When a CTV news report uses words like “revival” and “religious resurgence” to describe the reversal of the trend of religious decline, it’s worth taking notice. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve ever heard such language used for the Western church in my lifetime. It signals that God is at work in our generation. It’s important that we understand and respond to what’s happening.
The UK has been experiencing a “quiet revival”
The UK Bible Society was among the first to document the trend. In a report titled “The Quiet Revival,” they reported a 50% rise in church attendance (from 8% to 12%) over the last six years. That amounts to an increase of over two million churchgoing Christians in just six years.
Most encouraging was the fourfold rise in church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds (from 4% to 16%) and the threefold increase among 25- to 34-year-olds (from 4% to 13%) over the same period.
The authors of the report give some of the potential reasons for the trend. Dr. Rob Barward-Symmons says, “With much of the population struggling with mental health, loneliness and a loss of meaning in life, in particular young people, church appears to be offering an answer. We found that churchgoers are more likely than non-churchgoers to report higher life satisfaction and a greater feeling of connection to their community than non-churchgoers. They are also less likely to report frequently feeling anxious or depressed – particularly young women.”
Young people in the US are hungry for God
This isn’t just happening in the UK, though. There are signs of renewal in the US as well. In America, there hasn’t been a 50% increase in church attendance over six years, but the third quarter data from the Unstuck Group reports an 11% increase in attendance across the 252 churches that it surveyed.
Even more encouraging is a recent Barna study that reported, “for the first time in decades, younger adults (Gen Z and Millennials) are now the most regular churchgoers.” In fact, the rates of church attendance among young people are the highest they’ve seen since Barna began tracking these statistics.
Perhaps one of the most visible demonstrations of this was the Asbury Revival. A regular Wednesday Chapel at Asbury University on February 8, 2023, ignited 16 days of renewal attended by more than 50,000 visitors, coming from as far away as Russia and Japan. There were reports of healing, salvations, and many young people re-dedicating themselves to the Lord.
The most committed in Canada are young adults
While there are major differences between Canada and America where faith is concerned, Canadian young people show the same hunger for God that their counterparts in America and the UK show. While just 18% of Canadians were deemed “religiously committed” in a recent Angus Reid Poll, almost 24% of 18- to 34-year-olds fall into that group. In other words, the Canadians most likely to be earnest in their faith are under 35.
The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches is growing
Closer to home, our own Fellowship has seen encouraging growth. For many years, our church association just seemed to be holding its own. Some new churches were planted and others died off, but our total number held steady at around 500. That has changed. Over the last five years, The Fellowship has grown from 507 to 541 churches. In fact, there have been 11 new church plants this year alone.
How do we respond?
For many years, Christians have had a defeatist attitude regarding decline. “We’re in the last days, so come Lord Jesus!” We’ve become reluctant to share our faith and have often adopted a defensive mindset. That has to change.
Seeing God at work in this generation should move us to respond in at least three ways.
1. Prayer
This is a moment to ask, seek, and knock. It’s a time to pray for the Lord to send workers into the harvest. This is our chance to show God that we care as much about a lost and dying world as He does.
2. Proclamation
Now is also a time to speak up. The promises of secularism have failed people, and many are looking for new answers. We have a ripe opportunity to share the good news, share our testimonies, and invite people to church.
3. Preparation
When the wind starts blowing, it’s time to raise the sails. If God is creating a spiritual openness in the people around us, we need to prepare to receive them. We need to open our hearts and make room for new people and care well for those whom God gives us.
If the tide of faith is beginning to turn, let’s not be caught watching from the sidelines. Let’s be among those who welcome it with open arms. God is stirring this generation. May He find us prayerful, bold, and ready.
In awe of Him,
Paul
