This blog has been adapted from a webinar with David Kinnaman, President and CEO Barna Group, on 1/15/26. Watch the full webinar replay anytime.

If you’ve found yourself wondering, “Why does it feel harder to connect with younger generations than it used to?” you’re not alone.

Many church leaders are feeling the shift. The old approaches to communication, connection, and community don’t always land the way they once did. And now, with AI becoming more normal in everyday life, the pace of change is only speeding up.

The good news is this: Gen Z isn’t unreachable. But they are forming relationships differently, and churches that want to engage them meaningfully in 2026 will need to understand what’s changing beneath the surface.

1. Gen Z is still asking the same big questions.

The deeper questions people carry haven’t changed much:

• Who am I?

• Do I matter?

• What’s my purpose?

• Am I loved?

• What’s true, and what’s worth building my life on?

What has changed is the environment in which those questions are formed. Gen Z is growing up in a world shaped by screens, social platforms, constant content, and now AI. That environment impacts how trust is built, how identity is formed, and how relationships develop.

2. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s becoming a substitute for connection.

AI is no longer only used for information. It’s being used for emotional support, reflection, guidance, and personal processing. Many conversations that used to happen with pastors, mentors, and trusted leaders now happen on a screen.

This doesn’t mean churches need to panic. But it does mean leaders need to pay attention and show up as the differentiator. Because the Church has something AI can never replace: real presence, real discipleship, real community, and real spiritual authority. 

3. Gen Z is open spiritually in surprising ways.

Many young people are spiritually open, even if they’re uncertain about what they believe. They’re searching for meaning and asking real questions about purpose, identity, and truth.

At the same time, they often hold a blended worldview, combining diverse beliefs without a strong foundation. That’s both a challenge and an opportunity for the Church to show up with clarity, compassion, and conviction.

4. The Church is still the best answer to what Gen Z is looking for.

In a world filled with noise and artificial connection, the Church offers something deeply human and deeply holy:

• belonging

• identity

• purpose

• transformation

• a living relationship with Jesus

The Church is the original social network. It’s God’s design for people to experience Him and grow in community. AI can simulate conversation, but it cannot replace the power of embodied community and the work of the Holy Spirit.

5. A simple next step: stop guessing and start asking.

One of the most practical ways to engage Gen Z is also one of the simplest: don’t guess what’s working. Ask.

Ask questions like:

• What feels meaningful here?

• What’s helping you grow?

• What do you wish the Church understood better?

• Where do you feel disconnected?

People respond when they feel heard, and being invited into the conversation builds trust faster than almost anything else. Young people are waiting to share their thoughts and feelings, and the Church has the opportunity to foster this well. 

The opportunity that lies ahead.

If you feel overwhelmed by how quickly things are changing, you’re not failing. You’re leading through a major cultural shift.

But this is also a moment of real opportunity. Gen Z is searching, asking questions, and longing for connection and identity. The Church still has what they need most.

Keep showing up with faithfulness, truth, and love. That still changes everything.