Because God is always at work in the world, there is always good news to be found. And when that news includes stories of the spread and impact of the gospel, it’s especially encouraging. We’re highlighting seven pieces about the growth of Christianity around the globe.
1. New commitments to Jesus rise to a 10-year high
A recent report from Barna Group shows that 66 percent of adults in the United States say they’ve made a personal commitment to Jesus. That number is a 12-point increase from 2021. The research suggests the increase represents nearly 30 million adults more personally committed to Jesus. The numbers point to a “renewed interest in Jesus,” Barna’s CEO David Kinnaman says. And they provide “the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal.”
2. Bible sales are booming
Publishers reported that Bible sales increased by 22 percent in the last year. According to The Wall Street Journal, publishers attribute the jump in sales to everything from personal and social issues, like a rise in anxiety and a search for hope, to changes in the publishing industry, like more focused marketing and intentional design. Perhaps the most surprising statistic is that a significant number of the sales are attributed to Gen Z and younger Americans who may be picking up their first Bible. It’s not only good news for the faith of our world today, but it’s good news for the faith of the future.
3. Gen Z is more motivated to learn about Jesus
The next generation of teenagers is also showing an increase in interest about the person of Jesus. According to Barna Group, more than half of U.S. teens say they’re more motivated to learn about Jesus than they have been in years past. That means more teenagers around the country are largely interested and engaged in discovering who Jesus is for themselves. Because of that, both teenagers and young adults among Gen Z (ages 13-22) say they have a positive view of Jesus and what he can do for their lives.
4. More Christians are choosing missions as the call of their life
As the good news continues to spread here in the United States and around the world, Jesus’ call for more workers in the field is continuing to be answered. According to Lifeway Research, the number of people whose professions serve the Christian mission has reached almost 13.6 million and is expected to reach 17 million by 2050. That number doesn’t include the 450,000 global missionaries at work in 2025, a number expected to grow to 600,000 by 2050.
5. The decline of Christianity in the United States has slowed
All these numbers point to one big piece of good news: The steady decline of the Christian faith in America has finally stalled. According to the Pew Research’s recent Religious Landscape Study, a comprehensive study done in 2023 and 2024, surveying more than 36,000 American adults, reveals that the landscape of faith has begun to stabilize in the U.S., with a steady 62 percent of adults identifying as Christian. While that number did drop from 78 percent in 2009, it has held fast since 2019, an indication that the decline appears to have plateaued.
6. Generosity is bringing givers closer to God and others
NCF’s own research on Millennial givers revealed that 96 percent say that generosity has brought them closer to God and encouraged them in their faith. And 79 percent of those surveyed say the act of giving has also brought them closer to their families and loved ones who also give generously. Those numbers point to a strong link between a connection to God and fellow believers and habits of generosity in our everyday lives.
7. NCF givers granted $2.6 billion to charity in 2024
NCF’s network of generous givers made quite an impact in the last year. A total of $2.6 billion was granted to 36,560 churches and other charities in 2024. That number moves the total of NCF’s giving since its founding in 1982 to $21 billion from more than 30,000 givers to support over 90,000 charities in the U.S. and around the world. The funds granted for the mission of Jesus are making quite a mark on our world today.
Photo: Vince Fleming on Unsplash
