Lots of young people are responding positively to the question “What would you say if a friend asked you to read the Bible with them?”
In an Instagram reel posted by @uncoverJesus, seven out of nine young people said that yes, they would read the Bible if a friend asked.
On the Instagram page, dedicated to the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship’s (UCCF’s) Uncover Bible study book series, hosts conducted interviews with students at Leeds University. One young man responded: “If it was a good friend of mine, I’d probably say ‘Yeah, sure, I’d give it a go.’” Another said: “I’m Muslim, but I’m open to all cultures and all religions, so I’d read it, I’d try to gain an understanding.”
One young woman responded: “I mean, I’d be willing to do it, I don’t really mind, you know – I’m just that kind of friend.” Another said: “I would give it a go, why not?”
These responses point to a widely reported-on trend of Gen Z leading a rise in church attendance – something that’s even catching the attention of secular news outlets. A popular The Times essay by James Marriott, from earlier this year, is headlined: “Full-fat faith: the young Christian converts filling our churches.”
Andy Bannister
Andy Bannister, from Solas, an evangelistic organisation that is regularly involved in outreach to universities and with young people, told en: “We’ve been seeing this anecdotally on the ground since Covid. A much greater openness among students to talk about the Christian faith. Yes, they have questions, but those questions are shifting from objections to the gospel to what difference would it make if it were true.”
Christian literature sales are on the increase, too, as also reported by The Times: “Sales of the Bible are rocketing in Britain, figures show, with publishers crediting the increasing spirituality of Gen Z. There was an increase of 87% between 2019 and 2024 – from £2.69 million to £5.02 million – over five years, according to figures compiled by SPCK Group, the Christian publishers, using transaction information from Nielsen Book Data.”
Nor is this move just confined to the UK, but it is beginning to be seen across Europe. At one Norwegian university mission where Bannister was earlier in the year, almost 90 students signed on for the follow-up Alpha Course – double the number last year, which itself was double the number the year before.
