AFN reported last November that Generation Z (Gen Z) is the least religious generation according to data compiled Ryan Burge, political scientist and author. He says that 43% of Gen Z does not claim a religious affiliation, compared to 19% of Boomers.
Thom Rainer, founder and CEO of Church Answers, wrote a book titled "The Anxious Generation Goes to Church." On AFR’s “The Stand Radio," he gives a personal testimony about an encounter he had with a young person while having lunch with his son.
“It was a Gen Zer that took our order. And I just casually said, ‘Where are you from?’ He told me where he's from. I said, ‘Do you have a church home?’” recalls Rainer.
He says the young man told him no.
“And then he said, ‘I'd really like to go, just no one's invited me.’ That was in 15 seconds,” Rainer says.
According to a Barna article, 65% of people without a faith know a Christian, and only 45% say that person has talked to them about Christ.
Rainer states that eight out of 10 Gen Zers say that if there was a personal connection, such as going with somebody to church, they would go. However, he also says that only one out of 20 church members even mention inviting somebody to church over the course of a year.
He gets into another personal story when interacting with members of his own church.
“I was leading a community group, and I asked everyone how often they shared the gospel. I said, ‘I'm not trying to put you on the spot.’ There were only two people in the group that had shared the gospel, me and my wife, ever,” says Rainer. “Many of these were long-term Christians.”
Furthermore, a different Barna article says that only two out of five pastors believe that their congregation is effective at reaching out to nonbelievers or inviting them to become Christians.
