New Zealand could be witnessing its own ‘Quiet Revival’ akin to that observed in the UK, with a sharp rise in church attendance among young people.
According to the Baptist Churches of New Zealand’s 2025 Annual Report, Gen Z’s church attendance is increasing. Ethan Miller, Youth Catalyst for the denomination, reported that between 2022 and 2024, youth attendance in Baptist churches grew by 24 per cent. Easter Camps saw a 42 per cent rise in participation between 2023 and 2025, and the KB Youth Leaders Training programme grew by 30 per cent in the last year.
Of the 710 baptisms in Baptist churches, 58 per cent were of people under 25, with 43 per cent under 18. Over the past two years, more than eight new youth ministries have started, bringing the total to over 100 across the country.
“We’re hearing remarkable stories of young people walking into church with no faith background, curious about Jesus, reading Scripture, and even bringing their Bibles to school; sharing faith, starting Alpha courses, and inviting friends to church,” Miller said.
“My favourite story is about a 15-year-old girl from an unchurched background who came to faith at Easter Camp two years ago,” Miller told Christian Today. “After moving towns, her passion for Jesus led her to start a youth group. Today, 30 of the 40 highschoolers in her area school gather to worship, read scripture and grow together.”
He sees this going hand-in-hand with Gen Z’s focus on social issues and mental health, with more young people being open to prayer and mission.
However, Miller’s report notes that “there is still much work to be done.” Youth ministry resources have fallen “between 50-60 per cent lower than 10 years ago.”
There is thus a direct call to action for the church in New Zealand to bolster its youth resources.
“The future of the Baptist churches lies in the leaders we raise,” he said. “We must recapture our vision and passion for the next generation and younger leaders; they are the most strategic investment we can make. We would love to see this increase in the coming years, particularly with what Jesus is doing in young people!”