are trained to disciple others. Imagine small groups that multiply faith. Imagine evangelism that builds lifelong disciple-makers. That’s the church Jesus envisioned. That’s the church the next generation is searching for. That’s the church we must become.
But how do we get there?
A call to action for everyday Christians
If you are reading this, chances are you care deeply about the next generation. Maybe it is your child, your grandchild or someone you mentor. They are not too far gone. They are searching. And you can be the one who helps them find answers.
The Church is not just a building — it is you. It is the way you live out your faith at home, at work and in everyday conversations. If we stay silent, they’ll seek answers elsewhere. But if we engage, if we invest, if we disciple — We won’t just see them stay. We’ll see revival.
The question isn’t whether young people are searching. The question is whether we will show them the way.
We must decide.
Will we rise to the challenge? Or will we stand by and watch them walk away?
Dr. Stephen Cutchins brings over 20 years of leadership experience in education and ministry across four states. He has been actively involved with Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES) for more than 16 years and now leads the Center for Innovative Training, Truth That Matters, as Executive Director. In addition to his role at SES, Dr. Cutchins serves as Teaching Pastor and Multi-Site Specialist at Upstate Church in South Carolina, recognized by Outreach Magazine as one of the top 10 fastest-growing churches in the nation. Dr. Cutchins has coached leaders nationwide through the North American Mission Board and is a sought-after speaker for churches, conferences, and events across the country. As the founder of The Cutchins Institute, LLC, he leads a team specializing in executive coaching, consulting, and counseling services. An accomplished author, Dr. Cutchins has written and contributed to several books, including works published by Thomas Nelson Publishing.
