Key Findings

The 2024 report uncovers both challenges and hope in Americans’ spiritual engagement. While Bible usage continues to decline, Scripture remains a powerful force for resilience, connection, and well-being.

🛑 Decline in Bible Reading – The number of Bible Disengaged individuals is growing, as fewer Americans see Scripture shaping their relationships and decisions.

📉 A Shifting Faith Landscape – While Bible engagement is decreasing, 54% of Gen Z adults say Scripture has transformed their lives, signaling openness among younger generations.

📖 Flourishing Through Scripture – Frequent Bible readers report better mental and emotional health, with engaged individuals scoring higher in resilience and fulfillment.

⛪ Church Attendance Rebound – In-person church attendance has risen post-pandemic, with 75% of churchgoers now attending primarily in person.

❤️ Forgiveness & Loneliness – People who struggle to forgive are significantly more likely to experience loneliness, while those who practice forgiveness report greater life satisfaction.

As Americans navigate faith in a rapidly changing world, these findings highlight opportunities to deepen Scripture engagement and support emotional well-being in everyday life.

👉 Read the full summary here.

🖥️ Get the summary slide deck here. 

Key Findings

• The research highlights hospitality and fellowship as key factors drawing young adults to church, while resistance to change, hypocrisy, and political conflict deter them.

• Young adults value spiritual growth, peace, and social transformation—areas where they see the Church as uniquely equipped to lead.

• Scripture reading, prayer, and worship are the strongest drivers of faith growth in young adults.

Read our review here. 

Key Findings

• Japanese teens experience uncertainty about both the Bible and Biblical themes, offering a great opportunity to introduce them to the hope in Christ!

• The Biblical themes of God’s Healing and Global Family resonated strongly with both Japanese and South Korean teens.

• Buddhist teens, while not believing in the resurrection of Jesus, are particularly open to Christian ideas and believe the Bible may hold truth about many aspects of life.

Read the report here. 

Watch the lead researcher share the findings.

Key Insights

• Youth ministry is not a top priority. While senior pastors feel engaged, only one-third rank youth ministry among their top five priorities.

• Funding is limited. Most churches dedicate just 2–5% of their budget to youth ministry. However, nearly 20% of Black pastors allocate 21% or more.

• Top concerns: Senior pastors worry about instilling lasting faith, reaching teens outside the church, and fostering intergenerational ministry.

• Biggest challenges: Lack of time and perceived youth disinterest—though concerns vary widely by racial and ethnic groups.

• Greatest needs: Support for partnering with parents in discipleship and helping young people navigate mental health struggles.

Two Takeaways and Next Steps

This report highlights both the challenges and opportunities in youth ministry today. While many senior pastors still measure success by attendance and formal commitments, the church may need new markers of spiritual growth that foster lifelong discipleship. Additionally, generational differences can be reframed as opportunities for connection—young people’s passion for social justice, for example, can serve as a bridge to biblical teachings on God’s heart for justice. By embracing new success metrics and practicing active listening, pastors can better equip the next generation to flourish in faith.

Check out this FREE RESOURCE!

TENx10 and Barna Group came together to create a team workshop experience called Engaging Gen Z that equips leaders with practical strategies to effectively engage and disciple Gen Z.