The Anxious Generation Goes to Church

A new generation is going to church. But is the church ready?

Church consultant and researcher, Thom Rainer, believes God is at work in this generation, and he believes that this moment in time has created unique opportunities for churches to grow, thrive, and revive.

The culture is at inflection point. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Zers reported experiencing at least one mental health problem in the past two years. This statistic was lower for all older generations, including Millennials (51%), Gen Xers (29%) and Boomers (14%). Gen Z is the loneliest generation of Americans, lacking deep relationships and offline connection. Sixty-eight percent of Gen Z feel like nobody knows them well. That is one reason why this generation is called the anxious generation. Researchers have identified everything from social media to pandemic lockdowns as the prime culprit of why Gen Z is struggling with issues like mental illness more than other generations.

Thom Rainer views the church as God’s Plan A for helping this generation discover their true calling and thrive in a purposeful and genuine faith community. In this book, Thom explores research that reveals that the anxious generation is yearning for meaningful community and is waiting to be invited in.

The Anxious Generation Goes to Church presents research on the anxious generation that engenders hope for the future of the church; describes the unique challenges for the anxious generation as well as their dreams and goals; and provides strategy and inspiration for church leaders who want to prepare believers to provide help and hope. With the unique challenges of our times, the anxious generation needs the church more than ever. Is your church ready?

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Introduction: Coming to Grips with the Anxious Generation
4. Chapter 1: Generation Gaps
5. Chapter 2: Four Threats to Our Young People
6. Chapter 3: Should the Anxious Generation Go to Church?
7. Chapter 4: Why the Anxious Generation Doesn’t Go to Church
8. Chapter 5: When the Anxious Generation Goes to Church
9. Chapter 6: When the Culture Asks the Church for Help
10. Chapter 7: The Antidote to Anxiety
11. Chapter 8: Why Church Attendance Matters
12. Chapter 9: Becoming a Church with the Attitude of Jesus
13. Chapter 10: The Church Goes to the Anxious Generation
14. Chapter 11: Becoming a Church for the Anxious Generation
15. Closing Credits