Humans are wired to notice what’s wrong. Negative information sticks. There’s a reason political campaigns use attack ads—they work. Fear grabs attention. Outrage fuels engagement. And for better or worse, that instinct shapes how people see the world, including the church.
Critiques of the church are easy to find: institutional failures, moral hypocrisy, cultural irrelevance. But it’s worth asking—what if some things are actually going right?
Despite the headlines, there are hopeful shifts underway across the global church. A deeper engagement with Scripture, renewed interest among younger generations, a focus on justice and compassion, and a breaking down of denominational walls—these trends aren’t as loud as the scandals, but they’re real. And they’re worth paying attention to.
Here are five encouraging signs of what the church is getting right in 2025.
1. Gen Z is rediscovering faith
Against predictions of generational decline, Gen Z is showing renewed spiritual interest—especially among young men.
According to the American Bible Society, Bible engagement among Gen Z men increased by 19% between 2023 and 2024. Barna research shows the percentage of Gen Z men who identify as committed Christians rose from 52% in 2019 to 67% in 2023. Church attendance, prayer and Scripture reading are all on the rise in this group, particularly in the wake of cultural instability and digital burnout.
This trend is not limited to one region. In the United Kingdom, church attendance among 18- to 24-year-olds jumped from 4% in 2020 to 21% in 2023, according to the Bible Society. Many of these young adults cite a desire for meaning, community and truth as reasons for engaging or re-engaging with faith.
Rather than abandoning religion, Gen Z appears to be searching for a more honest, holistic and grounded expression of it—and many are finding it in Jesus.
2. Accepting the Bible on its own terms
For years, modern Western Christianity approached the Bible as something to be defended, decoded or used to reinforce existing beliefs. The result was often a flattening of Scripture—treating it as a textbook or legal code rather than the complex, sacred narrative it is.
That’s beginning to shift.
More believers are embracing the Bible for what it actually is: an ancient, multigenre collection of writings that tell the story of God’s relationship with humanity. Instead of forcing it to match modern sensibilities, readers are beginning to wrestle with its contradictions, embrace its cultural context and uncover its enduring wisdom.
Theologians like Peter Enns have described this shift as a return to honest engagement—less about proving the Bible is right and more about understanding what it’s saying. Resources like The Bible Project, which has gained millions of views online, reflect this growing hunger for deeper, more nuanced biblical literacy.
This doesn’t signal a move away from Scripture. It signals a rediscovery.
3. Serving the whole person
While institutional church attendance continues to decline in parts of the Western world, the church in the global South is thriving—and reshaping what Christian witness looks like.
In countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, churches are integrating spiritual care with practical action. Ministries provide health care, education, job training and clean water alongside worship and discipleship. Faith is not treated as separate from daily life—it’s the foundation for addressing it.
According to Pew Research, the Christian population in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2050, making it one of the fastest-growing centers of global Christianity. This growth is accompanied by a theology that emphasizes community transformation, not just personal salvation.
These churches are demonstrating a holistic gospel—one that feeds the hungry, uplifts the poor and proclaims good news in word and deed. And in doing so, they’re modeling something powerful to the global church: faith that looks like love in action.
4. Losing the labels
There are more than 40,000 Protestant denominations worldwide. And while denominational structures remain, younger Christians are increasingly disinterested in tribal boundaries.
Recent studies from Lifeway Research show that affiliation with specific denominations has declined sharply among millennials and Gen Z. What’s rising in its place is a movement toward unity through shared practice—prayer, Scripture, communion, community service—rather than doctrinal division.
This ecumenical spirit is visible in churches across the United States and beyond. Communities are blending liturgical traditions with contemporary worship, celebrating the sacraments with renewed reverence and exploring spiritual practices outside their denominational roots. Evangelicals are observing the church calendar. Charismatics are embracing silence and contemplation. Formerly high-church traditions are opening space for informal gatherings and communal meals.
The focus is shifting away from theological gatekeeping and toward shared pursuit of Christ. Labels matter less. Formation matters more.
5. Decentralizing church leadership
The traditional model of church leadership—one professional clergy person leading from the stage while the congregation listens—is quietly being replaced.
Across many faith communities, there’s a growing recognition that spiritual leadership is not confined to those with seminary degrees or job titles. The church is increasingly embracing the biblical idea of the “priesthood of all believers”—that everyone has a role to play in building and embodying the kingdom of God.
Missional communities, house churches and decentralized gatherings are growing in popularity. In these contexts, teaching, care and worship are shared responsibilities. Vocational pastors still play an important role, but they are not the sole spiritual authorities. Instead, churches are leaning into distributed leadership and shared responsibility.
This model encourages deeper engagement, stronger relationships and a faith that isn’t confined to Sunday mornings. It reflects the ministry of Jesus—who walked with people, taught in homes and empowered his followers to carry the message forward.
Of course, these aren’t the only signs of life in the church. There are thousands of small, faithful expressions happening every day—in homes, in schools, in prisons, on campuses, in rural villages and urban centers. The headlines may never catch them. But they matter.
Sometimes it’s easier to critique than to celebrate. But if the church is ever going to grow into what it’s meant to be, it starts by noticing what’s already going right.
Maybe the good news deserves a little more attention.
