Full-Fat Faith: Why Gen Z Are Hungry for the Real Thing
Following my recent article in Premier Christianity, here’s why the “full-fat faith” moment is bigger than headlines- it’s happening on the ground.
Hey friends,
For this week’s Wisdom Digest, I’ve written an article for Premier Christianity titled “Full-Fat Faith – Why Gen Z Are Hungry for the Real Thing.” It’s a response to The Times piece by James Marriott, “Full-fat faith: the young Christian converts filling our churches.” You can check it out here: [Article Link].
What struck me while reading Marriott’s commentary is how much it mirrors what we’re seeing right here in Hereford. Young people are showing up to church uninvited, unexpectedly, and with a hunger that can only be explained as the Spirit at work. Just this week I sat in a pub with two young men who’d never been to church before, talking not just about life and faith but repentance. These are the conversations many of us have prayed for, and they’re happening quietly beneath the surface.
The article reflects on why this moment matters. Gen Z has grown up in crisis: terror attacks, financial collapse, a pandemic, wars in Europe. With certainty stripped away, many are searching not for a watered-down spirituality but for something substantial. They don’t want performance; they want presence. They don’t need additives; they need authenticity. In the words of one young man, “I tried everything else… nothing lasted. In church, I found truth and a family.”
This cultural moment is a challenge to us as leaders and communities. If the world is craving “full-fat faith,” then it’s time we served it up—unapologetically and unashamed. That means strong preaching, clear gospel invitations, and discipleship that asks something of us. It means offering the Bible, communion, and confession, not as hidden extras, but as central practices of life with Christ. This generation isn’t running from responsibility; they’re running toward it. The question is, will we meet them with the real thing?
Wisdom to Digest: What Gen Z is asking for isn’t new. It’s the faith we’ve carried for generations. Unfiltered, undiluted, and still powerful today.