Are young people abandoning faith… or are they quietly stepping back from environments that feel too intense?
There’s a growing conversation in many churches right now.
Some say young people are leaving because they no longer believe. Others argue it’s not atheism at all but something else.
They say it’s overspiritualization… when everything becomes “deep,” intense, and sometimes disconnected from everyday life.
Are churches out of step with younger generations?
A recent incident involving a pastor who got a tattoo has only added fuel to that conversation.
Tattoos are no longer rare in Nigerian society today. But this particular one has caused more of a stir than most, within certain cirlces.
That’s because this hand being tattooed belongs to Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, head of the David Christian Centre.
Some saw it as harmless even a way to connect with younger generations and challenge the idea that faith must always look rigid. Others, however, questioned whether certain lines are being blurred in the name of relevance.
But beyond the tattoo itself, a deeper issue began to emerge.
Many young people say the real struggle isn’t about appearance but it’s about pressure. They describe a culture where almost everything is heavily spiritualized, and expectations can feel overwhelming.
So the question remains:
Are young people abandoning faith… or are they quietly stepping back from environments that feel too intense?
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We Interviewed different generations to hear their perspectives.
With growing concerns about whether churches are still welcoming spaces for younger generations, many are beginning to ask difficult questions.
Are Gen Zs leaving the church and if so, why?
Is it a struggle to adapt to a changing world, or are some young people feeling overwhelmed by what they describe as over-spiritualisation?
A senior clergyman interviewed believes lowering standards to attract young people could weaken the foundation of the church.
A millennial member sees another layer to it.
She says there’s a clear difference between churches years ago and now and that the churches now allow different characters into the church. For her, the issue isn’t strictness, it’s balance.
But for many Gen-Z Christians, it feels different.
They say many young people aren’t leaving the church entirely, they’re just stepping back quietly.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
