Gen Z Leads Belief that Revival Is Coming to America, Survey Finds
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Millions of Americans believe a spiritual revival is on the horizon, according to a new poll that also finds younger adults are the most likely to say it’s just around the corner.
The new survey from Barna, presented in partnership with Gloo as part of the 2026 State of the Church initiative, found that nearly one-third (29 percent) of U.S. adults believe a spiritual revival will either definitely or probably “happen in the U.S. in the next 12 months,” led by members of Gen Z – 38 percent of whom share that expectation. That’s higher than Millennials (25 percent), Gen X (29 percent), and Boomers (28 percent). Gen Z adults are ages 18 to 29.
The data means that some 80 million Americans believe revival could be on the verge of happening within the next year, Barna noted in an analysis.
The survey was conducted in February.
“Even when revival is difficult to define or predict, the belief that spiritual change is possible signals a meaningful shift in cultural posture – from indifference and resistance toward openness and curiosity,” Barna said.
Revival-minded adults point to prayer (46 percent) as the primary catalyst for a spiritual awakening. Other commonly cited factors include younger generations turning to Christ (44 percent), a broad search for meaning and purpose (41 percent), people experiencing God (39 percent), and a growing hunger for God (37 percent). Among revival-minded members of Gen Z, 42 percent say mental health challenges will spark a movement of God – the highest share of any age group.
“The research doesn’t predict a revival,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna. “And respondents were not given a specific definition of revival, so we anticipate that people have a wide range of ideas of what that might look like. Yet, it reveals something worth paying attention to: a large number of Americans believe one is possible – and for younger adults especially, that belief is being forged in some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives.
“That matters for Christian leaders. When a generation turns toward faith not out of tradition or habit but out of a genuine drive for something deeper – stemming from anxiety, isolation, and disruption – the Church’s response to that search may prove more consequential than any single cultural trend.”
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
