ILI: History Makers Leadership Podcast
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ILI: History Makers Leadership Podcast
Ep. 67 | Gen Z's Quiet Revival: A Surprising Return to Faith
In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, hosts Daniel and Norival uncover the surprising and deeply hopeful story of a spiritual movement sweeping across Europe—what researchers are calling "The Quiet Revival."
Drawing from a recent study by the British Bible Society, they explore how Gen Z is leading an unexpected resurgence in church engagement, spiritual disciplines, and personal faith in Jesus. This revival isn’t defined by stadium gatherings or celebrity evangelists—it’s marked by everyday conversations, growing interest in ancient Christian practices, and a hunger for community, transformation, and truth.
Together, they reflect on why young men are turning to liturgical traditions, why young women are drawn to the Pentecostal experience, and how prayer, Scripture, and spiritual mentoring are forming a new generation of committed Christ-followers.
If you’ve been praying for revival, this episode will leave you encouraged, challenged, and equipped to join what God is quietly, powerfully doing.
🔗 Resources mentioned: Bible Society UK
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Hey guys, there is a quiet revival that is going on right now in an incredible part of the world. Today, on this episode, norval and I are going to break down just a highlight, an overview of what has been called the quiet revival among the Gen Z generation, not only in the UK but across Europe, really writ large. I'm so excited for you guys to join in, hear some of the overview of this, get connected into the larger documents and also hear how you can join in in this revival, because it's something that God is doing through every single believer and an opportunity for you and I to be a part. Listen, our leader, martin Durham, out of England, turned us on to this, help us to see what's going on in his part of the world, and we're excited to share that with you today.
Speaker 1:On the History Makers Leadership Podcast. On the History Makers Leadership Podcast Well, norval, it's good to be back. Man, I'm excited to talk about this today and to kind of connect over this, because I can feel like sometimes around the world, as believers, we can kind of get stuck in a defeatist mentality or, like man, we're constantly seeing hardship and toil and turmoil and headlines are rarely in favor of the growth of the church or the health of the body of Christ. But what we've got today seems to have a different narrative to it.
Speaker 2:What we've got today seems to have a different narrative to it. That is indeed, and it has surprised a number of people. At the same time, it hasn't. I've heard somebody say that people see optimistic, or if it was really happening, and then this study comes out that confirms the trend, and then that's what they're calling the quiet revival.
Speaker 1:The quiet revival. I love that because I just think about how many people have been asked to pray for revival, how many people have been earnestly seeking God bring revival, bring revival, bring revival. And yet, you know, as we look in our own context, sometimes we may see some of it, we may not see some of it and it may not look like the way revival has appeared, you know, publicly in times in the past. Right, think of revival and you think of these massive gatherings and these massive movements where you've got 100,000 people gathering to hear Billy Graham preach and man, it just causes massive conversion and revival taking place. And so that's kind of the mental image I think sometimes that we have. And we know the scriptures give us a framework for what revival really is and what it really looks like. But this has been called the quiet revival because it seems as if everyone's just kind of looking around going wait a second. Is this really happening?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and it's not a revival in the sense of a massive movement, like you said. It's a revival of an interest in the Christian faith, in the church, in Jesus and in the practices of Christianity. That is happening. Just, I guess, to give our listeners a context, there is this report published by the I think it's British Bible Society. It's called the Bible Society, british Bible Society, where there's a study that looked at church attendance and church interest and interest in spiritual things from 2018 to 2025. So it's over a fairly long period of time, notably with COVID in the middle. But it's a long period of time, notably with COVID in the middle, but it's a long period of time and, like we said, to everybody's surprise, the result is that there is an increased interest, interest in church, in Jesus, in spirituality and, the most amazing thing, mainly among Gen Z.
Speaker 1:Well, I think when I look back at some of those statistics, it was sharing how, in 2018, something like 4% of 18 to 24-year church every month and and that's a starting place, that doesn't really speak of an encouraging future for the health of a church, right, I mean there was conversations in the, in the cultural norm, um, that that really said, hey, christianity is disappearing from our cultural ethos and yet I mean that was 2018. Yeah, that was a number of years ago now, but it wasn't that long ago. And to see this kind of transition and transformation, man, how incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I believe we're at 12% right now, which is tripled. And not only that, so there is more interest in church across generations. The only generation where the numbers of people of that generation that are not attending, that are slowing down, are millennials and Gen X. So the older generation, church attendance is growing and in the younger generation, so it's in both extremes of our lifespan, if you will, our life span, if you will. And I read, and in part of the report, it doesn't look into children, but because the 18 to 30-somethings are starting families and families with children, it can almost be concluded that if you look at children going to church, there's a larger number of children going to church, and it is Daniel.
Speaker 2:it is what is interesting it's in Britain.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So they're saying the greatest growth is in Catholicism.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And Pentecostalism Interesting. So it's on both extremes, or both ends of the spectrum. You know the very traditional Catholic but then the Pentecostals.
Speaker 1:Well, and what I observed, norval, was this you know, as I was reading through it, was that Generation Z, right, as the Brits would say, the Gen Z movement. There was really a desire to see some greater meaning in life. And I think we've, you know, as adults we've all kind of lived through maybe some of those seasons. But they're asking questions like is there something more to life than materialism? Right, the world that these Gen Zs have grown up in really emphasizes that materialism. And they're asking, man, isn't there something more than that Kind of that revolt against some capitalism or some capitalistic ideals or, you know, as a modern phrase, late stage capitalism, right, that kind of revolt mentality saying there's got to be more than this.
Speaker 1:And then what I have observed is a real draw to two elements, and that really kind of confirms what you're saying. The first is a draw to that spiritualism, right, that idea of man. There is a spiritual world that I want to engage in, and I think that's probably why you see some of that Pentecostalism, but also a desire to say is there something in the ancient faith that is true and right and meaningful? And so there's almost this draw to some of those historic liturgical practices. I was taken aback. I was in a very seeker-friendly megachurch here recently and huge on the wall was the Nicene Creed just plastered on the wall of this church, an ancient statement of faith that's been uniting believers for generations.
Speaker 2:This church, an ancient statement of faith that's been uniting believers for generations Right, and we hear stories of young people joining the Orthodox Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, or the Catholic Church for that matter, because it offers that assurance and that disciplined life. That disciplined life, another interesting awakening that I noticed. It's not on the data, but that if you look at the culture as a renewed interest in the spiritual disciplines, like you said, the ancient disciplines of life that can bring me closer to God. That can bring me closer to God no-transcript.
Speaker 2:Or is diminishing, favoring a perception of Christianity as a commitment. Oh so Christianity went from being the religion to being irrelevant to becoming ridiculous, you know in British culture?
Speaker 1:Yeah, in that culture.
Speaker 2:To becoming a curiosity, yeah, and then to becoming something that people seek.
Speaker 1:Well, and that's that key word there, that curiosity that was one of the elements that seemed to really shine through in some of the elements of this report is that move from 4% to 16% of those 18 to 24-year-olds. But among young men it even got as high as I think I'm looking at my notes here 21% of young men 18 to 24, are engaging in the church, and it was birthed out of this kind of curiosity, this kind of hey. There has been a rejection of this thing, but maybe there's some truth and some welcome from the body of Christ, right, the indigenous, the local body of Christ, to say yeah, come on, we're willing to look at these questions with you and to investigate that with some sincerity. I'm just so encouraged by that radical move. I mean 4%, 21%, that's unbelievable movement.
Speaker 2:And it is very unexpected. I think at some point it mentions this is a reversal, because religious movements are always more intense in women than men. Yeah, more intense in women than men. Yeah, the gender divide is always. You know, you always see more women in church, more women interested in spiritual things and the the this, this new generation, this gen z movement is it. It is attracting men, and men are more attracted to the disciplines and to the more ritualistic practices, ancient practices of the church than women. Women are more drawn to the spontaneous Pentecostal manifestations. Men are the young.
Speaker 1:Men are more drawn to the Catholic or Anglican or Well, one of the things that I found really encouraging you know, norval, part of my heart is I really see, particularly in the post-Christian context, even within many churches today, a consumer mentality, right when there's this. You know I'm trying to come and consume, not really be transformed and not be a part of the transformational work of advancing the kingdom. And I was encouraged looking through this as it shared some of the again, more than attendance, they're seeking transformation and practices. You know it said something a little over two thirds of the people were practicing Bible reading every day. That's, I mean, look, I'd like to see all believers practice daily Bible reading, like I think that's, that's ideal. But I know a lot of churches don't have that and that's not the story of every believer.
Speaker 2:We just see, we know it's the ideal, but we always know the ideal is never reached and we're always pleading with people and and it seems like, yeah, there's a renewed interest. There is a tremendous bible illiteracy in this generation man, yeah, so so, um, that is so important because they come in with with a desire. They come in, you know, seeking and they experience that, but they but, but they really don't even know the Bible stories. Well, they don't so that requires a lot of teaching.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that teaching, that reading. But I was also encouraged and this was really sweet 93% were talking about how they're daily praying and communing. And so you know, when we talk about intimacy with God being a core value of the most effective Christian leaders, we talk about how there are barriers to that and one of them is information over intimacy. And I know that's maybe this is me projecting. That's always been a struggle for me. I enjoy the process of studying theology, but I've got to constantly remember and remind myself man, this is a God who I can know and be in relationship with. And that daily practice of prayer 93% again, we're talking about a quiet revival. We're seeing this massive increase in people and they're searching and in the midst of that searching, they're really engaging in prayer and in reading. And man isn't that a beautiful place to find God in the midst of the search.
Speaker 2:That's where the hope is. You know it's not the hope that it's not just a fad, not just something. You know. Okay, people are marginally interested in this and they try it out, and then they go try something else this and they try it out and then they're go try something else. If, if, if, as a church, we are able to build a foundation in scripture and in a relational uh, faith. There's no telling where this is going to go. That's right.
Speaker 1:There's, there's hope for the future well, and that's, and we know what we know as people investigate, uh, the gospel as they they investigate the redemptive work of Christ, as they investigate the body of Christ, we know there's certain things they're going to find. Practically they're going to discover a loving, gracious, redemptive God who exchanges sin and death for life and abundance. And we know that practically that's going to help with some of the mental health crisis that we see in young people. We know that it's going to help provide a common phrase nowadays is that third place? Right, you got home, you got work.
Speaker 1:But in this social media age we've lost the third place where we find community and communion, and I don't mean the practice of communion, but just that intimacy of communion, but just that intimacy. And when young people encounter that, it helps them to begin, I think, taking those meaningful redemptive steps of like Christ, not looking at self, looking to the Father, and engaging in some of those redemptive practices that were invited right Caring for the widow and orphan, meeting the needs of the hurting, engaging in sharing that same gospel message that's been transformational for us so that others experience it right, and really recognizing the stewardship we have over the knowledge and experience that God's given us up to this point, and so seeing that young person movement in that direction really encourages me, because that helps me to see, first of all, god, what incredible joy we can see that you're answering the prayers of your people to see revival, to see transformation. But also, God, look at this deeply passionate and convinced and convicted people that you're raising up to meet the needs of tomorrow.
Speaker 2:Well, and that brings an element that we haven't discussed yet on this whole revival, which is one of the things that young people are seeking for, is community, and they find community in the church, and as a community.
Speaker 2:The church provides an opportunity for them to do what you said to serve, and a process for healing with all of the mental health issues. So that's what they're discovering. They're seeking the church for this intimacy with God through ritual and through practices, but also intimacy with others through the fellowship in the church, and one of the findings of the report is that the people who attend church regularly these young people who are attending church regularly report better quality of life. They perceive their life as having better quality because they are in community.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, norval, I think one of the elements to me that really stood out and I think you're right I think they're looking for and they're seeing that transformational impact on themselves as they're in community, as they're in, you know, really experiencing what happens when we know Christ and walk in Him and some of those elements of abundant life. One thing that I thought was interesting from the report is it said something like yeah, 35% of these young people talk about how reading the Bible really challenges their faith and how it's difficult to interpret and how, in the midst of that and gosh, I mean anybody who's read through Leviticus is sitting there going, yeah, amen, like I get that. One of the findings that I found so encouraging was the two-part there's a understanding that that's a reality and there's a desire for mentorship and discipleship. In the midst of that confusion and in the midst of that difficulty, that to me speaks of a generation that is asking for mentorship, leadership, development and those kind of Paul-Timothy relationships that we know really form the foundation of the gospel.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I guess that brings us to the challenge. The question is what are we older generations and leaders in the church going to do? How do we need to engage?
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, how do we need to engage? And I would even go so far as to say you know, are we courageously trying, right? I mean, I'll never forget this moment. You know there was a group of young ladies at the church that were really interested. Are we courageously trying, right? I mean, I'll never forget this moment. You know there was a group of young ladies at the church that were really interested in being mentored and they were having a conversation in the church building, kind of grouped up together, going yeah, how are we going to do this? We want to be mentored.
Speaker 1:And at the exact same time I left that group because I just overheard it walk to another group of older ladies saying man, we really wish we could mentor some young ladies, but how are we? Are they ever going to listen to us? And they're both in the church having the conversation at the same time. And I really think this information in this report should be like a clarion call to every believer. Find someone in your sphere of influence that you can begin walking alongside, equipping, developing and really living out that 2 Timothy 2, calling right. These things that have been entrusted to you, entrust to others who will be faithful to teach others also, and I really think that's incumbent upon every believer and for us to seek that out.
Speaker 2:And you know how it starts, daniel this whole narrative that the church is dying, that young people are not interested, et cetera, et cetera. It may be true to a certain point, but I think I'm reminded of a time when I was in China and I was riding the metro full, whole bunch of young people, everybody on their cell phones, and I look I don't know there is about 10% of Christians. If there's 100 young men here, there's a good chance that 10 of those are my brothers or sisters.
Speaker 1:That's right?
Speaker 2:Well, let's take that. Let's go to the tube in London. So I'm writing, you're writing, the tube in London. I'm imagining this based on this study. There's a group of of of young people here. Everybody's on their phones, just like the Chinese. There's a good chance that some of these would be open to a conversation about Christ Even more. Yet, they've identified that more than 50% would be willing to be prayed for to receive prayer, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Now what is interesting is that the greatest chance of reaching. They're not going to listen to celebrities, they're not going to listen to influencers on those issues, although it might help. They will listen to somebody around them, to their neighbor basically, yeah, their brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandfather basically, yeah, their brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandfather. Um, you know, I feel a great responsibility to, to pass on my faith to my own four grandchildren, of course, who are starting to come of age very soon. They'll be there, they'll be teenagers and and I have that opportunity well, just to understand their gen, their gen, zers and and and Alphas. They are increasingly interested in spiritual things and open to Christ and to the gospel.
Speaker 1:Encouraging, exciting, I don't know emotionally moving parts of this report was the fact that, as you're describing, this quiet revival isn't inherently the result of some institution. It's friendships, it's neighbors, it's individual conversations, uh producing, you know, uh, a wave of transformation. Uh, now hear me, I, I think institutions are playing parts in that right. I'm sure incredible groups like alpha or or others are, are a part of what, why and what we're seeing, and and I believe that they are contributing meaningfully. But it's not centralized in one massive, oh, we can point the finger at this one group or institution that's making this transformational change. It's actually the whole body of Christ and the Spirit of God.
Speaker 2:There's not an individual, a Billy Graham or a Reinhard Bonnke or a great big evangelist that is making this happen.
Speaker 1:And so the invitation, then, norval, is that you and I have the opportunity to join the Quiet Revival. We have an opportunity to step into this Quiet Revival by doing the exact same things, by being open, by recognizing that it is good, okay and welcome to have the spiritual conversations, to talk about the spiritual practices, to address some of the harder topics of the scriptures, because those are the things that the next generation is actually being drawn to. They're asking wait a second. I want to understand the scripture when I read it. How do I do that? I want to experience God in the midst of my prayers and liturgical practices or just spiritual disciplines in general. I want to live and experience the power of God in my life. Help me right.
Speaker 1:That's the ethos that is coming out of some of these reports and the knowledge that wait a second. Not only can we celebrate that it's happening, but we have an invitation to be a part of it, and it's just the same invitation that Christ gave to his followers before he ascended. Absolutely, I am with you right. Go, baptize, teach all that I've commanded, help them to obey it right, and I am with you even to the end of the age. And so he promises his presence with me. He promises his gosh the fullness of joy in introducing people to the great privilege of knowing, following, savoring Christ above all things, and they're wanted, they're excited about it, and we're seeing that transformation across the generation. I say, norval, let's not let this be quiet any longer. Let's make this clear and loud and one that every believer understands and knows. I can join in the great work that God's doing.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Let's make disciples who make disciples. That's how the church got to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And that is how it'll. Literally, we are seeing living evidence that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen, brother, I love it.
Speaker 2:Now the report is public. Oh, that's right. Yeah, so we'll leave the link to the Bible Society on the show notes so you can download it and watch it or not watch it. It's a PDF document, you can read it and it doesn't read like a report. It's very, very well created and with creative ways and infographics and all of that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the BibleSocietyorguk great place You're going to go. You're going to find that report. It's going to be a great encouragement to you, norval. I'm so thankful that we get to sit and celebrate some of the great things that God's doing, to share that with the global body of Christ, to help us encourage and inspire To a believer who hears this and goes. I'm so happy that's happening in UK. I want it in my nation. What would be just a word of wisdom or a word of encouragement you might offer to that leader or that believer who's listening right now?
Speaker 2:Well, actually, what's happening in Britain is echoed in other places. There are many things happening in the United States, of course, in the global South, the church is exploding. It's growing in young people and young people are young people everywhere, for whatever it's worth. Like I said, all the kids in China were looking at their phones. All the kids in the tube would be looking at their phones. All the kids in the metro in sao paulo will be looking at their phones, as they will be in the buses in uh, in the matatus, in uh kenya, that's right and so, in that sense, that generation that gen gen z is is, is isolated, because they're looking at screens.
Speaker 2:They need community. They are also open and seeking. They need Jesus. They will. If somebody were to do a global research, I think they would show a similar move Amen. And so this is not a UK phenomenon, especially if it is, as we believe, a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit. That's right. Then there's— there's no geopolitical boundary to the Spirit. No, sir.
Speaker 1:It's to the ends of the earth. That's right, amen. Hey, listen leaders, thank you so much for joining us on this week's podcast. Look, if you're looking for great resources to help you grow in your life and leadership, the International Leadership Institute exists to do just that. We want to help equip you to be an effective leader of leaders who helps to accelerate the spread of the gospel. Great resources like this are going to help you to understand and see where God's moving and to equip not only yourself but others to join in that kind of revival. Let's turn it from a quiet one to a loud one, because God is worthy of praise from every tribe, language, people and nation. We appreciate you listening and hope this is of a good service to you. Listen, if it is, subscribe like, leave a comment or something. Let us know so we can best equip, serve and mobilize you. So thankful for you guys tuning in with us.