For the first time in four years, Bible engagement is increasing in the United States—thanks largely to a surprising source: young men.
According to the American Bible Society’s 2025 State of the Bible report, 11 million more Americans are interacting with Scripture this year than in 2024. While engagement among women and older adults remained steady, men showed a 21% increase. Millennials surged by 30%, and Gen Xers rose by 14%.
“It’s not yet a trend, but it’s a significant step in the right direction,” said John Plake, ABS Chief Innovation Officer. “Something is stirring, particularly among young adult men… And that’s not what we expected to see.”
Remarkably, the strongest growth appeared in traditionally secular regions like California’s Bay Area and the Northeast, where millennial and Gen Z engagement with the Bible now exceeds the national average.
Plake described 71 million Americans as being in the “movable middle”—curious about Scripture but uncertain. “They need someone to come alongside them… and help them discover the bigger story.”
That story, he emphasized, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ—a message now resonating with a generation long thought to be drifting. For churches and ministries, it’s a moment of opportunity and responsibility.
“If you care about the Bible, now is the time to speak up,” Plake said. “You could be the one to walk that road with them.”
