On May 5, Huizhou CC&TSPM in Guangdong Province held its third youth retreat, themed "Running Without Giving Up," attracting the participation of over 340 young believers and around 50 pastors from 23 local churches and meeting points.

On Sunday morning, the sun shines through the curtains on the bed, and the screen of the phone is constantly presenting social media notifications. For many young people, this is a normal weekend. They can choose to sleep in, watch videos, meet friends, or participate in an online game. For the church, however, it is a quiet morning. There are now only a few people on the once-crowded benches. What is driving young people away from the church?

The growing trend of young people burning incense reflects their spiritual needs to some extent. Faced with the pressures and challenges of real life, some turn to traditional folk rituals to seek comfort and strength. Some churches and Christians have reflected on the deeper spiritual needs behind this phenomenon, emphasizing the importance of addressing young people’s real-life struggles.

In Elder Chen's view, young people nowadays generally don't like to pray. "They do pray, but prayer isn't as important to them as it is to our generation."

The Yuyao City Christian Church hosted a youth Christmas worship event called "Love is in the City" on the night of Christmas.

On December 19, millennial Christian Heymen released his "Christmas Night" song on NetEase Cloud Music. By December 21, it had reached the Top 50, gaining widespread attention among young Christians.

Terry Parkman, NextGen pastor at River Valley Church, shared insights on how the church can effectively reach and disciple Gen Z and Gen Alpha in an interview with China Christian Daily. He emphasized the importance of tailored discipleship, biblical literacy, and cultural discernment in helping these digital generations navigate their faith in today’s rapidly changing world.

Why do young people stop going to church? How do young people perceive the Christian faith? Brother W, an admirer of the Christian faith who was born in 1998, expressed his views.

Young people need a community where faith and real life intersect in meaningful ways, rather than simply attending traditional worship services. If the church truly wants to attract and retain young people, it must respond to their desires and allow for a faith experience.

Guangxiao Church and Zion Church, two of Guangzhou’s leading and historical churches, are pioneering youth-focused outreach efforts to counter the decline in youth attendance.