If you often feel like you are standing on the edge of reality and that the confusion in modern society undermines your sense of certainty, join the crowd. The struggle I would characterize as: “Someone, anyone, just tell me what is real and what is imaginary,” is a common issue for us all. But in this shared struggle, there is also the potential for profound spiritual growth. You are standing in a crowd of like-minded individuals, but you are unaware of it. You are waiting on that feeling known as a “quickening,” and a return to faith, hope, and solid ground.
The Tides of Transformation
I have written about the destruction of the United Methodist Church from within and the new churches that have emerged from those ashes on multiple occasions. The issues they faced were not unique, and as I talk to friends, I learn that there are struggles among Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and many others. It is not unusual for many of us to stand and gaze into this abyss, searching for a new and better path.
As the forces of transformation gather, the question is not whether a new awakening will come, but how we will respond. Will we ignore the stirrings and anesthetize ourselves with distractions? Or will we lean into the tremors of quickening that accompany an awakening, letting them wash over us and rebuild us?
I firmly believe that the younger generations will usher in the next Great Awakening as they rediscover the church and religion in general. Their energy and enthusiasm will be the driving force behind this spiritual renewal. If the spirit quickens, then the next generation of worshipers will be called to the deepest kind of work, not just the revival of faith, but a reimagining of worship at the confluence of traditional and modern worship, and technology.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Many believe that necessary changes will arise from within current denominations, and there is precedent to this belief. But there is also evidence that in earlier Great Awakenings, the catalyst for change originated outside the existing denominations through evangelical movements. This does not foretell the demise of existing forms of worship, but rather the emergence of new ones.
The Quickening of the Spirit
Quicken or quickening of the soul has different, but similar, meanings within and outside of Christianity. Earlier in my life, I would have associated quickening with revival meetings, not necessarily in a positive way. Ministers often used false demonstrations of quickening to excite and engage their audience.
“In biblical terms, ‘quickened’ signifies a profound spiritual awakening or renewal, indicating a transition from spiritual death to life through faith in God.”
However, I have learned that there is an honest and profound quickening that people of all faiths and denominations can experience.
The idea of “quicken” is deeply rooted in the Bible. It goes beyond just physically coming back to life. It also encompasses the experience of spiritual awakening and renewal, which are integral to Christian beliefs. The word is often used to describe how the Holy Spirit energizes the believer’s soul, making it a meaningful term in a spiritual context.
The “quickening” of God’s people is seen as a vital part of both regeneration and sanctification. Regeneration in this context means the new birth or being “born again,” a concept Jesus discusses with Nicodemus.
“Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” This new birth is started by the Holy Spirit, who gives new life to the believer.
Sanctification, the process of being made holy, is also intricately linked to quickening.
We have signs of both quickening and a new Great Awakening all around us, but we must slow down enough to see them.
Recent Changes in Worship
As a Methodist growing up, it was impossible not to be exposed to the work of John and Charles Wesley. And being raised in the age of television, it would be impossible not to know who Billy Graham was. Thanks to Billy Graham, for the first time, many who could not or would not attend church found themselves attending virtual church services.
But the rise of television gave us access to genuine spiritual personalities, and unfortunately, led to the emergence of “televangelists,” false prophets, and outright crooks. For many, distinguishing between these and genuine faith and religion became difficult. This confusion led to the destruction of some denominations and changes in others that rendered them unrecognizable.
The rise and availability of the Internet have only exacerbated this struggle with an even broader group of evangelists (prophets and false prophets) and with no barrier to entry. This change can either be a transformative or destructive force for the church. However, for younger worshipers, this is their introduction to religion and worship, so mastering newer forms of engagement is essential for the faith’s survival and rejuvenation.
No one walks into the door of a church for the first time as a theologian. But I am a believer that if you cannot get people in the door to consider the role of religion in their lives, then you and they stand no chance. I do believe that some are there because they feel a quickening of their spirit, even if they have never heard the term. And “getting them in the door” may refer to either a real or virtual door.
Resistance to Change
Several denominations acknowledge the change in worship practices and the unique opportunities it presents. Notably, this shift mainly happens outside mainstream denominations. Traditionally, the main denominations have been preoccupied with internal disputes over doctrine, finance, and authority. While these conflicts have been significant distractions for mainstream denominations, they opened up new opportunities for others.
I do not doubt that there will be a Catholic Church in another hundred years. The Catholic Church has “staying power” and consistently addresses its issues through regeneration, facilitated by Papal elections. They have recently faced challenges brought on by changes introduced by Pope Francis, and now appear destined to return to their roots through the guidance of Pope Leo XIV. In my non-Catholic opinion, Pope Francis pushed for change to accommodate non-Biblical practices, while Pope Leo XIV is focused on preserving the core historical principles of the church. He is providing solid ground in uncertain times.
The Methodist Church is also undergoing a corrective course after finally splitting following thirty years of arguments. I believe the original United Methodist Church (UMC) will eventually die out and be replaced by the Global Methodist Church (GMC). Like Catholics, the GMC is working to provide certainty in an uncertain world. The fluidity of the UMC provides worshipers with no solid foundation for belief and will likely continue to be the “religious flavor of the day.” As it fights to hang on, it will repeatedly morph into unrecognizable forms until it has little to do with Methodism or religion.
I am less familiar with other denominations, but as an outsider, their struggles seem no more straightforward. In my opinion, all denominations seem to veer off course when they try to adapt to change by loosening or weakening their doctrine. They confuse delivery methodology (worship format and access) with core beliefs. Standing your ground in Christianity is never easy. Standing your ground and making sacrifices are at the core of the faith.
Signs of Reawakening
Signs of the next Great Awakening are here, and we can see them in many places. To me, the most obvious sign is the fight by many Baby Boomers to hold on to the old worship formats, ignoring the shift in worship format. When and where this happens, we discourage participation by younger worshipers. I grew up with the hymns of John and Charles Wesley, and some of them still resonate. But none of these will resonate with a younger crowd that did not sing them as children.
I believe the trends in contemporary Christian music are one key to bridging the gap with young and newer worshipers. I examined this aspect of modern worship in detail and found it inspiring, not heretical, as some would have you believe. Not all is inspiring, but neither are 100% of the Wesleyan hymns.
Gen Z worshipers are also more likely to be attracted to churches that effectively use technology. The ability to participate virtually in activities is essential for engaging people who grew up with a communication device in their hands.
“Behind all of these trends—women becoming more liberal and moving away from religion and motherhood, men moving toward religiosity and conservativism and away from feminism—may be the same deeper motivation: a search for some kind of structure or purpose.”
Surprisingly, Gen Z men are more likely to be returning to the church than women. In a world where young people are constantly bombarded with negative news, religion and the church play an essential role in providing stability. The anxiety and uncertainty in the secular world can be replaced with the stability of the Christian world. As I said in the opening of this article, “Someone, anyone, just tell me what is real and what is imaginary,”
Communities will always play a vital role in the development of churches. The personal connection between local worshippers is critical to building a sense of identity and shared values. There is no substitute for the personal connection between members of a local church.
However, in my lifetime, or the lifetime of our grandchildren, many church activities will be done through virtual reality. Imagine attending a church with a pastor who is always a master communicator and is steeped in fundamental theological principles. Imagine attending that same virtual church with others who share your values and beliefs. Imagine that not as a local, but a church made up of people from anywhere in the world.
Perhaps you have always wanted to attend a worship service at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but the cost is prohibitive. Also, imagine that you only speak English. Attending that worship service virtually could be an option, with the sermon instantly translated into many languages.
If such forms of worship are to emerge, it will be through the next generation, not ours. Our role is to nurture the trend toward participation and then step aside.
Resources and Further Reading
10 Characteristics of Churches That Attract Young Adults, By Aaron Earls, Outreach, outreachmagazine.com, March 8, 2021.
6 Ways To Get More New People Through Your Church Doors, By Editors, GrowChurch, growchurch.net, Last accessed July 7, 2025.
8 Characteristics that Attract Young Adults to Church, By Staff, Grace Church Plano, graceplano.church, Last accessed July 6, 2025.
Attracting Gen Z to Church: Strategies for Connection, By Peter Aasahl, Church Marketing, churchmarketing.church, Last accessed July 6, 2025.
Biblical Meaning of Quickened: Understanding Spiritual Awakening and Transformation, By Christine Blanchard, Biblical Chronology, biblicalchronology.com, October 5, 2024.
Do’s and don’ts for attracting young people to church, By Naomi Schaefer Riley, Faith & Leadership, faithandleadership.com, August 11, 2014.
Gen Z Men Are Going Back to Church. Why?, By Jill Filipovic, Slate, slate.com, October 11, 2024.
How Can Your Church Attract Millennials? Here Are 12 Keys, By Thomas Costello, Reach-Right, reachrightstudios.com, January 26, 2024.
Make Christianity cool again: Why Gen Z is flocking to church, By Helen Coffey, Independent, the-independent.com, April 20, 2025.
Quickening of God’s People by the Holy Spirit, By Editors, Bible Hub, biblehub.com, Last accessed July 5, 2025.
The Role of Quickening in Spiritual Growth and Development, By Editors, Spiritual Meanings, spiritualmeaningsguide.com, Last accessed July 6, 2025.
Theological Significance of “Quicken” in the Bible, By DivineNarratives Team, Divine Narratives, divinenaraitiives.org, July 2, 2024.
What Churches Do Young Adults Attend?, By Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Lewis Center for Church Leadership, churchleadership.com, August 10, 2016.
Where Is God’s Church?, By David C. Pack, The Restored Church of God, rcg.org, Last accessed July 4, 2025.
Youth Attraction: How Do Evangelical Churches Attract Young Parishioners?, By Western Church, westernchurch.net, September 16, 2023.
