Millennials and Gen-Z Americans are more optimistic than older generations about the potential of seeing a spiritual revival in the United States.
That’s according to newly published data from the Barna research group’s 2026 State of the Church initiative which shows a rise in young adults embracing Christianity.
“The research doesn’t predict a revival,” said Barna CEO David Kinnaman in statement provided to The Christian Post.
“Respondents were not given a specific definition of revival, so we anticipate that people have a wide range of ideas of what that might look like.”
YOUNG AMERICANS BELIEVE A SPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN THE U.S. IS POSSIBLE
“A large number of Americans believe a revival is possible — and for younger adults especially, that belief is being forged in some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives,” Mr Kinnaman continued.
“This matters for Christian leaders. When a generation turns toward faith, not out of tradition or habit, but out of a genuine drive for something deeper.”
“It’s stemming from anxiety, isolation and disruption, so the Church’s response to that search may prove more consequential than any single cultural trend.”
WHAT THE SURVEY ASKED
In February, Barna asked 1,073 US adults if they believed that “a spiritual revival will happen in the US in the next 12 months.”
Thirty-eight percent of Gen-Z adults said either “definitely” or “probably,” along with 29% of Gen-X adults, 29% of all US adults, 28% of baby boomers and 25% of millennials.
Last October, Barna asked 2,927 US adults who believe a revival is coming in the next 12 months, why they believe that.
The exact same percentage of Gen-Z and millennial adults (43%) cited prayer as one of the reasons why a spiritual revival might break out.
YOUNG GENERATIONS TURNING TO GOD COULD SPUR REVIVAL
Similarly, 38% of Gen-Z adults and 40% of millennial adults identified “young generations turning to God” as a reason why spiritual revival might occur.
Thirty-four percent of Gen-Z adults and 38% of millennials agreed that a “search for meaning and purpose” could spur a revival.
Nearly identical shares of Gen-Z adults (32%) and millennials (30%) said the same about miracles, while 38% of Gen-Z adults and 37% of millennials thought that “people experiencing God” could lead to a revival.
Roughly one-third of both Gen-Z adults (31%) and millennials (36%) thought that “a hunger for God” could also bring revival.
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES COULD LEAD TO REVIVAL
Thirty-three percent of Gen-Z adults and 34% of millennial adults agreed that economic challenges could lead to a spiritual revival in the US, according to the Barna survey.
“Job loss” was viewed by significant shares of both Gen-Z adults (29%) and millennials (26%) as a factor that could lead to revival.
Conversely, a significantly higher share of Gen-Z adults (42%) than millennials (32%) predicted that mental health challenges would lead to a revival.
Thirty-five percent of Gen-Z adults believed that anxiety would lead to revival, along with 30% of millennial adults.
THE COVID LEGACY COULD BE ANOTHER REVIVAL FACTOR
Nearly one-fifth of Gen-Z (16%) and millennial adults (18%) pointed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns as a possible source of revival.
A larger share of millennials (16%) than Gen-Z adults (11%) believed that “secularism losing popularity” would lead to a revival.
“The rise of godlike AI” was identified as a possible cause of a revival by 14% of Gen-Z adults and 15% of millennials.
LATEST DATA ALIGNS WITH OTHER SURVEYS
This latest data on Gen-Z and millennials expressing optimism about a potential revival aligns with findings from other surveys.
A report published by Barna’s State of the Church Initiative last year, found that Gen-Zers and millennials had higher monthly church attendance rates than the older generations.
Gen-Zers attended church 1.9 times a month on average, while millennials had an average attendance rate of 1.8 times per month.
By contrast, Gen-Xers had a monthly attendance rate of 1.6 times per month, and baby boomers and elders attended church services an average of 1.4 times per month.
YOUNGER CHRISTIANS STAND BY THEIR FAITH
Research from the Barna Group last year also found an increase in the number of millennial males who agreed with the statement declaring, “I have made a personal commitment to follow Jesus that is still important in my life today.”
This profession of faith increased from 52% in 2019 to 71% in 2025.
Similarly, the percentage of Gen-Zers who agreed with the same statement jumped from 52% in 2019 to 67% in 2025.
EXPLAINING THE GENERATIONS
Gen-Z refers to the youngest group of American adults, born in 1999 or later.
The term “millennials” refers to adults born between 1984 and 1998,
Generation-X refers to adults born between 1965 and 1983, and those born between 1946 and 1964 are classified as baby boomers.
Generation Alpha [2010-2014) and Generation Beta (from 2025) are yet to feature in any significant surveys of religion.
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