5 URGENT Trends Shaking the Church in 2025

Ellen Hembree • May 27, 2025

The Shifting Landscape of Faith: Gen Z, Church Decline, and a Call for Authentic Evangelism

The state of the Church is in a fascinating, if not concerning, flux. We're witnessing a generation – Gen Z – that is increasingly spiritually open, yet simultaneously walking away from traditional church structures. This paradox is at the heart of several disruptive trends that are reshaping the religious landscape, and understanding them is crucial for the future of faith communities.

Recent data paints a stark picture: a staggering 99% of Protestant U.S. pastors admit their churches are not "very effective" at reaching unchurched individuals. This is a dramatic drop from 13% in 2015. Furthermore, for every new church opening its doors, three are closing. These statistics aren't just numbers; they represent a significant challenge to the established church model.

The Gen Z Conundrum: Open to God, Closed to Church?

One of the most discussed trends is the growing spiritual openness among Gen Z, contrasted with declining church attendance. While 22% of Gen Z attended church weekly in 2020, that number fell to 16% just three years later. Conversely, those who never attend church grew from 28% to 37% in the same period.

Why this disconnect? Several factors are at play:

The Pandemic Effect: The disruption of normal life during the pandemic led many young people to question their reliance on typical teenage milestones and distractions, fostering a greater openness to spiritual exploration.
Yearning for a Cause: Gen Z is starved for meaning and a cause bigger than themselves. They've witnessed powerful spiritual movements and outpourings, like the 7,000 baptisms in California (some in the back of pickup trucks!). When they then encounter a Sunday morning service that feels consumeristic or lacks a compelling mission, the disconnect is palpable. They've tasted something more and find it hard to relate to a passive experience.
The Experience Gap: After powerful, mission-driven experiences in youth ministries or campus revivals, the transition to a more traditional adult church service can feel anticlimactic and unengaging. The passion and sense of purpose they felt can be dulled by what they perceive as complacency or apathy in older congregations.

The call to action here is clear: churches, particularly youth ministries, must double down on student and next-gen ministry. This isn't just about retaining numbers; it's about investing in the future leaders of the church and equipping them to be part of a mission that transcends Sunday morning.

Evangelism on Life Support

Compounding the Gen Z issue is the alarming decline in effective evangelism. Only 1% of Protestant pastors feel their churches are "very effective" at reaching the unchurched. For years, the focus has shifted heavily towards discipleship, often at the expense of evangelism. While discipleship is vital, it's one wing of a two-winged plane; without evangelism, the church cannot effectively reach the lost.

Many churches have adopted a protective stance, hunkering down to disciple those already within their walls rather than actively engaging the world outside. The result is that most church growth is now "transfer growth" (people moving from one church to another) rather than "conversion growth" (new believers).

Pastors themselves acknowledge this shift. The emphasis has often been on deep theological teaching rather than equipping the congregation for outreach. Churches with leaders gifted in evangelism tend to see more success in reaching new people. The action step is straightforward: take evangelism seriously again. This is about mission, not just metrics.

Church Closures Outpacing Plants

The decline in evangelism directly contributes to another sobering trend: church closures are outpacing new church plants by a ratio of three to one. Up to 10,000 churches close annually, while only about 3,000 are planted. This reality underscores that much of the perceived "growth" in some churches is simply absorbing members from those that have shut down.

There's a need to rethink church planting strategies. While the traditional model has its place, there's also a growing call for revitalizing older, struggling churches and fostering more authentic, non-traditional expressions of church, such as home churches. Smaller, more mission-focused churches often have a greater impact on reaching the unchurched than larger, more institutionalized ones.

The Rise of the Non-Derivative Church

For years, many churches adopted a "just add water" formula: a modern band, a dynamic preacher, vibrant kids' programs, and small groups. While initially successful, this "attractional church" model has lost its uniqueness as countless churches replicated the formula.

Gen Z, in particular, craves authenticity. They are wary of anything that feels manufactured. This doesn't mean sacrificing excellence, but it does mean churches need to be true to their unique calling and community rather than imitating a perceived successful model. When every hot dog stand in town sells the same hot dog, it's hard to stand out. The encouraging aspect of this trend is that it pushes churches to innovate and find their distinct voice and mission, learning from others without simply imitating them.

Moving Forward

The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. The spiritual hunger in younger generations is real. The key lies in meeting that hunger with authentic, mission-driven communities that prioritize evangelism and equip believers to live out their faith in the world. It requires a shift from internal focus to outward engagement, from imitation to innovation, and a renewed commitment to reaching those who are searching for something more.

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5 Warning Signs Your Youth Ministry Needs a Revamp

By Ellen Hembree • July 8, 2025

Is Your Youth Ministry Stuck in a Rut? Five Warning Signs It's Time for a Revamp Are you a youth pastor or leader feeling uninspired, overwhelmed, or just going through the motions? You're not alone. A recent Barna Group study revealed that only 16% of Christian teens in the U.S. have a strong understanding of their life's purpose connected to their faith. This statistic, combined with many leaders' struggles, signals a clear need for re-evaluation in youth ministry. This post will explore five warning signs that your ministry might need a revamp and offer actionable steps to turn things around. Think of these as dashboard lights for your ministry – ignoring them won't make the problems go away! 1. Your Students Don't Know the "Why" Imagine walking into your youth group and asking the average student, "Why do you meet?" What would they say? Would they talk about fun and friends, or a deeper mission? If the "why" isn't clear, students often feel like they're just "meeting until they graduate... then meeting until they die, move, or graduate." As Michael Hyatt says, "People lose their way when they lose their why." Action Steps: Set a Bold Vision: Clearly define the purpose and mission of your youth ministry. What is God calling your specific group to do? Communicate Constantly: Use visual reminders, consistent messaging, and empower students by handing them the mission. Don't just invite them; challenge them to own it. Secret Shop Your Ministry: Consider having trusted (even non-believing) individuals or teens from outside your group "secret shop" your ministry to get honest feedback on clarity and impact. 2. You're Not Excited to Go to Youth Group (and You're Not Sure Why) We all have off nights or exhausting weeks. But if you find yourself regularly dreading youth group without a clear reason, it's a red flag. This isn't about faking enthusiasm, but recognizing a deeper issue. Ryne shared a recent experience where focusing on tasks instead of connecting with students drained his excitement. Action Steps: Evaluate Your Life Holistically: Burnout often stems from imbalances. Examine your physical, emotional, relational, and financial health. Is ministry becoming an idol? Talk to a Trusted Mentor: Share your feelings with someone who can offer perspective and ask insightful questions. Schedule Vision Retreats: Take time away, even if it's just a few hours, to get alone with God, re-evaluate your calling, and plan for the next season. Resources like retreathood.com can help connect you with free retreat spaces for ministry leaders. Reflect: When was the last time you walked into youth group with passion instead of pressure? Has it become more of a job than a calling? 3. Prayer is a Last Resort, Not Your First Oswald Chambers famously said, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work." If you're constantly rushing through tasks and prayer becomes an afterthought, your ministry might be running on fumes instead of divine power. Action Steps: Study Jesus' Prayer Life: He modeled consistent, intentional prayer, even amidst intense ministry. Pray for Students by Name: Implement a system to regularly pray for individual students and specific schools or areas within your community. Make Prayer a Part of Your Ministry: Dedicate time during programs for collective prayer and teach students how to pray. Linger with the Lord: Beyond daily rhythms, seek extended times of prayer and communion with God. 4. You're Just Copying What Works Elsewhere Are you reacting to popularity or listening for purpose? While borrowing methods isn't inherently bad, exclusively copying other successful ministries without discerning God's unique call for your context can lead to an inauthentic and less impactful ministry. Ryne shared the "cutting the ends off the roast" analogy – doing things simply because they've always been done that way, or because someone else does them, can stifle true innovation and purpose. Action Steps: Ask "Why" for Every Activity: Go through your weekly activities and programs and genuinely ask why you do each one. Are they serving your unique mission? Embrace Your Ministry's Uniqueness: What is God uniquely positioning your church and youth ministry to do? Are you reaching an overlooked group or addressing a specific need in your community? Utilize Spiritual Assessments: Tools like the "four-tier assessment" can help you measure spiritual growth in your students. This helps determine if what you're doing is actually working and aligning with your goals, rather than just copying a trend. 5. You've Lowered the Bar Just to Keep Them Coming This warning sign manifests in various ways, from avoiding discipline with disruptive students to shying away from deeper biblical truths to attract more people. Lowering the bar not only alienates serious students but also communicates a lack of vision for growth. Just as you wouldn't use "baby talk" with a child forever, you shouldn't "dumb down" biblical truth. Action Steps: Define and Uphold Your Standards: Clearly articulate the behavioral and spiritual expectations for your ministry. Prioritize Growth Over Popularity: Focus on discipleship and challenging students to grow in their faith, even if it means a smaller initial attendance. Address Issues Directly: Don't avoid difficult conversations or disciplinary actions, as this can lead to a loss of respect from other students. If any of these warning signs resonate with you, it's a sign to pause, pray, and re-evaluate. Remember, God has a unique purpose for your ministry, and by addressing these areas, you can lead a more vibrant, effective, and fulfilling youth ministry. Which of these warning signs hits closest to home for you, and what's one small step you can take this week to address it?

5 Youth Ministry Myths YOU Probably Believe

By Ellen Hembree • July 1, 2025

Five Youth Ministry Myths Busted: Unpacking Hidden Assumptions for Deeper Student Growth Check out the podcast here . For years, many of us in youth ministry have held onto certain "truths" that seemed foundational. But what if these deeply ingrained beliefs are actually hindering the spiritual growth, leadership, and impact of our students? In this post, inspired by a recent discussion with Ryne , we're diving into five common youth ministry myths that might be negatively impacting your work and revealing the liberating truths behind them. Myth 1: Students are the Church of Tomorrow This is a common refrain, but it's a limiting one. While students certainly will lead the church in the future, the more critical truth is that students are the church of today . This isn't just about giving them roles; it's about recognizing the Holy Spirit's immediate work in their lives. As Ryne highlighted, there's "no junior Holy Spirit." A seven-year-old who trusts Christ has the same Spirit living within them as any adult. Think of King Josiah, who began his reign at just eight years old and became one of Israel's most faithful kings. Or consider Jesus's instruction to "let the little children come to me, for such as the kingdom of heaven." If our primary goal is to make disciples, and we know that most people make a decision for Christ during their youth, then investing heavily in kids and student ministry isn't just a good idea—it's essential for the church's health now and in the future. We need to equip them to be the church today, not just someday. Myth 2: You Need a Large Youth Group to Make a Difference Many youth pastors feel the pressure to grow their numbers, believing that a larger group equates to greater impact. However, this is a pervasive myth. The reality is that God moves through the faithful, not necessarily the large groups . The average youth group size is often cited as around 12—a number with some interesting biblical parallels! Think of the impactful stories of D.L. Moody and Billy Graham, both of whom were led to the Lord by Sunday school teachers with only a handful of students. David Livingstone, the missionary, saw only one convert in his lifetime of faithful service, yet his groundwork laid the foundation for widespread Christianity across Sub-Saharan Africa. God's increase may not always be visible in your lifetime, but faithfulness in the small things often yields exponential, unseen results. Myth 3: Students Need More Theology Before Being Used This myth suggests that students need to accumulate a vast amount of biblical knowledge or attend countless classes before they can truly live out their faith or share the Gospel. The liberating truth is: If they know enough to believe, they know enough to share. Consider the woman at the well, who immediately went to tell her town about Jesus after their conversation, or Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, whose encounter in a chariot led to the spread of the Gospel in Ethiopia. Even the slave girl who told Naaman about Elijah—she had "bad theology" in the sense that it was God, not Elijah, who could heal him, yet her simple faith led to Naaman finding God. When students are encouraged to share their faith, even with incomplete knowledge, it often deepens their dependence on the Lord and prompts them to seek answers to questions they didn't even know they had. Students, especially those in public schools, are surrounded by thousands of peers daily—a mission field far larger than most adults encounter regularly. Leveraging this time for them to share their faith can lead to incredible growth and impact. Myth 4: Youth Ministry Success Equals Church Attendance After Graduation While we certainly desire for students to remain connected to the local church after they graduate, measuring youth ministry success solely by post-graduation attendance is a false metric. The true goal is lifelong transformation and a genuine commitment to living for Christ. Studies have even suggested that a significant portion of regular churchgoers may not have a true relationship with Christ. The church isn't successful when it's full; it's successful when it's faithful. Our aim isn't to create lifelong "consumers" of church services, but to equip students to be active, growing, and serving members of the local body of Christ. Are they serving? Are they growing spiritually? These are better indicators of lifelong transformation than mere retention. Myth 5: Students Don't Want Authority In an increasingly uncertain world, it's a myth that students inherently reject authority. In reality, they crave guidance . What they reject is hypocrisy. Post-COVID studies revealed a significant decline in trust in institutions like government and healthcare, but one group that maintained high trust among teens was "elders"—those older than them. Students are looking for authentic, relational authority figures who will speak truth to them, even if it's challenging or uncomfortable. They want to know what's true, and they will flock to those who are willing to share it with love and integrity. These five myths have perhaps been unknowingly shaping our approaches to youth ministry. By shifting our perspective and embracing these truths, we can better equip and empower our students for genuine spiritual growth and impactful lives for Christ, today. What myths have you believed that have been busted in your ministry journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!