It’s easy to believe the church is shrinking. Headlines warn of empty pews, a faithless generation and cultural decline. But Christine Caine is convinced the real story is far more hopeful — and she’s got the passport stamps to prove it.
From bullfighting rings in Peru to soccer arenas in Indonesia, Caine has watched tens of thousands gather, desperate for something real.
“We prayed for this, and it’s really happening,” she says. “I can’t believe it. It’s like, my gosh, this is that.”
Far from shrinking, the global church is growing in surprising ways. According to the State of the Great Commission report, 80% of Christians now live outside the West.
In 1900, the stereotypical Christian was a white European man. Today, she’s a Nigerian woman.
The center of Christianity has shifted decisively to the global South. Meanwhile in the U.K., monthly church attendance has jumped from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024, with young adult attendance quadrupling. Among young men, attendance has surged from 4% to 21%.
Caine has spent the past year traveling across Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East, witnessing this wave firsthand: in Krakow, Poland, 10,000 young adults from 18 countries gathered for a revival conference. In Pakistan, stadiums overflowed. In Jakarta, soccer arenas were packed.
“I’ve spent more time overseas this year than in America,” she says. “I’m more pumped up now than I have ever been.”
This global surge is more than just a collection of big events — it represents a shift in how faith is experienced and expressed. In sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia, church is not a passive weekly habit but a vibrant, communal expression of hope and resilience.
The explosion of Pentecostal and charismatic movements has ignited worship marked by healing, personal encounters and unfiltered passion. Young people, often disillusioned by shallow expressions of religion, are drawn to this raw, genuine faith.
Economic shifts are fueling the change as well. Over the next decade, an estimated 2.5 billion people are expected to join the global middle class. As stability grows, so does the hunger for purpose and meaning beyond material success.
Churches that meet these questions head-on, without empty slogans or easy answers, are seeing growth in unexpected places.
Caine believes this generation’s hunger isn’t for flashy programs but for authenticity.
“There is a hunger for God like I haven’t seen in years,” she says. “Young people aren’t rejecting faith altogether. They’re rejecting the shallow versions they’ve been handed. They want the real deal.”
She urges young believers not to let cynicism steal their passion. “Don’t see a few of the frauds and think that’s the whole thing,” she says. “God has no dark side. People do. But God is only good, and he does good.”
Supporting data echoes this reality. In the U.K., young churchgoers report higher life satisfaction and lower anxiety than their non-churchgoing peers. Among young women aged 18 to 34, frequent anxiety and depression rates drop significantly for those active in church communities.
More than a third of young adults say they’re interested in learning more about Scripture and going deeper in their faith — evidence that spiritual curiosity is alive and growing.
Caine’s message to this generation is one of radical commitment and hope. “Jesus is so worthy of our all,” she says. “Be all in. I have so much faith and hope in this generation. God is doing a new thing, and I want to be on board with that.”
Digital culture is another major force shaping this movement. Today, 70% of the world is online every day, and 60% are active on social media. In this hyper-connected reality, young people often form identities and communities beyond traditional borders.
“A young woman in rural Russia may feel more affinity with someone in New York she follows on Instagram than with her own family,” explained Matthew Niermann, lead researcher of the State of the Great Commission report.
Churches that embrace this digital mission field have a chance to break barriers — yet many still see online ministry as an afterthought.
Many observers point out that a generation weary of digital noise, relentless self-branding and cultural division is searching for something deeper. In a world of curated images and shallow connections, the promise of radical grace and true belonging shines like a beacon.
Young believers today aren’t looking for perfection; they crave honesty, deep community and a mission that matters.
For those tempted to see Christianity as an outdated relic, Caine offers a different vision: a global church alive in stadiums and streets, a generation hungry for truth and a God who is still making all things new.
“Our best days are ahead of us and not behind us,” she says.
Anyone willing to look beyond the headlines will see it: the global church isn’t fading — it’s thriving, moving and inviting us into a story far bigger than we imagined.
