What does “evangelical” mean to young evangelicals?

Evangelicals have long commanded attention in American politics, but less is known about teen and young adult evangelicals. What does “evangelical” mean to young people, ages 13–25, who identify as such? Our research on Gen Z and Gen Alpha reveals just how complex young people’s feelings are about evangelical identities.

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Effective Youth Ministry Strategies: Purpose 

In Springtide’s site visits for the What’s Working project, leaders shared their wisdom and insights from years of experience in youth ministry. Five themes shaped our inquiries during these visits: adaptability, integrity, inclusivity, fun, and purpose. While these are universal concepts, each manifested differently in theory and practice, providing a

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Our Search to Find What’s Working

Springtide Research Institute just completed the second phase of the What’s Working project, a multi-year campaign, sponsored in part by Lilly Endowment, Inc., to learn best practices in youth ministry for connecting and supporting young people. In this blog, lead researcher Dr. Hannah Evans talks about the research process, the

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Gen Alpha and Religion: What 13-Year-Olds Say 

Today’s young people are maturing in a society that has experienced a decades-long decline in religious affiliation. Yet, Springtide data repeatedly show that young people adopt religious and spiritual identities, profess religious and spiritual beliefs, and see the value of religion and spirituality in their lives. Our recent study, Thirteen:

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“Totally Separate”: Young People’s Beliefs about Religion in Politics

Do Young Americans Believe Religion Should Influence Politics? “Totally separate” was Atticus’s (19, conservative) response when asked what he felt the relationship should be between religion and politics. Like Atticus, almost half (46%) of young people surveyed in the 2024 Springtide Study of Young People and Civic Life report that

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What’s Working: The Place

This post continues our series to showcase our learnings in a multi-year campaign titled What’s Working, a  Lilly Endowment Inc.– supported project to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. Over the course of 2024, we’ll visit organizations across the country that are revamping traditional methods and

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What’s Working: GatherDC 

This post continues our series to showcase our learnings in a multi-year campaign titled What’s Working to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. GatherDC works to connect Jews in their 20s and 30s from the Washington, DC, area to the local Jewish ecosystem, and to help

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images of teens volunteering

What’s Working: Engaging Stories

This post continues our series to showcase our learnings in a multi-year campaign titled What’s Working, a  Lilly Endowment Inc.– supported project to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. Over the course of 2024, we’ll visit organizations across the country that are revamping traditional methods and

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