Religious Faith Surges: US Christian Belief Hits 10-Year High in 2025
Religious faith among Americans has reached a remarkable milestone as new research reveals belief in Jesus has surged to its highest level since 2013, according to the latest State of the Church research from Barna Group.
“The trends we explore this month are not only encouraging, but instructive,” said Brad Hill, chief solutions officer for Gloo. “It’s heartening to see that more people are finding and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus, especially among younger generations. The other trends in this report really speak to the question, ‘How can we, as parents, friends, neighbors and church leaders, show up well for others?’ This research helps us better understand where we might start.”
Among the key findings:
• Belief is on the rise. Since 2021, belief in Jesus among U.S. adults has increased by 12 percent, from 54 percent to 66 percent. Among Gen Z men, commitment to Jesus jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men saw a similar spike of 19 percentage points.
Recent studies indicate that this growth trend represents a significant shift from previous decades of decline. The latest data shows the surge is particularly pronounced among younger generations, defying earlier predictions about religious decline.
• Spiritual openness has Christian roots. Nearly two in five spiritually open non-Christians in the United States were raised Christian, and more than half say they have identified as Christian at some point in their lives. Of those with Christian roots, more than half left Christianity behind to distance themselves from the “politics of the church.”
Research demonstrates that authentic faith communities, rather than institutional support, drive sustainable religious growth. This finding aligns with current trends showing increased interest in personal spirituality over traditional religious structures.
• Faith sharing. Although 61 percent of today’s U.S. Christians believe they have a personal responsibility to share their faith, only 28 percent feel strongly about it.
• Inviting others to church. Nearly three in four non-churchgoing U.S. adults haven’t personally been invited to church in the past year.
“These findings point to the spiritually open moment we’re in,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. “Belief is on the rise from what has been a consistently downward trend since 2009. Spiritual openness continues to climb. This data give us a window into how culture is changing and an incredible opportunity to share our faith in Jesus and increase our confidence that the decline of Christianity is not inevitable.”
–Alan Goforth
