Gen Z and Millennials Are Hungry for Christian Content—and YouTube Could Be Key to Reaching Them
The increased availability of mobile devices and the explosion of easily accessible video content are shifting how Christian content is consumed and even the most typical ways to reach people for Christ.
There are over 2.5 billion people who use YouTube on a monthly basis, and overall, they watch 1 billion hours of video content daily, according to Kolsquare’s 2026 YouTube statistics report, as reported by Hamilton Strategies. YouTube’s 2025 revenue totaled $60 billion, exceeding Netflix's.
Gen Z, Millennials Prefer Faith-Based Movies, Television
Gen Z and Millennials are showing an increased interest in Christian media. A National Research Group (NRG) poll picked up by Ministry Watch found that 63 percent of Gen Z respondents and 67 percent of Millennials watch faith-based movies or television at least once per month. At the same time, 53 percent of Gen X and 46 percent of Baby Boomers watch once per month. These groups also indicated that their interest in viewing faith-based content increased from the previous year.
“We now have this younger, digitally and content literate audience who are driving appetite for this type of content,” NRG Thought Leadership Director Jasmina Saleh told Ministry Watch.
Half of those under 35 (50%) said they were especially interested in video content with a clear moral lesson. That same percentage also wants to see faith-based content that speaks to mental health challenges, and the way that spirituality can help with resolving or at least minimizing depression and anxiety.
Other topics with which young adults are wrestling and want to see authentic answers, according to Front Gate Media, include:
How they can know if God is real?
Why does the church seem as though it’s disconnected from real life?
Is it normal for a believer to have doubts about their faith?
How do you find community when you feel alone?
YouTube Offers Multiple Options for Outreach
YouTube is the second-largest search engine behind Google, according to The Texas A&M University System, and many young people use it to get their questions answered or to search for information. Features such as the comments section, live streams and community posts can be used alongside short videos (around 1 minute long) to help connect with viewers and begin building a community online, according to Church Tech Today.
It’s possible for churches to live-stream their services on YouTube and post other content, such as Bible studies, short devotionals, testimonies, church events and more.
“The media landscape is not waiting for organizations to catch up. Ministries and nonprofits that adapt now can build stronger, more durable connections with audiences across platforms and borders, Carrie Hartunian, CEO of Apex Media Partners, told Hamilton Strategies. She added that Apex’s focus is to assist ministries and nonprofits with distribution that gets meaningful, measurable results.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Chris McGrath / Staff
Originally published September 09, 2026.
