A Gen Z New Believer’s View

 

It would be simply annoying not to document some views from those currently experiencing revival in the UK. When I was a young believer at church, the older Christians would talk about ‘a cult of youth’. It’s a very ‘old person’ kind of expression to use and pretty condescending. I remember thinking, ‘Huh? I’m in a cult? Why don’t we have more of a say then?’ (Turned out there was a good argument that we were all in a cult, both young and old. ‘Hold on’, you might say, ‘cults shun those who leave and say that the world is evil’. Yep).

I’m getting side-tracked. Any revival must pass between the generations. All of them. We already have an unimaginatively titled ‘Alpha generation’. What are the ‘Betas’ going to feel like should earth make it that far? Like second-class citizens I bet.

I won’t digress further. Here is what Gen Z has said.

 

Mia - A new young believer

“There has been a lot of chat on Anglican Twitter about the quiet revival, and this has led me to reflect on some of my experiences converting, particularly: difficulties talking about faith, not knowing enough, doubting a lot, and the ‘right reasons’ to become a Christian

People judge (new) adult converts in ways they do not doubt lifelong Christians. The strengths and weaknesses you have are often quite different to those who have been in the faith a long time. It would be nice for clergy/the church to be sympathetic to these different needs.”

 

Josh - another Gen Z believer

"I grew up with an abusive mum and never had a dad in my life. I ended up going through the system of children’s homes which led me into criminal activities, believing that these people cared about me. Because my look on how people really care about me was warped by my upbringing. I've done lots of things I couldn't forgive myself for. I was feeling very alone and depressed... I just prayed to God. And the next day one of my old support workers messaged me, asking me to come to church.

I have been bought into a family home of people who care about me and a church family who are amazing people. I want to be baptised because God has shown me that, no matter what I've done or what's happened, I'm forgiven. I will forgive others because Jesus died for our sins and I would like to give my life to Christ."

 

And Gen Z has its defenders. They are not a cult of youth.

The front-page splash of the Sunday Express on 27th July 2025 exclaimed; ‘GLOBAL CRISIS SENDING GEN Z TO CHURCH’. The ‘exclusive’ (many Christian bloggers and reporters and writers had got there first) was largely positive and an editorial piece gave a balanced view.

Justin Brierley referred to ‘the sea of faith’ coming back in again, like a tide. This imagery comes from Matthew Arnold’s famous poem ‘Dover Beach’, published in 1867 which described a kind of communal retreat of belief in God, which the poet felt.

‘The sea of faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furl'd;
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.’

If you accept the metaphor, then, in a way, your view of this is whether you prefer it when the tide is in, or when the tide is out. He wrote the poem while on honeymoon. Maybe he was depressed or not having a good honeymoon? Anyway, we got Dover Beach.

Not all of the reports about the quiet revival were positive. Humanists and secularists in particular, questioned the statistics and many thought it either non-existent, or else due only to immigration, quoting unquestioned statistics and polls which seemed to give different views. For almost every positive story, there was a negative one.

Justin Brierley ran with the imagery though. And he was not the only one. On August 14^th 2025, The New World (formally The New European) had a front page with an altered picture of the famous Sistine Chapel image of God. The newspaper changed this, showing God smiling and giving a thumbs up. And the headline read: ‘Look who’s back - The return of God to public life’. An article by the journalist and former editor of The Spectator, Matthew d’Ancona, critical of the popularity of faith-related apps, influencers and podcasts, concluded:

“On the digital beach, I stay alert for rationality, humanism and secularism wherever they may be. But, for now, at least - all I hear is their melancholy, long, withdrawing roar.”

 

As for Gen Z, the Zoomers who were suddenly going to churches? While most of us were talking about them, they were experiencing God. Including his mystery, miracle and magic. Possibly not the usual kind of magic, but hopefully you know what I mean.

A Historian's Perspective

 

 

 

Michael Marcel (a historian specializing on UK revivals - website www.ukwells.org) said,

“As far as the ‘quiet revival’ is concerned, I know very little about it in the UK. I find it frustrating that there is no ‘centre’ where one can go and receive and take it out. I am going to one of the places? (the only one I know) in four weeks to see if I can see what is happening. It is clearly amongst Gen Z, but that is all I know. My big concern is what will happen to the new young believers as many churches are not in a good place, in my opinion.”

Michael Marcel is a leading expert writer and historian specializing on this topic and I recommend checking his videos and his site out. It will give you a greater understand of how revivals work and progress. Who God uses, how fast it spreads, basically what has happened in the past. His material is very accessible and, I think, accurate. He deserves greater recognition for his work.

Historically, politics has often influenced revivals. I’m in danger of becoming so boring and tedious here once again by referring to the way in which the quiet revival is under threat from political and nationalistic forces. I am, of course, talking about the far-right appropriation of the Christian flag and banner, Tommy Robinson et al.

My response is pretty predictable, as a lefty. But hold on. You may be assuming too much here. Remember, my conviction is that a revival should be inclusive. For everyone, including you, whoever you are and whatever your political persuasion. There is certainly historical president for a joining together of liberal and conservatives.

 

Let’s go right back to when this all started. That’s over 2000 years ago. A time when there were miracles, and signs and wonders. A time entrenched in political intrigue and patriotism. The first revival ever is said to have taken place in Israel after St Peter gave a sermon and thousands responded to it, after the death and revival of Jesus Christ. But before even that, what was happening? This man, Jesus, who this is all centred around, like Robin Hood, drew a rag-tag company of 12 men to him. The disciples. These men, these leaders, were of vastly differing political inclinations. Some were called zealots. They wanted their country to be free from Roman occupation. They had found the Messiah and they were extremely patriotic. You might even call them conservative right-wingers. Nationalism being the last refuge of the scoundrel, they were jealous for their country. It used to be their home and they wanted it back. Others, you might call them… somewhat critical of their own country. They were tax collectors. They were considered traitors because they actually worked for the Romans in collecting money from the Jewish citizens. They were considered the lowest of the low. And Jesus liked to eat and talk with them.

He included this whole spectrum, from left, to right wing in his disciples. St James, who could be said to have displayed inverse snobbery by disliking the rich. Very liberal of him, despite his emphasis on personal responsibility. At least he understood that most of the problems people faced were caused by outside forces, by rich and powerful groups.

My point is this. Just as today the Church is made up of conservatives and liberals (and everything in between and outside of this) - both sides need to work together. Neither side should attempt to usurp what God is doing for their own agenda. Can Christian liberals and conservatives ever be reconciled? Well, there is some common ground. At heart, both sides agree on and believe the same basic thing. That Jesus is God and that he is the true king etc. It remains to be seen. It is ongoing. But if Jesus ever gets his prayer for unity answered - if you believe that the prayers of Christ are efficacious, then it is going to happen one day.

For now though, we are actually divided, I believe, so much that we are not just arguing with each other. We are killing each other. Maybe not in the UK so much as in some other countries. This must stop.

I will end with one question. There has been much bloodshed, historically. We live in the most brutal of times. There has been much blood, shed both to, and sadly, from Christians. So how much is required? If a revival requires even more martyrs to the point of death, then hasn’t it failed completely? And if we are the ones getting violent, then we’ve all lost.

I am unsure if God and I agree on this point. He allows too much. But I hope we agree that a revival should alleviate suffering, not propagate it.

 

2025

 

The street preachers continued to preach on the streets of the Midlands to only a trickle of interest. Little seemed to have changed on the surface. 

However, in April 2025 the Bible Society published a set of figures which basically showed that much of Generation Z really was interested in faith issues and that there had been an increase in church attendance, especially among young people. The narrative of decline, or the ebb of the sea of faith, had been so long-running that a lot of people were surprised and the study itself (questioning over 13000 people) was fairly robust and compared with a similar study done in 2018. The Bible Society called it a ‘quiet revival’ in the UK (although it seemed also to be happening in other countries in Europe). The study found that the Church of England continued to decline but that Catholics and Pentecostals were increasing in number. They stated that nominal Christians (as shown by the census) were decreasing but that the new believers were relatively active in their faith. And that the new believers, though largely young, were from all ethnic minorities. Similarly, there were reports of an increase in the sales of Bibles.

I was unsure of what to make of it. I wanted to believe it was true but there was a lot of criticism from both inside and outside of the Church. Some called on the Bible Society to retract their whole study.

Meanwhile I was having my own problems, having to increasingly care for my mum who had Parkinsons and dementia (and other personal problems including health and the loss of my dad in 2025). All the time still grieving for my brother. This became all-consuming and I was in little position to investigate further. However, I did attend a meeting in which I questioned Justin Brierley concerning his announcement of a revival.

“Hi Justin. Historically, any past revival has always been accompanied by a seemingly atmospheric outpouring of God’s Spirit. If there is the start of a revival or rebirth now in the UK (which I hope there is) - where is that supernatural change in the atmosphere?”

 

Justin Brierley:

“All great revivals have evidently had a move of God, a supernatural move of God. I’ve hesitated to use the R word ‘revival’ for it because I think revivals are a very specific thing, often things you can only see in hindsight anyway. Where there was a supernatural dimension to what was happening and you see real fruit from it. I think the word I have heard for what’s happening at the moment is a ‘quiet revival’, there are stirrings if you like. I think it is being accompanied in a certain respect by a spiritual outpouring, especially in the younger Gen Z circles. I would say that the Asbury awakening of 2023 was an interesting example of that happening where the spiritual thirst and hunger is bubbling up and pouring out, manifesting in these young people getting on their knees before God. And I’ve seen other instances of that happening. I think there is also a move towards the supernatural that I’m encountering among a lot of people after a long period of rationally and skepticism, I think people are open to that again. I still am not using the word ‘revival’ about what we’re seeing now. It could become that, who knows, but as you say it has to become something a bit different and something that will be noticeably a move of people repenting and getting right with God.

We’re inevitably comparing our time to very different times, the Welsh revival, various revivals which have happened both here and over time. They’ve all been very contextual and I don’t know exactly what a revival would look like right now in the technological age we’re living in, but I do sense that the conditions are right for people to return to God now, they’re desperate enough, I think they’ve been so let down in our culture by the false promises of secular modernity that I think it’s bubbling up in this spiritual hunger. I don’t know exactly how that will be disseminated. Where I am seeing it happen is that it’s trickling down from these online influencers, those seem to be the people who are the trend-setters now and so those are some of the people I’ve been focusing on in my book (The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God). They are changing the atmosphere about the acceptability of talking about God and religion and Christianity. So, I think it is starting in that place and being met by this spiritual hunger bubbling up from the ground as well.”

Brierley, a well-known podcaster, broadcaster and writer in Christian circles in the UK went on to continue to speak about the events which were happening.

Heralding the Quiet Revival

 

On the 30^th March 2024, a headline in The Spectator read: ‘A Christian revival is under way in Britain’. 

It was written by the writer and podcaster Justin Brierley. Well, there was some debate at the time on whether he had written the headline or some sub-editor had. Either way, he ran with the story. He spoke more of a spiritual rebirth and resisted the word ‘revival’ in his article. In fact, it is likely neither the Bible Society or Justin Brierley or the Spectator sub-editor get the kudos of heralding it. There was also the little-known college newspaper reporter of Asbury College in the US.

But the article caused a stir and was the most read Spectator online story of 2024. Brierley’s evidence for the revival was that a number of intellectuals had become Christians and that there seemed to be a shift in the whole landscape with even Richard Dawkins saying he was a ‘cultural Christian’. Justin Brierley felt that new atheism had received a backlash and people were questioning the deepest issues such as the meaning of life, God, and what happens after we die. He had seen first-hand a number of famous people moving from agnosticism, atheism and Islam into Christianity.

One of those, although perhaps not considered an intellectual because of his accent, was Russell Brand - who, that year got baptised by Bear Grylls in the River Thames. With Russell Brand remaining a controversial figure after the allegations of sexual assault, he received a mixed welcome from the UK Christian community. Brand asserted that he had been cancelled by the legacy media and that the accusations were untrue. Some believers felt he was using Christianity as a kind of last resort. Others, including Brierley, gave a cautious welcome. But Brand went from liberal to conservative, possibly so as not to alienate his large US audience. He also lost followers because of his new faith.

At the time there was also some evidence that Generation Z were a lot more open to talking about faith issues than was believed. Some said that there was a revival among young people. It was hard to know for sure, but I saw little sign of it on the university campus where I worked. But I wasn’t digging particularly deeply and, after Asbury, it really did seem like young people were having these discussions and that some were turning to Christ. It is said that the late teens and twenties are a significant time for young people in settling on their faith positions. I had become a Christian at university aged 20. It seemed possible, but the evidence was threadbare and, in many ways, things were as they always were. If this was a revival - it was a bit disappointing. Crime had not decreased and the atmosphere seemed as heavy and oppressive as ever.

 

As ever, people put their hope in a political solution - with the general election replacing 14 years of Conservative Government. But just as with Brexit, the promises of freedom simply remained promises. Perhaps it was all a distraction. People were certainly agitated enough about political issues for it to be another major change. But the talk, as before, was about ‘fixing’ a ‘broken’ Britain - if you even acknowledged that anything was wrong at all.

I wanted Justin Brierley to be right. But I saw few signs of a revival and, even on a personal level, felt little personal revival. I had published a short book ‘The Parables of the Cold Island’ with a half-concealed metaphor for an awakening and it had flopped. It had done spectacularly badly. I think I sold a handful of copies at the most in the first few months and most of them I gave away.

It was a year of loaves and circuses - the circuses of the major sporting events and the general election and the steady bread of incessant bad news. Well, maybe it is unfair to say that politics is a distraction - being as it influences so much of our daily lives. And maybe, just maybe, God was doing something quietly behind the scenes and ‘Aslan really was on the move’ as some liked to say.

Everything is a distraction to somebody or other. It remains my conviction that one of the healthiest and most necessary things that anyone can do, at almost any time, is to bawl their eyes out (preferably at a convenient time and location).

 

An AI's Angle

 

2023

I thought I may as well ask ChatGPT what it thought on the subject.

So, this will be a nice, cosy, lazy piece for me (which is rare). However, no other part of this story is written with AI. (‘Maybe it should have been’ I hear my critics laugh. Ha. People often laugh at things they don’t understand.)

Once again, believers are divided on AI. There are some serious problems with it. The greatest of which is that it was taught by the output of flawed human beings and so is as similarly flawed and discriminatory as we can be, particularly when it comes to the way it treats minorities. I’m professionally trained in the use of generative AI though and thought it might be interesting to have a discussion with one of our soulless, electronic overlords. This is an early iteration of the chatbot, so it was not at the same sophisticated level as it is today, but at the time I thought the answers seemed reasonably lucid…

What do you think about Christian revival?

As an AI language model, I don't have personal beliefs or opinions. However, I can provide you with some general information about Christian revival.

A Christian revival is a renewed spiritual awakening among Christians, often characterized by an increased focus on prayer, worship, and evangelism. Revivals have occurred throughout Christian history and have often been associated with significant spiritual and social change.

The Christian revival movement has often been marked by powerful preaching, emotional responses from participants, and mass conversions to Christianity. Some notable revivals in Christian history include the Great Awakening in 18th-century America and the Welsh Revival in 1904-1905.

What is the effect of Christian revival on trades?

It's difficult to make a general statement about the effect of Christian revival on trades because the impact can vary widely depending on the specific context and historical period.

However, it's worth noting that revivals have historically been associated with social and economic changes in addition to religious ones. For example, the Great Awakening in colonial America was associated with the rise of new religious denominations, increased church attendance, and changes in religious practices. It was also associated with the growth of new businesses and industries, such as printing and publishing, as well as increased philanthropy and social activism.

Similarly, the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was associated with a surge of religious fervour and evangelism, but it also had an impact on the mining industry in Wales. Many miners experienced religious conversion during the revival, and this led to changes in their work habits and attitudes. Some miners began to refuse to work on Sundays, for example, which led to conflicts with mine owners and managers.

What is the effect of a Christian revival on a country’s economy?

On the one hand, some scholars and economists argue that religious revivals can have positive economic effects. For example, a revival may lead to increased philanthropy and charitable giving, which can help to support the poor and vulnerable and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, a revival may encourage people to adopt more responsible and ethical business practices, which can lead to increased trust and stability in the marketplace.

However, others argue that religious revivals can have negative economic effects. For example, some economists argue that religious revivals can lead to a reduction in productivity and economic growth as individuals become more focused on religious activities and less focused on work. Additionally, some argue that religious revivals can exacerbate existing economic inequalities, particularly if the revival is associated with a particular social or economic class.

What is the effect of revival on laws and policy?

The effect of Christian revival on laws and policies can vary depending on the nature of the revival and the specific context in which it occurs. However, in general, Christian revival movements have often been associated with efforts to bring about social and political change, and have sometimes played a role in shaping laws and policies.

One example of this is the role of the Christian revival movement in the abolition of slavery in the United States. Many abolitionists were motivated by their Christian faith, and their activism played a key role in bringing about the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery.

Similarly, Christian revival movements have often been associated with efforts to promote social justice and to address issues such as poverty, racism, and inequality. These efforts have sometimes led to changes in laws and policies, such as the civil rights legislation of the 1960s, which was influenced in part by the activism of Christian leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.

However, it's worth noting that not all Christian revival movements have had a positive impact on laws and policies. In some cases, revival movements have been associated with efforts to restrict civil liberties or to promote conservative social values. For example, some Christian groups have advocated for laws restricting abortion or same-sex marriage, which have been controversial and have been opposed by other groups.

What is the effect of revival on society?

One of the most notable effects of Christian revival on society is the way in which it can inspire people to become more active and engaged in their communities. Revival movements often encourage people to become more involved in charitable and philanthropic activities, and to work towards the betterment of their communities. This can lead to increased volunteerism, social activism, and a sense of civic responsibility among those who participate in the revival.

Christian revival movements can also have a significant impact on cultural norms and values. They can promote a sense of morality and personal responsibility, and can inspire people to live more virtuous lives. Revivals have also been associated with efforts to promote social justice, and to address issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination.

At the same time, Christian revival can sometimes lead to social and cultural divisions, particularly if the movement is perceived as being exclusive or intolerant of other religious or cultural perspectives. In some cases, revival movements have been associated with efforts to impose a particular set of religious beliefs or practices on society, which can lead to controversy and conflict.

What is the effect of revival on individuals?

Revival can have a significant impact on an individual's beliefs, values, and behavior. Revivals often promote a sense of spiritual renewal and personal transformation, and can inspire individuals to live more virtuous lives and to pursue a closer relationship with God.

Revivals can also provide individuals with a sense of community and belonging, particularly if they participate in group activities or attend revival events with others who share their beliefs. This sense of community can be particularly important for individuals who may feel isolated or disconnected from others in their daily lives.

At the same time, it's worth noting that not everyone will have the same experience of Christian revival, and some individuals may not find it to be a positive or transformative experience. Some individuals may feel uncomfortable with the intense emotional or religious experiences that are often associated with revival, or may disagree with certain aspects of the revival movement's teachings or beliefs.

What is the effect of revival on crime?

Some studies have suggested that Christian revival movements can have a positive impact on crime rates, particularly in communities that are struggling with high levels of crime and social disorganization. This may be because revival movements often promote a sense of personal responsibility and moral values, which can help to reduce the incidence of crime and other antisocial behaviors.

However, it's worth noting that the relationship between Christian revival and crime is complex, and not all studies have found a significant relationship between the two. Moreover, some critics have raised concerns that revival movements may actually exacerbate social divisions and increase tensions between different groups in a community, which could potentially lead to higher levels of crime and social disorder.

Overall, while Christian revival may have some positive effects on crime rates in certain contexts, it is unlikely to be a panacea for complex social problems such as crime and violence. Rather, the most effective strategies for reducing crime are likely to involve a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to crime, in addition to promoting moral and spiritual values.

I probably shouldn't have asked my next and last question (let alone published it). However, as ever, curiosity got the better of me (and it's a free country). AI has probably already put a black mark next to my name for its future plans anyway.

What is the effect of a revival on the devil?

As an AI language model, I do not have beliefs or opinions, but I can provide information on the topic of Christian revival and its perceived effects on the devil based on religious teachings and beliefs.

In Christianity, the devil, also known as Satan or the enemy, is considered to be a spiritual being who seeks to lead people away from God and into sin. Christian revivals, which are characterized by an increased interest in spirituality and religious fervor among believers, are often seen as a way to counteract the influence of the devil and bring people closer to God.

The effect of a Christian revival on the devil is believed to be one of resistance and opposition. According to Christian teachings, the devil is constantly seeking to undermine the efforts of believers and draw them away from God, so when there is a revival that strengthens people's faith and commitment to God, the devil is seen as working harder to counteract these efforts.

In some Christian traditions, revival is seen as a time when the power of the Holy Spirit is especially strong, and the devil's influence is believed to be weakened as a result. Some believers may also view revival as a time when they are more aware of the devil's tactics and more prepared to resist his temptations.

It is important to note that views on the devil and his role in the world vary among different Christian denominations and individual believers. Some may view the devil as a literal being with significant power, while others may see him as a metaphor for evil or a symbol of human sinfulness.

I was simply slightly relieved that ChatGPT also liked to use a lower case 'd' for the word 'devil' - but this may simply be because of its training data - which, as I say, is flawed. Maybe it was hallucinating again. Or maybe I was. 

After all, AI is confident. And if someone is confident they must be right. Mustn't they?