Helping the next generation connect with your church family
Gen Z and Millennials are showing renewed interest in church, and that shift creates a meaningful opportunity for congregations. Drawing from decades of campus ministry, Greg Swinney shares practical ways churches can welcome young adults with authenticity, belonging, and purpose.
- Young adults are returning—and the church must steward this moment well.
- They are looking for authenticity, community, and a place to serve.
- Simple personal connection can become a life-changing catalyst for discipleship.
by Greg Swinney
In the 70s, I was in my 20s, and now in the 20s, I’ll be in my 70s. How things have changed. In what feels like the blink of an eye, I’ve seen the birth of microwave ovens, personal computers, cell phones, the internet, and the supersizing of a fast-food combo meal until it has more calories than a Thanksgiving dinner.
The changes in our culture surprise me, and the changes in the church are no less astounding. Styles of music, church building design (coffee shops and bookstores), the addition of creative arts staff, and a video production team that makes the local television station jealous, have all been interesting to watch. Jesus spoke of new wine needing new wineskins, and that truth is both exciting and scary for the church.
Much of my adult life has been spent with college students. From my first college class in August of 1974 to serving as a campus minister for over 40 years, I’ve realized one thing—I have a lot to learn.
It seems like only yesterday I was walking to my first freshman class in my stylish bell-bottom blue jeans and asking a stranger, “What building are the speech classes in, and by the way, do you know the room number?” Now, five decades later, I’m thrilled by what I see happening on campuses everywhere and within the church.
Gen Z and Millennials are coming back
Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) and Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) are coming back to church. Not in huge numbers, but the shift is significant, and we need to pay attention to what’s happening.
Every now and then, the Barna Group crunches the numbers in its “State of the Church” research. Their most recent data reveals a surprising swing: Millennials and Gen Z are driving a resurgence in church attendance. Barna surveys thousands of people to measure spiritual interest, faith practices, and signs of renewal.
Today, in a post-pandemic world, the pattern of church growth has remarkably shifted. Gen Z and Millennials, often labeled as disinterested in faith, show the highest levels of regular attendance, much more often than older generations. The typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends per month, while Millennial churchgoers average 1.8 times—a steady upward shift since the lows seen during the last two decades. These are easily the highest rates of church attendance among young Christians since they first hit Barna’s tracking.
Meeting “Julie”
When I first met her, she seemed a little strange to me. Her curly, brown hair fell on the shoulders of the colorful, tie-dyed T-shirt she was wearing. Her friendly smile communicated that she was ready to talk. “This stuff about Jesus sounds good to me,” she inquired. She didn’t own a Bible. The stories I grew up with in Sunday school were like a foreign language to “Julie.” She seemed so different from me, but we both wanted the same thing—a relationship with a God who loves us, freedom from our past mistakes, and a hope for the future. That’s how our friendship began.
Once when Julie and I were talking, I asked, “When you eat spaghetti, does it get caught on that tongue stud you have?” She laughed and said, “Like, um no way, and um, I don’t hassle you about going bald, so what’s up with teasing me about my tongue stud?” Within a few months, Julie chose to follow Jesus. Soon after, she led many of her friends into a new life with him as she helped baptize them in a lake just outside of town.
Modern-day skeptics sometimes look down their noses at today’s university students. They can’t see past the tattoos, purple hair, or constant cell phone use. With a coffee cup in one hand and the morning newspaper in the other, they grumble, “What’s this world coming to?” I’ll tell you what this world is coming to . . . they are coming to Jesus.
Why intergenerational connection matters
This presents a huge opportunity for the church—for you and for me. The Julies of the world need us. Throughout the Bible, we are urged to connect with the next generation; honoring them, teaching and discipling them, and helping them find their unique ministries.
The psalmist makes it clear: “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4, English Standard Version).
In Deuteronomy 4:9 we read, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Verse 10 speaks of assembling the people to hear the words of the Lord and “teach them to their children,” indicating not only those in their own family but others in their circle of influence.
Titus 2 plainly calls for older women and men to teach and train the younger generation. Paul also reminded Timothy that his faith first lived in his grandmother and mother, evidence of generational discipleship at work.
Psalm 78 echoes the same call: “We will not hide them [the things we have heard and known] from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (vs 4).
Jesus modeled this inclusion of all generations and specifically children throughout his ministry, going so far as to tell his followers that welcoming a child into their midst was akin to welcoming him and the one who sent him.
In their book, Intergenerational Christian Formation, Holly Allen and Christine Ross (2012) point out that “first century churches were multigenerational entities, with children present for worship, healings, prayer meetings, even perhaps when persecutions were perpetuated.” Allen and Ross go on to say, “In the religion of Israel, all ages were not just included, they were drawn in, assimilated, absorbed into the community with a deep sense of belonging.”
David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group says, “Our church families are more frayed and less gray than they were a decade ago.” Barna research compels those of us in the church with this challenge, “The influx of new generations represents a massive opportunity for congregational leaders, but this renewed interest must be stewarded well.”
What young adults are looking for
The next generation of 20-somethings—college students, young married couples, and new professionals—is standing at the doorway of the church and peeking inside. After talking with dozens of college students and speaking with church leaders who are effectively reaching college students, here’s what I’ve discovered they are looking for.
Authenticity
One college coed church shopped for six months. While finishing a Subway sandwich, she looked at me across the table and said, “I don’t need flashy music or a big production; what I’m looking for is authenticity.” Here’s what I’m hearing that coed say: Young adults know the struggles they face are unlikely to be fixed with a three-point sermon in 22 minutes. They want leaders who admit doubt, wrestle with faith, and understand the pressures of everyday life. They have real questions and are hungry for real answers. “How can Jesus help me navigate my parents’ divorce?” or “Can God help me find a job after graduation?” are very real to them. They want someone to listen and walk alongside them as they decide what to study, who to marry, and where to live. You can be that person.
A Place to Belong
Wanting authenticity leads us to discover a second thing they need: a place to belong. “That church doesn’t have a very close-knit community,” one pre-med student told me. They want to feel a part of a family, a body. One church launched an “Adopt a College Kid” outreach, pairing students with local families. It was a blessing both ways—birthday celebrations, babysitting help, Christmas gifts, and even a place to do laundry away from the dorm. Never let a college student or young family sit alone. Sit with them. Smile. Say hello. Ask a question—and listen. Remind yourself: This person is fighting a battle I know nothing about, and I want to hear their story.
A Place to Serve
Third, the upcoming generation is looking for a place to serve. An exciting change that I see is that young adults aren’t looking to “go to church,” they are looking for a mission to join. What an opportunity!
Offer to swing by the campus and give a ride to that college student who walks to church. Tell the international student that you would be happy to proofread their term paper for them. Invite the elementary education major to help with Sunday school classes or youth groups. Encourage the music major to sing or play on the worship team. Ask the computer science major to help with the church website or sound system. When our church softball coach asked two college boys (both exercise science majors) to join our church softball team—we had a winning season! Following the summer softball season, the boys began serving in other areas of the church. Send the next generation a message: we want you here, we have a dynamic vision, and you can be a part of it.
A group in Nebraska launched a ministry last year called 10two (from Luke 10:2, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”). Their primary purpose is to call, create, and care for future and current church leaders (www.10two.org). They aim much of their efforts at college students.
Churches that offer spiritual mentoring and discipleship (authenticity), relational connection (community), and a place to serve (ministry) are well-positioned as this new season drifts in our direction.
In many ways, the fears and hopes of young adults are the same generation after generation. My own life proves that. After my first week of classes (back in the 1900s), I sat bewildered in my small dormitory room, staring at the faded green carpeting on the floor and thinking, “what have I gotten myself into?” Classes were more difficult than I anticipated, the cafeteria food wasn’t anything like Mom’s home-cooked delicacies, and a part-time job was in the near future for me since I needed to pay for this new adventure. Life was messy back then, just like it is now. I was filled with uncertainty, just like young adults today.
Then one day an upperclassman, a few years older than me, knocked on the door. He sat on the bed across from me and asked questions. Mostly, he just listened. He discovered that I had only been a Christian a few months and I was overwhelmed. Then he prayed for me. Micheal put his hand on my shoulder and prayed for me! “God, may your will be done in Greg’s life, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.” I’ve never forgotten the life-changing words of his simple prayer. That happened 52 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.
For me that experience and that new relationship was a game-changer. God is calling you to be a game changer for the next generation. I’m certain there are young adults all around you just waiting for you to join them in their mess and uncertainty. I bet you can name two or three of them right off the top of your head. Whose shoulder do you need to place your hand on and ask God to fulfill his purpose in their life? God is calling you to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done (Psalm 78:4). You can be his ambassador to help transform a wandering pilgrim into a faithful follower.
Author: Greg Swinney
Greg Swinney ministered to university students for more than four decades and recently transitioned into volunteer ministry in areas he is passionate about serving. The International Conference on Missions has invited him to serve as president for their 2027 conference in Richmond, Virginia.
