Generations Survey

Generations Survey 2025

Acknowledgements

This report was produced by Movement.org, Rev. Arik Nabie, and consultant Tony Carnes (A Journey Through NYC Religions Data Center). Special thanks to the survey participants and the churches and ministries that made it happen!

The Why

Any effort to understand the future of youth in Metropolitan New York City must be- gin with careful listening and humble observation. This survey is not a definitive study—it is a practical tool for churches, ministries, and community partners seek- ing to understand the realities, challenges, and hopes of one generation to the next. By gathering and interpreting this data, we can begin to see patterns that inform more effective ministry. This survey represents the first step toward a broader story. It is not simply a collec- tion of statistics, but an invitation to discernment—to see beyond numbers into the spiritual and social dynamics shaping our youth. Just as Joseph, Daniel, and the sons of Issachar read the signs of their times, this kind of approach will help us an- ticipate change and respond with wisdom. While the results of this survey are not exhaustive, they offer valuable insights for pastors, youth leaders, and citywide ministries to use as they develop programs, outreach, and discipleship models. Each data point offers a glimpse of the bigger picture: a generation searching for truth, belonging, and meaning in one of the worldʼs greatest cities.

The Movement.org Generations Survey 2025 is unique in that it is a Christian research initiative designed to capture how believers of different generations— especially youth and young adults—engage with faith, community, and Scripture in and around the New York City area. Unlike secular sociological surveys, this study approaches generational behavior through a biblical lens, asking not only what peo- ple are doing, but why their faith habits are changing. Its purpose is to help churches and ministries understand emerging patterns in discipleship, prayer, and Bible engagement so they can develop ministries that reflect both spiritual truth and cul- tural relevance. Executive Summary

Respondent Overview and Demographics

The survey engaged over 800 respondents , representing a cross-section of gender, age, and church backgrounds.

Gender: Approximately 55% of respondents were female.

Age: The majority of responses came from teens (ages 13–17) and young adults (18–29), providing rich insights into the mindset and spiritual rhythms of Generation Z. Church Involvement: Nearly every respondent indicated they attend a church, campus ministry, or network—showing a solid baseline of faith involvement but leaving room to examine depth of engagement. Faith Relevance: Respondents were asked to rate how relevant their church teaching felt to their daily lives; the results varied significantly by age group, revealing a generational gap in perceived spiritual connection.

Four Key Insights and Their Implications 1 2

Prayer Habits: Adults remain deeply anchored in prayer, while Gen Zʼs consistency is notably lower. Although most respondents af- firmed prayer as important, frequency and depth declined with youth. Ministries should reignite prayer culture among youth through structured rhythms, peer-led prayer times, and digital de- votionals that meet them where they are.

Bible Reading: Bible engagement shows a similar generational divide. Many teens confessed irregular reading habits, with daily readers being a minority compared to adults over 30. This sug- gests a need for creative approaches to Scripture engagement — such as Bible journaling, app-based reading plans, and collabora- tive study groups that connect Scripture to real-life issues.

3 4

Trust in Leadership: A pronounced trust gap exists between gen- erations. Teens and young adults often perceive pastors as distant or institutional, rating their trust levels around 6–7 out of 10. To close this gap, churches should elevate authenticity, mentorship, and visibility of younger leaders , fostering trust through relation- ship rather than authority.

Teaching Relevance: Youth rated the relevance of church teach- ing to their lives around 7.5/10. This signals the need for more contextual, life-connected teaching that addresses modern chal- lenges like anxiety, social identity, justice, and purpose. The Gospel message remains the same—but its delivery must meet the next generationʼs context.

A Pastoral Reflection

As a pastor and ministry leader, I am deeply concerned about the spiritual trajectory of younger generations in the church. There has been a lot of conversation regard- ing the next generation, yet many still feel lost and confused about what we should do next. One leader even confided in me, “Iʼm tired of being beaten over the head about the next generation. Give me help and support.ˮ The survey results reveal both opportunity and urgency: the Church must reclaim its formative voice by engaging Gen Z authentically, creatively, and compassionately. If we fail to disciple them with intentionality, we risk raising a generation that be- lieves in God but no longer finds the church essential. The findings of this survey are not simply statistics—they are a prophetic call to action. The next generation is listening; the question is whether the Church will speak in ways they can hear.

Arik Nabie, M.Min., MBA Associate Pastor, Faith Assembly Contributor, Movement.org Generations Initiative

Section One Prayer Habits

Roughly 62% of teens and young adults pray daily (once or more a day), while ap- proximately 75% of adults age 30 and above do so. This gap means youth ministries may need to teach and model daily prayer , perhaps through prayer challenges, guided prayer times, or integrating prayer into youth events. Emphasizing personal prayer routines could help young people deepen their faith and dependency on God. Prayer remains one of the strongest indicators of spiritual vitality among respon- dents, yet the data reveals that frequency and motivation differ significantly across age groups. Among adult and senior respondents, prayer was described as a con- sistent daily rhythm. In contrast, younger participants reported prayer less fre- quently and more situationally . This suggests that prayer, for many younger believers, has become transactional rather than transformational —focused more on outcomes than on communion. Furthermore, qualitative comments show that some respondents see prayer as a “last resortˮ rather than a spiritual discipline of dependence. The absence of daily prayer patterns among youth may indicate not apathy, but a lack of teaching on why prayer matters beyond personal requests. Key Point: Encourage regular prayer habits among youth

To bridge this gap, church leaders and ministries can implement strategies that re- frame prayer as presence, not performance . Youth prayer circles, 24-hour online prayer chains, and mentorship from prayer-focused elders could help model consistent intercession. Churches might also leverage technology—apps, group messages, or interactive prayer boards—to create a rhythm of shared prayer. Ulti- mately, the goal is not to increase prayer “count,ˮ but to deepen prayer conscious- ness, shaping a generation that turns to God not just when life breaks down, but because prayer has become their first instinct. Prayer continues to be the heartbeat of Christian life, but its rhythm changes by generation.

Prayer Frequency by Generation

Generation

Daily Prayer

Occasional Prayer

Rarely Pray

18% 38%

Boomers/Gen X/Millennials

75% 48%

14%

Gen Z

This table illustrates a clear generational decline in daily prayer frequency. While older generations maintain consistent habits of daily communion with God, younger participants (especially Gen Z) show a preference for occasional or situational prayer, often tied to immediate needs rather than continual relationship.

Section Two Bible Reading and Trust in Scripture

Key Point: Boost Bible reading engagement in teens

There is a significant generational contrast in Bible reading frequency. Only about one in four teens surveyed reads the Bible daily, compared to more than half of adults over 30. Furthermore, about 1 in 5 teens seldom or never read Scripture. To bridge this gap, ministries can introduce age-tailored Bible studies, reading plans, or Bible apps that make Scripture accessible and relevant. The goal is to foster a habit of regular Bible reading early on, so that younger believers carry a love for Scripture into later life. The data on Bible reading frequency reveals both encouraging devotion among some respondents and significant disengagement among others, particularly in younger demographics. Across the survey sample, the largest group of respondents reported reading the Bible “once a dayˮ or “a few times a week.ˮ Together, these two categories accounted for roughly 60% of total responses. An additional 15% reported reading the Bible “more than once a day,ˮ suggesting a vibrant devotional life among a committed minority. However, nearly one-quarter of participants read Scripture infrequently, choosing “a few times a month,ˮ “seldom,ˮ or “never.ˮ The seldom and never categories are particularly concentrated among youth and young adults, underscoring a genera- tional challenge in sustained engagement with Godʼs Word. While many younger respondents identify as church-attending believers (with over 80% saying they

attend a ministry or church), their personal Bible reading habits do not reflect the same consistency.

When correlated with responses to trust-related questions, the trend becomes clearer: respondents who seldom read the Bible also reported lower trust in pastors, lower trust in faith institutions, and even lower trust in the reliability of Scripture it- self. This alignment indicates that declining Bible literacy is both a cause and a consequence of weakened spiritual trust. In contrast, those who read Scripture daily or more than once a day were far more likely to describe the Bible as divinely inspired rather than merely historical or moral literature. The implication for ministry leaders is twofold. First, discipleship must re-center around Scripture as a relational practice , not merely a task of information retention. Second, creative teaching models—digital devotionals, story-based Bible studies, and generational reading challenges—can help youth see Scripture as alive and transformative. The future of church vitality will depend on whether we can help the next generation move from occasional readers to daily disciples.

Survey Question: “How often do you read the Bible?ˮ Bible Reading Frequency (All Surveyed Generations)

Frequency Category More than once a day

% of Respondents

15% 32% 28% 13%

Once a day

A few times a week A few times a month

Seldom

8% 4%

Never

Approximately three-quarters of respondents read Scripture weekly or more, but daily en- gagement remains low among younger respondents.

Analysis: While regular Bible reading remains a hallmark among adults over 30, Gen Z shows a marked decline. Data from Lifeway Research backs up this premise: Generationally, elders (48%) and boomers (46%) are more likely than Gen Xers (38%), millennials (33%), and members of Gen Z (30%) to use the Bible at least occasionally during the year. This gener- ational shift suggests that engagement is becoming more digital, sporadic, and fragmented. Our survey indicates that only 22% of Gen Z read the Bible daily. This data underscores a crisis of consistency. The decline in Bible reading mirrors the broader trend of declining trust in institutions. Our survey indicates that respondents who read the Bible frequently tend to report stronger trust in Scriptureʼs authority and greater moral confidence. To reverse this trend, ministries must create engaging, relatable Bible literacy programs—such as reading groups, gamified devotionals, and intergenerational study partnerships.

Section Three Trust in Leadership

Key Point: Bridge the trust gap with church leadership

Younger generations tend to be more skeptical of religious authority figures. Teenagers in the survey rated their trust in pastors at only about 6.6 out of 10 on average, whereas older adults (50+) rated pastor trust nearly 9/10. This disparity implies that Gen Z craves authenticity and relatability from leaders. Church leaders and strategists should invest in relationship-building based on God and the Bible, transparency, and mentoring, possibly empowering younger leaders to take visible roles and engaging more with parents to enable them to live out their faith in their everyday lives. By demonstrating genuine care and authenticity, the church can earn greater trust from Gen Z. The surveyʼs trust data exposes a deep generational divide in perceptions of author- ity, particularly within the church. When asked, “Who do you trust?ˮ and “If youʼre in trouble, who would you trust to help you?ˮ older adults consistently placed pastors and church leaders at the top of their list, often rating trust levels between 8 and 10 (out of 10). However, younger respondents, especially Gen Z, reported trust levels closer to 6 or even lower . Additionally, many skipped the question, suggesting uncertainty or indifference toward institutional leadership. This is consistent with broader sociological patterns where younger generations fa- vor authenticity and relatability over hierarchy. To many Gen Z respondents, trust must be earned through empathy and shared experience, not conferred by position. Furthermore, those who expressed lower trust in leaders were also more likely to

seldom read the Bible or pray irregularly, revealing an interconnected erosion of spiritual trust and personal faith practices.

For churches, this reveals an urgent need to reimagine leadership as relational rather than positional . Building trust will require transparency, dialogue, and co- ownership of ministry spaces. Churches should intentionally elevate young voices into visible leadership roles—student-led worship, youth advisory councils, or teaching teams—so younger believers see themselves reflected in those guiding them. Trust will not be restored through titles, but through tangible care, consistent follow-through, and vulnerability. In this season of generational transition, authen- ticity is the new authority.

Average Trust Rating in Church Leadership

Generation

Average Trust Score (1-10)

Boomers/Gen X/Millennials

7.7 5.8

Gen Z

Generational trust in pastors decreases steadily from Boomers to Gen Z.

Analysis: This trend parallels the cultural decline in institutional trust. Gen Z and Millennials value authenticity and transparency over authority. They trust leaders who demonstrate consistency, humility, and empathy more than those who rely solely on titles or positions. Churches should therefore prioritize leadership formation grounded in relationship and accountability.

Sources of Trust Among Respondents

Source of Trust

% Ranking Top 3

Pastor

60% 25% 10% 05%

Family & Friends Peer Mentors Online Mentors

The majority still trust pastors most, but peer and digital influencers are emerging as sec- ondary sources of guidance.

Analysis: The Church must adapt to this multi-source reality. By equipping spiritual leaders to mentor, collaborate, and communicate transparently, churches can re-establish credibility and prevent secular influencers from shaping the narrative of faith.

Section Four Teaching Relevance

To keep younger generations engaged, ensure that sermons and lessons connect with their real-world challenges. Teens (13–17) in the survey rated the relevance of church teaching to their life around 7.5/10, while adults over 40 rated it about 9/10. In other words, youth are feeling a relevance gap . Church communicators should adapt their language and topics to address issues Gen Z faces (mental health, pur- pose, social issues, etc.), use stories or media that resonate with youth culture, and invite interaction. Emphasizing practical application of biblical principles will help young people see church teaching as meaningful and actionable in their daily lives. When participants were asked how relevant church teaching felt to their lives, the vast majority gave neutral or noncommittal responses, while only about 2–3% explicitly rated teaching as “not relevant.ˮ This silence is meaningful—it suggests that for many, church messages donʼt consistently connect to their lived experience. For teens and college-age respondents, the gap is even wider: only a minority rated biblical teaching as highly applicable to modern issues such as anxiety, purpose, or social justice. The data reflects what many pastors already sense: while young people still attend church, the message often fails to meet them where they are, emotionally and culturally. This isnʼt a rejection of truth but a desire for truth that feels alive and applicable. Respondents who found teaching relevant were typically those already engaged in prayer and Bible study, indicating that spiritual disciplines increase oneʼs Key Point: Make church teachings relevant to everyday life

sense of connection to church teaching. Conversely, those disconnected from Scripture also perceived sermons as distant or abstract.

To close this gap, churches should invest in contextual, story-driven discipleship . Teaching that integrates biblical truth with real-world issues—relationships, social media, career, justice—can help re-establish relevance without compromising or- thodoxy. Multi-generational panels, youth-led discussions, and testimonies of lived faith can bridge the pulpit-to-life divide. As many may agree: “I believe in God, but Iʼm not sure how Sunday applies to Monday.ˮ That sentiment captures the crisis— and the opportunity—for the modern church. Relevance is not about entertainment; itʼs about connection. The message of Christ has never lost its power; it simply needs to be heard in the language of the next generation.

Perceived Relevance of Teaching by Generation

Generation

High Relevance (8–10)

Moderate (5–7)

Low (0–4)

17% 33%

Boomers/Gen X/Millennials

78% 55%

12%

Gen Z

Younger generations perceive church teachings as less relevant to modern life.

Analysis: Relevance is not about entertainment but about connection. Gen Z and Millennials want sermons that intersect with lived realities—mental health, identity, justice, and purpose. Churches should integrate testimony, discussion, and digital media into their teaching ap- proaches, helping Scripture bridge from theology to practice. This data emphasizes the lived concerns of younger believers. Biblical teaching must therefore show how Godʼs Word speaks directly to emotional, social, and cultural challenges.

Generational Comparison of Core Spiritual Disciplines

Category

Boomers/Gen X/Millennials

Gen Z 48% 22% 5.8% 6.5%

Daily Prayer

75% 35% 33% 33%

Daily Bible Read Trust in Leadership Teaching Relevance

Each generation reveals a gradual decline across spiritual engagement indicators.

Analysis: The data confirms that while spiritual foundations remain intact, generational faith expression is evolving. Boomers and Gen X model consistency, Millennials prioritize experi- ence, and Gen Z values authenticity. The Churchʼs mission is to harmonize these strengths: to build bridges where faith becomes both grounded in Scripture and expressed through innovation.

Rediscover

Promote Scripture-centered discipleship that fuels trust and conviction.

Reimagine

Rebuild

Use digital and creative tools to make faith accessible and engaging.

Foster intergenerational relationships for mentorship and accountability.

Strategic Vision

The Church stands at a crossroads where discipleship must evolve without dilution. Through prayer, Scripture, authentic leadership, and relevant teaching, the next generation can rediscover faith that is alive, active, and transformative.

In Depth Research Data

Demographics Overview Movement.org Survey: Demographics of Respondents Under 30 (N=675)

Gender Distribution

Age Distribution

350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Male

48%

56%

Female

13-17

18-20

1-12

21-29

Age Group

Top 5 Race/Ethnicity Categories

School Attendance

300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Black or African American

Hispanic

White

Asian / Pacific Islander

American Indian or Alaskan Native

100

150

200

250

College

High School

Junior High School

None of the Above

Count

Key demographic insights: Total respondents under 30: 675 Gender split: 56% Female, 44% Male Race/Ethnicity: Predominantly Black/African American (40.5%) and Hispanic (27.6%) School attendance: Nearly half (48.9%) are in high school, with 18.5% in college

Religious Engagement Analysis Movement.org Survey: Demographics of Respondents Under 30 (N=675)

Religion/Spirituality Importance (0-10 Scale

Church Ministry Attendance

500 400 300 200 100 0

15.1%

84.9%

0 (Not at All)

8.0 9.0 10 (Very)

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

Yes

Frequency of Christian Activities

Christian School Attendance

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Yes

None of the Above

100

150

200

250

350

Once a week

More than once a week

Once or twice a month

Seldom

A few times a year

Major findings on religious engagement: Church/Ministry Participation 84.9% attend a church/campus group/ministry network Spirituality Importance The Religion/Spirituality scale (0-10) shows strong religious commitment: • 25.2% rated it 10 (Very important)

• 15.4% rated it 8 • 15.1% rated it 7 • Only 3.4% rated it 0 (Not at all important) Christian Activities Frequency • 35.3% attend Christian activities once a week • 19.3% attend more than once a week • 15.4% attend seldom • 15.2% attend a few times a year

Key Takeaways 1. High religious engagement: 85% of young people under 30 are actively involved in church/ministry 2.Strong spiritual commitment: Over 68% rate religion/spirituality as 7 or higher on a 10-point scale School 3. Regular participation: 54.6% attend Christian activities at least once a week

Religious Engagement by Race/Ethnicity Movement.org Survey: Demographics of Respondents Under 30 (N=675)

Black or African American: Average Score: 7.26/10

Hispanic: Average Score: 6.79/10

White: Average Score: 7.52/10

Asian / Pacific Islander: Average Score: 6.75/10

Who Influences Teens to Attend Religious Activities? INFLUENCE ON RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION (Categorized)

Friends: 57 (17.4%)

Church/Ministry: 203 (61.9%)

Family: 42 (12.8%)

Other: 19 (5.8%) School: 6 (1.8%) Self-initiated: 1 (0.3%)

Church and ministry connections are by far the strongest influence (61.9%), followed by friends (17.4%) and family (12.8%). This shows that institutional religious connections play the dominant role in bringing young people to religious activities like summer camps.

Relationship Closeness- Average Closeness Scores (Scale 0-10)

Parents: 8.29 Friends: 7.77

God: 7.61

Church: 6.86

*Interestingly, while church/ministry has the strongest influence on participation, young people report feeling closest to their parents (8.29/10), followed by friends (7.77), God (7.61), and church (6.86). This suggests that while institu- tional connections drive participation, family relationships remain the strongest emotional bond.

Key Takeaways Strong Religious Correlations:

1. Trust in God shows the strongest correlation (r = 0.463) with religious belief strength - this makes intuitive sense as both are core aspects of faith 2. Trust in Pastor (r = 0.392) and Church Friends (r = 0.341) also show moderate-to-strong positive correlations

Weaker Family Correlations:

2. Trust in Mother (r = 0.173) and Father (r = 0.147) show much weaker correlations with religiosity 3. This suggests that trust in parents is more independent of religious belief - young people trust their parents re- gardless of how religious they are What This Means: The data reveals that stronger religious belief is associated with greater trust in religious fig- ures and community (God, pastors, church friends), but has only a modest relationship with trust in family mem- bers. This suggests that religious belief strengthens bonds within the faith community specifically, while family trust operates more independently of religious identity.

Itʼs a Matter of Trust: How Different Settings Shape Trust Among Young People

Age Group Setting

Church Attendance Setting

Church Attenders (n=148)

Non-Attenders (n=646)

10 8 6 4 2 0

God

+0.74%

Pastor

Father

Pastor

18-20

God

Mother

13-17

21-29

Father

Church Friends

School Setting

Largest Trust Differences

High School Attendees (n=337)

Non-HS Attendees (n=457)

-0.47%

-0.59%

Age:Father

10 8 6 4 2 0

-0.89%

-1.14%

-0.76%

School:Friends

-1.14%

School: Pastor

0.74%

Church: Friends

0.74%

Church: Pastor

Pastor

God

Mother

-1.00 -0.75

-0.50

Father

Church Friends

-0.25

0.00

0.25

-0.50

-0.75

1.00

Major findings on religious engagement: Church Attendance Setting: • Church attenders show higher trust in pastors (+0.74 points) and church friends (+0.74 points) compared to non-attenders

• Trust in God is slightly higher (+0.19), but trust in parents is nearly identical

• This suggests church attendance specifically boosts trust in church- related relationships

Age Group Patterns: • Trust in God increases with age (9.05 → 9.75 from teens to 20s) • Trust in pastors peaks in the 18-20 age group (7.60) • Trust in fathers decreases as young people get older (7.56 → 6.67)

School Setting:

• High school students show lower trust across the board compared to non-students

• Biggest gap is in trust of pastors (-1.14 points)

• This could reflect the developmental stage or the competing influences in a school environment

The data reveals that context matters significantly - being in church settings boosts spiri- tual trust, while being in school settings appears to correlate with lower overall trust levels. Age also plays a role, particularly in the evolving relationship with fathers.

Bible Views And Their Relationship to Religiosity and Church Attendance

Bible Views by Church Attendance

Bible Views by Religiosity Level

Church Attenders

Non-Attenders

Trust in the Bible

Wisdom from the Bible

10 8 6 4 2 0

9.03

8.99

6.91

6.32

Wisdom from the Bible

Trust in the Bible

Medium

Low

Bible Trust Distribution - Church Attenders

Church Attendance by Religiosity Level

30 25 20

62.8%

25.5%

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

18.5%

15 10

13.8%

5 0

Medium

High

Low

9 10

Key Findings: Church Attendance Setting:

• Church attenders show only slightly higher trust in the Bible (+0.04 points) compared to non-attenders

• However, they rate wisdom from the Bible significantly higher (+0.59 points)

• This suggests church attendance influences how people apply biblical wisdom more than basic trust in scripture

Religiosity Levels: The relationship between religiosity and Bible views is dramatic:

• Low religiosity : Bible trust = 3.23, Wisdom = 2.88 • Medium religiosity: Bible trust = 7.10, Wisdom = 6.48 • High religiosity: Bible trust = 9.59, Wisdom = 7.42 That's a 6+ point swing in Bible trust from low to high religiosity - much larger than the church attendance effect. Surprising Finding: Church attendance rates are actually lower among highly religious people (18.5%) compared to medium religiosity (25.5%). This suggests many highly reli- gious young people maintain their faith outside traditional church structures. Distribution Pattern: Among church attenders, 62.8% give the Bible a perfect 10 for trust - showing a highly polarized view where most either fully trust scripture or have moderate- to-low trust. The data shows that personal religiosity is a much stronger predictor of Bible views than church attendance itself.

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