Something remarkable is happening in America's houses of worship. From small rural congregations to urban megachurches, pastors across the nation reported unprecedented Easter attendance this year, with many seeing record numbers of baptisms and first-time commitments to faith. This surge coincides with Barna research showing belief in Jesus at its highest recorded level since 2012, with a stunning 12-point increase over just three years.
The revival atmosphere extends beyond church walls and into unexpected places. When Wyatt Hendrickson – a second lieutenant in the Air Force aptly nicknamed "Captain America" – won the NCAA wrestling championship against an Olympic gold medalist, he did so draped in the American flag while wearing a shirt emblazoned with "JESUS" across his chest. After his victory, he embraced President Trump and boldly proclaimed his commitment to faith, country, and service. His story exemplifies the renewed visibility of traditional values in American public life.
This resurgence of faith stands in stark contrast to recent cultural trends. While the previous administration controversially declared Easter Sunday as "Transgender Day of Visibility," the current White House Easter service featured clear gospel messages from prominent pastors like Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham. This shift reflects a broader movement toward accountability and responsibility, evident in policy changes like the decentralization of federal agencies and reinstating expectations for student loan repayments.
Are we witnessing the early stages of a genuine spiritual awakening? The signs are compelling. Churches report not just increased attendance but profound spiritual hunger. Leaders describe the current movement as a "tidal wave" unlike anything they've witnessed before. For those concerned about America's spiritual trajectory, these developments offer genuine reason for optimism that traditional faith values may be experiencing meaningful revival in our national culture.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!