Week 1: A Generation on Fire and Fading – What Gen Z Teaches Us About Staying Faithful
Over the next few weeks we will take a look at and unpack Carey Nieuwhof’s “5 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2025”
There’s a stirring happening across campuses and social platforms—a movement among Gen Z that smells a lot like revival. If you’ve scrolled through Christian TikTok or caught news about college prayer gatherings, you’ve probably seen it: young people worshipping in droves, repenting, and passionately calling others to return to Jesus. It’s incredible. And it’s real.
But at the same time, the numbers tell a different story.
Barna research shows a significant drop in church attendance and spiritual openness as Gen Z transitions from teenage years to adulthood. In 2020, 22% of Gen Z reported attending church weekly. Just three years later, that number fell to 16%. Meanwhile, those who say they never attend church rose from 28% to 37%. That’s a steep climb in a short time.
So which is it? Is Gen Z running toward Jesus or walking away from the church?
The uncomfortable truth is: both. Gen Z is in revival—and in retreat—at the same time.
But What Does This Mean for the Small Church Pastor?
If you’re pastoring a church of 20, 50, or even 100 people, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by trends like this. Maybe you don’t have a “Next Gen” ministry. Maybe the only Gen Z you see on a Sunday morning is your granddaughter running through the aisle before service starts. Maybe you’ve tried to engage younger people, and they just didn’t stick.
Here’s what you need to hear loud and clear: God is not surprised. He is not caught off guard. And He is not worried.
We serve a God who spans generations with His promises. We are not called to panic—we are called to be faithful.
God’s Word on Generational Drift and Revival
Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern repeated: a generation draws near to God, and then drifts. A remnant remains. A call to return is issued. And revival begins.
"After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel." – Judges 2:10
This is not a new problem. The very people who had seen the Jordan River part, who had eaten manna, who walked around Jericho’s walls—they failed to pass down living faith. The next generation “knew neither the Lord nor what He had done.”
Sound familiar?
But that wasn’t the end of the story. God raised up judges. Prophets. Kings. He sent revival, restoration, and rescue. He always leaves a remnant. He always stirs hearts to return.
And He is doing it again.
Be Encouraged: The Remnant Is Rising
Right now, on college campuses and through digital platforms, a remnant is rising. It might not be as visible in your rural town or your aging congregation—but don’t be deceived into thinking nothing is happening just because you can’t see it.
The Asbury Outpouring in 2023 is proof. The UniteUS movement that spread across U.S. campuses in 2024 shows that something is happening. Students are surrendering their lives, repenting, and gathering to worship—not because of flashy lights or big budgets—but because of deep hunger.
That same hunger is possible in your town, your pews, and your people. And it often starts with one faithful shepherd who refuses to give up hope.
Don’t Chase the Trend—Just Show Up Faithfully
The temptation for small church leaders is to respond to big trends with big reactions. Maybe you’ve felt the pressure to “get relevant,” add a fog machine, revamp your music, or redesign your website with Gen Z in mind. And while none of those things are bad, they’re not the solution.
The solution is faithfulness.
The people God has given you—whether they’re 12 or 72—are your calling. The place He has planted you is your assignment. Your job is not to make revival happen. It’s to tend the soil and be ready when it does.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
God doesn’t ask you to manufacture momentum. He asks you to keep planting seeds—even when it feels slow, dry, or disappointing.
How Small Churches Can Engage Gen Z—Without Needing a Youth Pastor
You may not have a budget or team for a full-blown Next Gen ministry. That’s okay. In fact, that might even be a strength. Smaller churches are positioned to do what bigger churches sometimes struggle to: build authentic, meaningful, intergenerational relationships.
Here are some simple, impactful ways to stay engaged:
1. Mentor One
Instead of launching a whole youth group, start with one teen. Take them to coffee. Ask questions. Pray for them. Show up at their game. Let them know they matter to you.
2. Empower the Young People You Already Have
If a young adult attends your church, ask them what they’d love to see. Invite them to lead a prayer or help serve. Gen Z craves purpose. Don’t just “minister to” them—include them.
3. Be Real
Gen Z is allergic to fake. They don’t need polished perfection—they need your honest story. Be vulnerable in the pulpit. Share your own doubts and lessons. Show that your faith is real and still growing.
4. Pray Big, Start Small
Ask God to give you one Gen Z name to pray for every day for 30 days. Watch what happens.
Faithfulness Over Flash
You may never be featured on YouTube. You may never host a revival that trends on Twitter. But if you’re present, prayerful, and persistent—you’re exactly the kind of pastor God uses.
In fact, throughout church history, most revivals didn’t begin in cathedrals or stadiums. They began in prayer rooms, in homes, and in local churches where leaders quietly cried out to God and remained faithful when others gave up.
What if God is positioning small churches to be the very places He uses to shepherd this generation through the confusion and the noise?
Closing Thought: You're Not Behind—You're in Position
Pastor, don’t believe the lie that because your church isn’t trending, it’s not making a difference.
You are not behind the times—you are right on time. You are in position for what God wants to do next.
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24
So keep preaching. Keep loving. Keep showing up. The revival may not look how you expected—but it’s coming. And it just might walk through your doors next Sunday looking like a 19-year-old who’s not sure they belong.
Let them know they do.
We are here for you, Pastor! As your partner in ministry, we want to:
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