North Norfolk pastor affirms Gen Z church boost

A recent Bible Society survey has reported a surge in church attendance over the last six years, particularly among the Gen Z age group, 18 to 25 years old, and a Sheringham church leader says that this reflects his own experience.

The Quiet Revival survey, commissioned by the Bible Society and conducted by YouGov, found that church attendance has risen by 50 per cent over the last six years, contrary to the current perception of church decline.
 
The survey shows that the most dramatic church growth is among young adults, particularly young men. In 2018, just 4 per cent of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16 per cent, with young men increasing from 4 per cent to 21 per cent, and young women from 3 to 12 per cent. 
 
“This is certainly the experience at our church” said Ian Savory, leader at Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham, pictured right. “Our church youth group is thriving and growing, and we baptised three of the youngsters on Easter Sunday.
 
“Surveys like this one, and reports of increased bible sales, are really encouraging, but for us it is the thrill of introducing people to Jesus, - this is not a season for slow, meaningless questions. Just this week, people from totally unchurched backgrounds have been asking me what a Christian is.
 
“And returning recently from visiting a new church plant with one of our young leaders, he commented how exciting our time with those folks had been, and said it feels like first century church! Our emerging young leaders are challenging us - they don’t want soft gospel. They want the gospel clear and marked with discipleship.
 
“Sometimes in church life we need to ask whether we about mission, standing still, or even if our churches are at end-of-life care. Are we here for ourselves or for the mission Christ gave us? Please God pour your spirit out on your church and make us fit for mission in north Norfolk.”

The Quiet Revival survey can be downloaded here.
 
Top photo by Luis Quintero from pexels.com

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