by Springtide Research Institute. 2023. USA. 

Springtide’s 2023 report explores young people’s perceptions of sacred experiences—moments, places, or things that feel uniquely significant and transcendent. Today’s youth often encounter the sacred in everyday life, remaining open to interruptions that point to a spiritual reality. The challenge for the Church is to create personal, relational, and extraordinary experiences that allow young people to encounter God in meaningful ways.

by Vern Bengtson. 2013. USA.

This book represents a long-term study on the intergenerational transmission of faith within families. Bengtson argues that, despite significant cultural shifts, parental influence remains a consistent and vital factor in shaping children’s faith decisions. The findings from the Families and Faith study have practical relevance for OneHope’s next-generation initiatives.

by Gallup, Harvard Human Flourishing Program, Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, and Center for Open Science. 2025. Global. 

In a world where headlines often emphasize what’s going wrong, it can be easy to overlook what it means to live well. What does genuine flourishing look like across the full range of life, and how do different groups such as nations, age cohorts, and religious communities compare? The Global Flourishing Study takes on these questions at a global scale, measuring well-being across six domains: mental and physical health, social relationships, financial stability, meaning and purpose, and character. With impressive scope and rigor, this study promises to generate valuable insights for years to come. Here’s a look at some of the findings from the first wave of data. 

by Christian Smith. 2021. USA. 

This 2021 book investigates the family’s role as a primary agent of spiritual influence in passing down religious faith and practices. Smith observes that, for many parents, religion often takes a backseat to other priorities and values. As the Church seeks to support parents in their role as spiritual guides, studies like Smith’s offer crucial insights into contemporary parenting perspectives.

by Donna Freitas. 2017. USA.

Donna Freitas’ book presents a qualitative analysis of two key dynamics shaping young people’s experiences on social media: the "popularity principle" and the "curated self." As OneHope and its partners continue to support young people in living out their Christian faith, understanding the unique pressures of the digital age will be critical to effectively walking alongside them in this space.

by Centre for Social Justice. 2025. United Kingdom. 

Boys are falling behind in school, struggling with their mental health, and disconnecting from work, family, and society. The Centre for Social Justice's landmark Lost Boys initiative takes an unflinching look at the crisis facing boys and young men in the UK, and asks what can be done about it. The findings are sobering, but the opportunities for the Church are real.

 Read our summary here. 

by Barna Research Group. 2022. Global. Latin America. Asia-Pacific.

The Open Generation is an international research study to help church leaders understand teenagers around the world. It is the largest study Barna has ever conducted focusing on teens’ perceptions of and engagement with three crucial elements of the Christian faith: Jesus, the Bible and justice. We've read and summarized the study to help you quickly access the most important learnings, as well as broken down the research insights by region.

OneHope's Research Team reviewed Barna's reports on their Global, Latin American, and Asian studies. Each review can be found within this link.

by British and Foreign Bible Society (with Gallup). 2025. Global. 

A groundbreaking new survey of 91,000 people in 85 countries maps how the world relates to the Bible, from Africa’s vibrant engagement to Asia’s widespread unawareness. The Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey shows a spiritually alive, searching, and surprisingly open world. It identifies seven global “belief clusters,” each with distinct opportunities for ministry. The Bible’s story is still resonating worldwide, but how it is heard depends on how it is told. Discover what this means for OneHope and others shaping the next generation.

by Young Life. 2024. Global.

Young Life commissioned the RELATE research project to gain a deeper understanding of upcoming generations and identify ways to support their flourishing. This global study includes surveys from 7,261 teens, aged 13-24, across eight countries in five regions, representing diverse ethnicities and geographies.

Don't have time to read the full review? Click here to see our key findings!

by Barna, Lausanne Movement, and Regional Scholars. 2025. Southeast Asia. 

What’s shaping the spiritual lives of Southeast Asia’s young people? This new report pulls together insights from Barna, Lausanne, and regional experts to paint a big-picture view of Gen Z in the region. They’re curious about faith, open to spirituality, and hungry for purpose—but also dealing with stress, leadership letdowns, and a disconnect between belief and everyday life. The research doesn’t have all the answers, but it gives some solid clues about what youth need from the Church right now: real relationships, honest conversations, and faith that actually speaks to what they’re going through. 

Check out our summary here. 

by American Bible Society. 2024. USA. 

This report is the latest in American Bible Society's annual research series, exploring how Americans engage with Scripture, as well as their perceptions, practices, and spiritual health. Data was collected from 2,506 adults aged 18 and older between January 4 and 23, 2024.

For a quick look, check out our key takeaways!

by Youthscape UK. 2024. UK.

Feel-Good News is the second installment of a three-part research project conducted by The Youthscape Centre for Research in partnership with Scripture Union. The broader project, Translating God, examines how young people understand and engage with the Christian narrative. This report highlights six distinct categories of young people’s relationships to Christianity and offers strategies for sharing the gospel with these diverse groups.

by Christian Smith. 2025. USA. 

Why do many Millennials see religion as “good,” but optional? Christian Smith’s survey, The Millennial Zeitgeist, finds they view faith as practical and therapeutic, valuing it more for what it does than for what it is. Formed by consumerism, individualism, and distrust of institutions, their view of religion is fragile when it stops “working.” Smith urges the Church to offer an authentic, accountable faith that’s bigger than self-help to Millennials who still hunger for meaning and belonging.

 Check out our summary here.