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What we assumed was a lost generation may, in fact, be one of the most reachable generations we’ ve ever seen.
1. For more information on this trend, see posts on Ryan Burge’ s Substack, Graphs about Religion( available with paid subscription), and his writing for Church Answers( https:// churchanswers. com / blog / author / ryanburge /). See also Gregory A. Smith et al.,“ Decline of Christianity in the US Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off,” Pew Research Center, February 26, 2025, https:// www. pewresearch. org / religion / 2025 / 02 / 26 / decline-ofchristianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off /.
4. Thom Rainer, host, Rainer on Leadership, podcast, episode 878, New Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, Church Answers, November 5, 2024, https:// churchanswers. com / podcasts / rainer-on-leadership / new-surprising-insightsfrom-the-unchurched-releasing-new-research /.
Adapted from The Revival of the Analog Church: Why Your Church Should Be Personal and In-Person by Thom S. Rainer, releasing in October 2026 from Tyndale House Publishers.
2. Population Distribution in the United States in 2024, by Generation, Statista, 2025, https:// www. statista. com / statistics / 296974 / us-population-share-by-generation /.
3. Barna Group. The Open Generation: How Teens Around the World View Jesus, the Bible, and Justice, October 5, 2022, https:// www. barna. com / research / open-generationperceptions /. Available at: https:// www. barna. com / theopen-generation. This study was conducted in partnership with Alpha, Biblica, and World Vision, compiling data from Gen Z teens across 26 countries, including the United States. It’ s one of the most comprehensive global studies on Gen Z’ s faith beliefs and spiritual openness.
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Thom S. Rainer is the founder of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders, and former president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. A longtime church consultant, speaker and author, he has written more than two dozen books, including I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Anatomy of a Revived Church. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and ten grandchildren. 64