Sometimes a change begins before we know what to call it. It doesn’t make the news or trend on social media. But if you look closely, you can see it in the eyes of a young person who has grown tired of drifting.

Lately, I’ve noticed a quiet return happening among Gen Z men. After years of stepping away from church, some are beginning to come back. Not in large crowds. Not with big declarations. But slowly, with humility and a growing hunger for something real.

The Data: Gen Z Men Are Coming Back to Church

The research is confirming what many of us are seeing on the ground. According to the Barna Group, younger adults, including Gen Z, are now attending church more regularly than older generations. In 2023, Gen Z churchgoers averaged 1.9 weekends a month, the highest rate Barna has recorded in years (Barna).

Young men are driving the trend

Surprisingly, it’s young men who are leading the way. Several reports show that Gen Z and Millennial men are now attending church more consistently than their female peers, reversing a decades-long trend (Religion Unplugged).

In a culture where young men have often felt displaced or unseen in spiritual spaces, this change is significant. It points to something deeper than a demographic shift. It’s the sign of a generation searching for meaning and beginning to find it.

What We’re Seeing at Journey School

We’re witnessing this firsthand at Journey School.

This spring, a group of young men joined us from across the country. Some came carrying disappointment with the church. Some were simply restless. Most had more questions than answers.

But in a space where questions are welcomed and where faith is lived rather than preached, something began to change. They began to listen. To trust. To open up.

They learned that vulnerability is not weakness. That brotherhood matters. That God doesn’t speak only to the spiritually advanced, but to those who choose stillness and listening.

These young men have begun forming deep friendships. They cook together. They pray over each other. They are discovering that leadership is less about control and more about presence. In their eyes, we’re seeing something rare, a quiet strength taking root.

What This Means for Parents of Gen Z Sons

If you’re a parent, maybe you’ve wondered:

• Does my son still believe?

• Why does the church feel irrelevant to him?

• Is there any place where he can grow in faith without being pressured or judged?

You’re not alone. I’ve spoken with so many parents who feel that same ache.

Let me offer you hope: your son is not lost. Many young men today are quietly waiting, waiting for someone to show them a path that leads to real life. A path rooted in relationship rather than obligation, and presence rather than performance. A life lived with God.

They’re looking for hope that lasts, and a place where they can belong while they figure things out.

Making Space for What Comes Next

We’re now preparing for our next semester of Journey School, beginning this fall. We are praying for young men who are ready to take the next step - who want to ask honest questions, build deep friendships, and pursue a life that matters.

If your son is feeling restless, uncertain, or quietly searching, this may be the beginning of something new. We offer a space to walk with them, into healing, into identity, into a relationship with a God who still speaks.

This return is real. It’s quiet. But it’s happening. And we want to make space for more of it.

Sources

• Barna Group: Young Adults Lead Resurgence in Church Attendance

• Religion Unplugged: Gen Z and Millennial Men Driving New Church Attendance Trend

• Wikipedia: Church Attendance