It was the Bible Society who drew our attention to the so-called 'Quiet Revival', an increase in people, especially younger adults, simply walking through the doors of our churches wanting to find out more about faith. There have been challenges to the Bible Society’s research methods and statistics but in my conversations with clergy they confirm that they are indeed seeing young adults showing up for worship 'out of blue'. It has come as something of a surprise!
The numbers are not huge, but they are significant. Add to this some other trends amongst that age group, such as an increased interest in astrology or the use of AI bots as conversation partners and counsellors and perhaps we begin to see a pattern emerging. In an unstable and uncertain world, people are seeking purpose and meaning. In a world where many lives are lived online, there is a longing for the warmth of human connection. Where many are lonely, there is a hunger for community and companionship.
I find that the majority of people who come to Confirmation are now in their twenties and thirties. Before each Confirmation service, I invite the candidates to write a brief paragraph about how they came to faith. Every story is different but two clear themes emerge:
Firstly, there has often been an experience of loss – it is usually the death of someone close to them, but it may also be the loss of physical or mental health or a job or a broken relationship. They have found the Christian faith brings them comfort and hope when they are at their lowest ebb. When things seem senseless, faith helps to make sense of things.
Secondly, the candidates comment on how welcome they have been made to feel. It is heartening to hear how many of our churches are so friendly, but it also reinforces how powerful it is for seekers when they experience a warm and welcoming Christian community (something which they won’t get, incidentally, from horoscopes and AI bots).
It is wonderful that the Spirit is bringing such people to our doors, but the challenge is clear. These explorations of faith are often tentative and fragile. For those seeking hope and meaning, how are we going to help them explore and learn about the Christian faith? Are there nurture or study groups they can join, small midweek gatherings they can be part of? And if welcome and community is so important, how are we doing on that score? Is our church a welcoming place (and not just for us and people like us)? Does our worship and common life reflect the generous and embracing love of Jesus?
God sows the seed in people’s hearts, and it is God who will give the growth, but we have our part to play in being attentive to the work of the Spirit and tending to the fragile shoots of the quiet revival.