Evangelist Franklin Graham believes a quiet but meaningful spiritual shift is taking place among America’s youngest adults — and he says it’s rooted in a growing rejection of what he calls “anti-God socialism.”

In a recent appearance on Fox News, Graham reacted to new data showing that Generation Z and millennials are now attending church more frequently than older generations. The son of legendary preacher Billy Graham suggested that young people, disillusioned by secular ideologies and political messaging, are searching for deeper truth and meaning.

“I think Gen Z and millennials have been fed the lie of socialism, and socialism is basically anti-God,” Graham said. “They’ve been turned off by this, and they’re asking themselves, ‘There’s got to be something more.'”

Statistics cited by Graham come from a September report by the Barna Group, which found that Generation Z churchgoers attend services an average of 1.9 times per month, while millennials attend an average of 1.8 times. That compares with lower attendance among Generation X, baby boomers, and elders, all of whom attend fewer than 1.7 times per month on average.

Graham, who serves as president of Samaritan’s Purse and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said the numbers reflect more than a passing trend. He pointed to reports that Bible sales are increasing and expressed gratitude that young people are not only attending church but also actively engaging with scripture.

“They’re buying Bibles, they’re reading for themselves, they’re going to church,” he said. “That gives me great encouragement.”

Graham also connected the increased spiritual curiosity among young adults to the September assassination of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk. According to Graham, Kirk’s death — and the massive response to his memorial service — intensified interest in the messages Kirk shared about faith, truth, and cultural engagement.

“People are wanting to know the truth,” Graham said. “Charlie was teaching truth. They’ve listened to lies from their university professors and from those coming out of the Department of Education, and now they’re searching for something real.”

The Barna Group reported that monthly church attendance among Gen Z and millennial adults nearly doubled between 2020 and 2025. A follow-up study released in December found that younger Americans were the most likely to take some form of spiritual action following Kirk’s death.

At the same time, not all data paints an entirely optimistic picture. The American Bible Society’s “State of the Bible: USA 2025” report found that Generation Z still reports the lowest overall level of church engagement, with fewer young adults feeling personally connected, mentored, or supported within their congregations.

Even so, Graham believes the hunger is real — and growing. For him, the challenge now lies with churches to meet this generation’s spiritual curiosity with truth, discipleship, and authentic Christian community.