‘Belief is back!’

Is your church ready for the gospel opportunity of a lifetime? Fresh from her involvement at a Limitless leaders’ event, Ness Wilson talked Chris Rolfe through the revival of faith, Bible reading and passion for the gospel she is witnessing

“The Evangelical Alliance’s Missional Trends for 2026 says this year will be the most spiritually open year in living memory, and from what I’m seeing I totally agree,” says Ness Wilson.

Her enthusiasm today is a far cry from her reaction three years ago when her prophetically gifted husband told her the UK was in the grip of a slow awakening.

Then she couldn’t see it. But today, from her vantage point as leader of the Pioneer UK network and Open Heaven Church in Loughborough, she is witnessing record numbers of people coming to faith.

“For years we’ve been told the church is in terminal decline and we’ve lived in an atmosphere of indifference, apathy and hostility.

“Now it feels like a seismic shift has begun and belief is back.”

What’s happening?

The changes Ness is so excited to report are evident in many different ways.

There are the rising numbers of people becoming Christians at Open Heaven, for example.

“We’ve been recording numbers each year since 1993. For most years we had an average of 7.3, but in 2025 it was 54,” she says.

Then, just as the Quiet Revival report found, rising faith in young men has been particularly evident too.

“It’s been unbelievable seeing the number of young men being drawn to Jesus.

“At our church weekend there was such young male energy. We had this redeemed version of a mosh pit shouting, ‘Jesus! Jesus!’”

She’s noticed a change in baptism testimonies too. “Before, most were from Christian-background youth who’d fallen away as teenagers then come back to God.

“But around 18 months ago that began to change.

“Now, on the whole, they’re from people with no church background and often include supernatural experiences or dramatic stories of being plucked out of desperate situations and encountering Jesus.”

Changing habits

This is bringing with it a noticeable change in faith habits, Ness says.

“There’s an openness of heart, a lack of cynicism and the same story again and again of people saying they felt drawn to read the Bible for the first time.

“There’s a hunger for God’s Word that I’ve never seen before.”

Their obedience to what they’re reading is having an impact on seasoned Christians too.

“Our new Christians have an obedience-based approach to Scripture.

“In one small group, for example, they read the Sermon on the Mount. They learned they need to forgive, so they did and found freedom and joy in it. Their experience of obeying Scripture is having a ripple effect on the rest of us.”

Their boldness is noticeable too, Ness adds.

“The fascinating thing with young people is they have no compartments. Older Christians like me have got used to saying ‘in this space I can talk freely about faith and in this space I can’t.’

“But they’re unashamed of owning Jesus and talking about him. They’re messaging friends about their Bible readings, and leading Christian Unions in schools where there’s been none for a long time.

“I haven’t seen this level of boldness and confidence in Christian teenagers in 30 years of ministry.”

Why under-25s?

These changes are particularly prevalent among under-25s. Why is that? Ness gives several reasons.

“Under-25s have been at the sharp end of a secular culture that for so many years has said there’s no God. They, therefore, have experienced the most pain from the effects of that – seeing society and family life crumbling.

“The enemy has targeted the younger generation with a sustained assault that has left them battered and bruised.

“But in that they’re reaching out to Jesus because nothing else they’ve tried helps. They’ve got an accurate assessment of the consequences of life without God – it doesn’t work.”

How should we respond?

If you’re thinking you haven’t seen this in your own church, Ness says that’s because revival begins in pockets and filters out.

“I would say to churches who are not seeing evidence of the Quiet Revival, bless what the Lord is doing, don’t resent it and get ready for how it will impact your church when it reaches you.”

One way to do this is to shift from reaching people to making disciples, she says.

“We haven’t had a culture of one-to-one discipleship, and that needs to change, because the danger is people will come through the doors but won’t find belonging or relational investment and they’ll exit again.”

Older Christians have a key role to play here, because under-25s will need spiritual mothers and fathers to nurture them.

“They have so many questions and want to sit with people who can explore the Bible with them. I can’t express how much they appreciate older people taking an interest in them.”

Ness is keen to encourage women to step up too.

“Sometimes women prefer to be behind the scenes, yet I’d say invest in the talents God has given you because obedience trumps the obstacles of intimidation, self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

“In previous eras women were at the forefront of mission and church planting, so it’s imperative we don’t shrink back now.”

This is actually a battle cry for all, Ness says.

“It feels like the era of John the Baptist – ‘Prepare the way!’ – and it’s about what we can do before waves of new Christians start coming to our churches.

“It’s what previous generations have prayed for and I’m so grateful we’re getting to see it in our time.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.