During my recent ministry trips to Arizona and New Mexico, many people attending my speaking events have heard me talk about why I believe the Great Commission could be fulfilled in our lifetime, or at least within two generations. I routinely cite evidence from around the world that reveals a trend of great growth of the Gospel in a variety of countries. But one of the central questions people have is why American Christianity is in decline compared to the rest of the world. I answer with a slate of statistics among millennials and Gen Z that the younger generations are the fastest-growing segment of Western society converting to Christianity.
Now, a new study from National Religious Broadcasters and Barna Research, along with some other data, seems to confirm this belief. America may be headed down a path of reversing the post-Christianization of the country.
Let’s look at three areas where the trends are hopeful: Bible engagement, church engagement by men, and the impact of Christian media use among Americans.
Bible Engagement
As I have noted in my Great Commission talk, Bible engagement among millennials and Gen Z is rising. For the first time in several years, Bible use by Americans is on the rise. According to the American Bible Society, as of 2025, nearly four out of ten Millennials are engaging with the Bible regularly. Gen Z Bible use has also increased in the last three years from 37% to 42%.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “Sales of Bibles are booming, fueled by first-time buyers and new versions. Publishers attribute a 22% jump in Bible sales [in 2024] to rising anxiety, a search for hope, or highly focused marketing and designs.”[1]
This is great news. One of the most important things we can do to engage people with the Gospel is to engage them with the story of the Bible. A large jump in Bible sales means that many more people may engage with the story of Jesus and have a chance to say yes to a relationship with the Savior.
When we couple this data with recent research on trust in religious institutions, the results are encouraging. A study this year by Gallup revealed that Americans’ trust in religious institutions stands at 68% from those whose trust is a “great deal,” to “quite a lot,” to “some.”[2]
The church is all about the story of the Bible. For public trust in religious institutions to be rising, coupled with a significant increase in Bible engagement, especially among the younger generations, makes for some good news about where America might be heading. According to Troy A. Miller of the National Religious Broadcasters, “America is not drifting further into a post-Christian future; we are witnessing signs of spiritual return.”[3]
Men & the Church
Whichever way men go, so goes the family. It’s long been known that when fathers make an early commitment to Christ, the family usually follows. For many years, women led the way in faith commitments, but recent signs point to a resurgence of men taking spiritual leadership in the home.
“Barna’s State of the Church 2025 report shows that commitment to Jesus among Gen Z men has risen sharply in recent years, increasing from 52% in 2019 to 67% in 2025. Weekly church attendance has also favored young men since 2022, reversing a decades-long pattern in which women were more likely to attend church regularly.”[4]
“We’re seeing interest in Jesus growing among those who do not otherwise describe themselves as Christians. Many of the new followers of Jesus are not just recycled believers. They’re encountering faith as something new.”[5]
It turns out the various men’s movements in the American church have had a positive impact. The more men engage in regular study of the Bible, participate in men’s groups, outings, and conferences, the greater the impact on their spiritual lives. The end result is an impact on church attendance and leadership in the home. Chalk one up for toxic masculinity.
The Impact of Christian Media in America
As one involved in US and global Christian media for 42 years, the most recent data on Christian media use by Americans is particularly encouraging. “A landmark study conducted by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and the Barna Group shows that six in 10 Americans use Christian media, with half using at least one Christian media source weekly. Faith-driven content is anything but fringe—it is embedded in the daily lives of millions.”[6]
Not only are Americans sourcing Christian media for their spiritual growth, but they are also looking to Christian groups for leadership in pro-family issues and engagement in the political and social arena. According to Barna research and the NRB, 63% of unchurched Americans and 61% of nonbelievers want religious non-profits to speak on social and political issues.[7] As noted by NRB’s Troy Miller, “The microphone is already in the hands of Christian communicators—broadcasters, pastors, writers, and digital creators—whose voices are shaping the conversation today that will define our nation’s tomorrow.”
America is listening and engaging with Christian media. “Two-thirds of the general population view Christian media as valuable and trustworthy.”[8] This is an area where the younger generations are actively engaged. Not just with traditional media, but with social media as well. “Gen Z leads the way, with 64% engaging with Christian social media accounts, followed by Millennials at 58%.”[9]
What kind of impact is Christian media use having on society? “Christian media inspired half of users to pray for the election, and over half of heavy users said it shaped their voting decisions.”[10]
This is practical impact. Though as Christians we have to walk carefully where politics is concerned, America has a long history from colonization to national formation, of the church influencing American policy and freedoms. The latest data would seem to indicate that this trend continues in a positive direction.
Conclusion
When it comes to the Great Commission, there are remarkable things happening around the world that lead us to believe Jesus’ marching orders to the church could see its fulfillment in our generation. And it turns out that America may not be left behind. Though there are still fewer people in church post-COVID than pre-COVID, it seems the trends could be reversing. In three key areas—Bible engagement, engagement by men, and Christian media impact—we have encouraging signs that America’s post-Christian fact may soon become a myth.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/business/media/sales-of-bibles-are-booming-fueled-by-first-time-buyers-and-new-versions
[2] https://news.gallup.com/poll/692633/democrats-confidence-institutions-sinks-new-low.aspx
[3] https://dailycaller.com/2025/08/28/opinion-americas-new-appetite-for-faith-christian-media-is-trending-troy-a-miller
[4] https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/why-are-more-men-going-back-to-church-in-2025
[5] Ibid.
[6] https://dailycaller.com/2025/08/28/opinion-americas-new-appetite-for-faith-christian-media-is-trending-troy-a-miller/
[7] Ibid.
[8] https://nrb.org/nrb-barna-group-release-landmark-study-on-the-state-of-christian-media/
[9] Ibid.
[10] https://nrb.org/christian-media-leaders-had-notable-role-in-shaping-2024-presidential-election-barna-reveals/
