Young people are returning to church in surprising numbers—some after years away. What’s behind this growing trend, and how can the Church respond?



Church attendance continues to be on the rise this year among young adults in the U.S., particularly those who haven't attended a worship service in years.

In recent weeks, more young people started attending church following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to JP De Gance, the founder and president of Communio.

"[There has been] a lot of anecdotal feedback from churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Douglas County, Colorado, reporting that they've seen an increase [in attendance] over the last two Sundays," De Gance told The Christian Post.

"There's one church in Michigan that said a number of young adults who were raised in the church [but] who hadn't been there, and people hadn't seen them for years, showed back up."

Communio, which serves around 400 churches nationwide, helps churches in the context of evangelism and outreach. De Grance noted how Kirk's death prompted young people to think about the brevity of life.

"And I think that causes a level of introspection," the Communio founder told CP. "I think that causes people to ask, 'What am I living for right now?'"

However, the rise in church attendance has been on the rise even before Kirk's death.

As Crosswalk Headlines previously reported, a new study by Barna Group and Gloo released earlier this month found that Millennials and Gen Z have surpassed older generations in church attendance, with both groups attending nearly twice as often as they did in 2020.

"The makeup and rhythms of church life are shifting," said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. "Young people today are showing a renewed openness to faith, and many are finding their way back into church communities. This moment invites leaders to lean in and guide young people toward deeper faith. While churchgoing alone doesn't form disciples, churches that offer relational connection, volunteer engagement, and clear discipleship pathways that resonate with younger generations can help them build a resilient and lasting faith."

Meanwhile, the American Bible Society's USA 2025 report found that Gen Z is significantly less engaged with church than their older counterparts. For instance, 35% of adult Gen Z respondents agreed or strongly agreed that "In the past year, I have had opportunities to learn and grow in my faith."

On the other hand, 46% of millennials, baby boomers, and elders agreed or strongly agreed that they had opportunities for spiritual growth, along with 48% of Gen X respondents.

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