A roadmap for engaging Gen Z in meaningful ways

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For today’s Gen Zers—those in their teens to early twenties—faith is as much about relationships and connection as it is about worship. This generation was born into a digital world where everyone is always connected online. Yet despite this instant access to other people, they have begun to realize the importance of meeting people face-to-face and spending time together. 

Our team at Subsplash recently collaborated with Barna to explore what drives Gen Z and how that can impact church outreach strategies. One important finding is that 54% stated that face-to-face relationships mean more to them than digital ones. At the same time, regular church attendance among Gen Z has been steadily decreasing, dropping from 22% in 2020 to just 16% today, while the percentage not attending church at all rose from 28% to 37%.

How can churches engage this generation meaningfully and consistently? 

As Gen Z’s digital habits continue to shape their daily lives, there is an opportunity for churches to build relationships with young people throughout the week by bridging the digital with the in-person. Here’s a roadmap to help churches create an engaging experience that resonates with Gen Z’s values and needs.

Gen Z’s need for meaningful engagement

While Gen Z highly values in-person relationships, they also rely heavily on digital communication to stay connected and build community. For practicing Christians in this age group, their most significant spiritual priorities include:

• Learning more about Jesus (41%)
• Growing spiritually (37%)
• Learning what in our lives is true and good (35%)

With this in mind, church leaders can build discipleship resources and plan communications to address those priorities. Creating consistent and thoughtful connections can help churches become a meaningful part of Gen Z’s lives.

David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna, notes that Gen Z’s comfort with technology means they’re already looking for digital platforms such as church websites, social media, and mobile apps to support their spiritual lives. “Younger generations will find new ways to harness these tools,” he says, “including for spiritual growth, faith sharing, and church engagement.”

Meeting Gen Z on these platforms is no longer optional; it’s essential for sustained impact. Let’s take a look at some ways your church can do this. 

Leveraging digital for daily connection

To truly make church feel like a natural part of their week, young people need more than a Sunday service—they need opportunities to interact with faith resources, leaders, and peers in everyday ways. With tools like the Subsplash app, churches can help Gen Z engage meaningfully with their faith daily. 

Here are some actionable ways you can nurture these connections:

• Encourage prayer & spiritual development: 43% of Gen Z Christians show strong interest in learning how to pray and growing their relationship with God. Use your digital spaces to share short prayer guides, reflections, or encouraging notes throughout the week. This creates a sense of consistency and reinforces a personal connection to faith.
• Foster Bible reading: Guide younger people through the Bible with thoughtful and relevant Bible reading plans. For example, with Subsplash, your church can easily create custom plans to walk them through scriptures to help them develop their faith. 
• Promote active, two-way engagement: Young people don’t want to be lectured or talked to. They want to be listened to and truly heard. This requires a two-way conversation. Leverage tools like Subsplash Groups & Messaging to start conversations in a safe place and create meaningful connections. 

Gen Z longs for a purpose—Give them one

For this generation, faith is about more than belief—it’s about action. Nearly 70% of Gen Z practicing Christians express a strong desire to be followers of Christ who make a meaningful impact. 

This is an incredible opportunity for churches to guide this passion into a Kingdom-focused purpose. This generation wants to live out their faith in ways that engage with and transform the world around them. What a wonderful opportunity for churches to play a central role by providing ways to connect belief with action!

One powerful way to support this mission is by sharing weekly challenges or discussion prompts through your church app. These prompts can range from serving others in their local community to exploring new spiritual practices that deepen their walk with Christ. Inviting Gen Z to take action and then gather to reflect on their experiences fosters a sense of purpose that extends beyond Sunday gatherings, making church engagement an ongoing, impactful journey.

These weekly challenges not only nurture spiritual growth but also create natural opportunities for in-person discussions, where stories, insights, and shared faith experiences can be celebrated together. By providing purpose-driven engagement, churches can empower Gen Z to live out their faith authentically, building a church experience that is seamless, intentional, and inspiring.

Building impactful in-person experiences

For a generation raised in a digital world, blending in-person church with online tools can help create a rich, authentic experience. The good news is that a majority of Gen Z Christians feel their church already equips them to live out their faith daily. 

Digital tools can further support this goal by allowing members to engage with content in real time during services—whether through sermon notes, interactive polls, or a prayer request channel.

Chris Sharpe, CRO at Subsplash, explains the importance of pairing digital and in-person connections. “The next generation is seeking authentic relationships and community,” he explains. “While technology isn’t the only path to accomplish this, it is a critical part of it.” 

As churches build these connections, they create an environment where young people feel equipped, encouraged, and supported in their faith.

A balanced approach for a lasting connection

Ultimately, building relationships with Gen Z means crafting a church experience that seamlessly blends digital interactions with in-person gatherings. 

By using tools like the Subsplash One platform, churches can remain a vital part of young people’s lives by meeting them where they are—both online and offline. Doing this fosters a safe and distraction-free space where faith feels accessible, relevant, and deeply personal. 

Discover for yourself why over 20,000 organizations partner with Subsplash to make every interaction count. [.blog-contact-cta]Schedule a free consultation call today![.blog-contact-cta]

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