A Movement of Young Men, Part 2

If you missed the first part of this article (September 2026), let me do a quick recap. Young men are coming back to the church in record numbers. i In part 1, I offered a few possible explanations for this trend, including the longing to find meaningful community after the pandemic, the desire to attach their lives to something solid, and the popularity of male Christian influencers. In part 2, my goal is to offer four practical tips to keep and develop young men after they show up for Sunday morning services. 

Let me state up front that I am not a sociologist or church growth expert. There is so much to this story that is still fresh and unknown. These recommendations are just the musings of someone who, as a college Campus Minister, spends a lot of time listening to and discipling young men on a college campus. 

First, the young guys I interact with are looking for teaching that is grounded in Scripture. In a world of constantly shifting priorities and half-truths, young men long for something reliable. Specifically, they want biblical exegesis that illuminates their experiences and challenges their assumptions. They are coming to church to find something that TED talks and community service organizations can’t offer. Churches must cling to the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice, even when doing so might hurt their attendance. ii Pure and simple—preach the word. iii 

Second, young men want to do something with their faith. The more hands-on ministry opportunities you can provide, the better. I was a part of a church that started hosting a men’s breakfast and service day once a month. The guys would meet at one of the elders’ homes for a campfire meal of bacon and eggs, then we would load into our cars and work on a project in the community together. This hits all the right buttons for young men (camaraderie, power tools, bacon). As much as I love going to men’s Bible studies at church, there is nothing like eating, laughing, and getting your hands dirty with other men who are following Jesus. I’ll show up for any group that promises me a donut and a drill. 

Third, all men (but especially young men) need spaces that are just for guys where they can be vulnerable. I know, I know. Real men don’t talk about their feelings. “Real men” are also four times as likely as women to take their own lives.iv Young men want to be honest with other guys about their dreams, struggles, issues, and yes, even emotions. In a culture that celebrates insecurity masquerading as toughness, we need older men who will admit when they’re hurting, confused, or wrong. In the men’s group I lead on campus, we always close with every guy sharing one minute of “vulnerability time.” No one is required to share their deepest, darkest wounds, but some of them do. From the feedback I’ve received from our guys, they wouldn’t trade that time for anything. To speak directly to the men reading this: we must do a better job of carrying each other’s burdens.v 

Finally, as I mentioned last month, young guys are looking to ground their lives in ancient tradition. This definitely applies to worship styles, stage set-up, and the morning liturgy, but it also applies to the way a church understands its story as related to the broader culture. Mainline denominations might see a brief uptick in membership because of their classical architecture and responsive readings, but without a clear connection to the traditions of the apostles, they will eventually lose young men. Speaking from experience, we want to feel the same gospel fire as the early church, not just enjoy the warm glow of taper candles. 

It’s this fourth idea that I think offers the clearest advantages to the Restoration Movement. Our aim has always been to return Christianity to its earliest roots. Our tradition wasn’t established by Alexander Campbell, Martin Luther, or Augustine. We trace our origin story to Acts 2. We are committed to building our lives and churches on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus alone as our cornerstone.vi We seek fellowship with all believers who want to live out this simple gospel. Together we advance the legacy of the most ancient church. Millennial and Gen-Z men desperately want what we claim to offer. As more of them come to our churches, may they find us humbly and faithfully living up to our plea.