A recent study investigating the faith journeys of self-identified Evangelicals in the United States has revealed a significant trend: 72% of respondents embraced Evangelical Christianity during their childhood. Conducted by Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, the study, titled “The Spiritual Journey: How Evangelicals Come to Faith,” gathered responses from 1,010 Evangelical Protestants in early 2023. The majority of those surveyed (72%) found their faith before the age of 18, while the remaining 28% adopted Evangelical beliefs in adulthood.
The breakdown of the data showed that 26% initiated their Evangelical journey between ages 5 and 9, 24% between ages 10 and 12, 17% between ages 13 and 17, and 5% before the age of 5. Among those who embraced Evangelicalism as adults, 15% did so between ages 18 and 29, 6% in the age range of 30-39, and the remaining 6% at the age of 40 or older.
The study explored the single most influential factor in the decision to become Evangelical, with 28% citing their parents, 16% pointing to their church, and 11% attributing it to other family members. The significance of church was acknowledged by 44% as a notable influence, followed by reading the Bible (36%), pastors (32%), parents (23%), and other family members (21%).
In terms of the importance of faith in their lives, 57% regarded it as “No. 1,” 40% as “very important,” and 2% as less important. Those who deemed their faith as the most pivotal aspect engaged more frequently in practices like daily prayer, weekly Bible study, and regular church attendance compared to those who considered it less important. The study shed light on the individualized and varied nature of the journey to faith, challenging the notion that a singular watershed moment is a prerequisite for genuine belief.