As traditional religious attendance continues to drop, a new breed of Christian influencers is taking their place. They’re proving to be a strong national voice for young people who are hungry for spiritual guidance. Figures like Megan Ashley and Bryce Crawford are at the forefront of this movement, utilizing podcasts and social media to engage audiences grappling with questions of faith and meaning.
Megan Ashley, 35, an Acworth, Georgia-based podcaster who produces an eclipse-themed podcast called In Totality. The show is bold and practical and helps listeners navigate the complexities of faith in today’s world. She speaks powerfully about the need to surrender what we want so that we can become more faithful and obedient to God’s call. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Bryce Crawford shares his insights on biblical teachings through his self-named podcast, recounting his personal journey from anxiety to healing at a Waffle House.
With established worldviews coming under strain, these change-makers are available casting the same spell but filling the roles in short supply. They are addressing spiritual hunger in a very direct way. All the while, they’re fostering a beautiful sense of community among those who have been cut off or alienated from organized religion.
A Growing Audience
According to a major study in 2020, faith landscape is changing dramatically, particularly among younger generations. According to an extensive survey of these generational shifts, only 41% of Millennials (people aged 18-35 in 2023-24) strongly believe in God. This is quite a drop from 65% in 2007. This demographic shift has created new opportunities. Today, Christian influencers can reach a wider audience—including those who have separated themselves from churches and congregational practices that were once vital.
Christian podcasters like Megan Ashley, Bryce Crawford, and the duo Preston and Jackie Hill Perry are gaining traction across various digital platforms. Their writing quickly and deeply connects the dots between lived experiences and cosmic realities, focusing on everything from anxiety and heartbreak to cultural commentary on big questions. They hope to provide an inviting space for fellow listeners who are going through the same struggles.
Angela Halili, 29, is the co-host of the popular podcast “Girls Gone Bible” with Arielle Reitsma. With more than a million listens per month, the podcast dives into topics that affect women – and men – in ways that keep listeners coming back for more.
“People are spiritually hungry, emotionally hungry, and I think for the first time ever… people are encountering Jesus even through online platforms,” – Angela Halili
Christian influencers understand the unique challenges of doing ministry online. They seek to normalize faith and doubt. They are honest and real about their issues and doubts. Honest inquiry and openness. This experimental approach has really resonated with young spiritual seekers who are looking for authentic community and honest answers to their spiritual questions.
Navigating Controversy
Though the most successful of these Christian influencers have reaped the rewards of widespread fame, they’ve attracted condemnation from all sides of the political arena. Preston Perry and Jackie Hill Perry have fearlessly addressed controversial topics such as police brutality and same-sex marriage. Their frank conversations have thrown the right and left alike into apoplectic fits.
Even in the face of that criticism, they are undeterred in their devotion to speaking honestly about what they believe. Preston Perry claims that God has always called people to upset the status quo and talk about tough topics.
“God calls us to ruffle feathers sometimes, to speak to culture,” – Preston Perry
Influencers are more willing than ever to address tough topics. This trend deepens their ability to provide a richer, more complex understanding of what it means to have faith. By speaking to individual fights and collective fights, they seek to build a sense of empathy and understanding with their listeners.
Bryce Crawford on being the kind of religious interlocutor who can encourage constructive dialogue. He says it’s because people are alienated by the usual approach that focuses on passing judgment instead of seeking understanding.
“My issue with ‘repent or burn in hell’ is that people get frustrated because they don’t know why you’re telling them that,” – Bryce Crawford
Crawford advocates for one-on-one conversations that value empathy and care. His aims are to build common ground between contending philosophies.
Building Community Through Authenticity
One key to success for these influencers is that they are authentic and relatable. Megan Ashley on her journey to help hundreds of thousands of listeners get through their week. Her mission is to offer real-life biblical insights that connect with people living out their faith journey beyond Sunday morning.
“I can be that in-between — Monday to Saturday help — to give you practical things to make you feel like you’re not walking this walk alone,” – Megan Ashley
Arielle Reitsma reminds us of our need to leave room for failure, even in communities of faith. The duo inspires listeners through their authenticity and vulnerability in revealing their real life struggles and mistakes while on the journey.
“We’re like, listen, we’re two mess-ups too. It’s OK,” – Arielle Reitsma
Jackie Hill Perry knows conversations about faith need to go deeper. By approaching concepts like gentleness and patience visually and creatively, they focus on forging lasting connections with viewers.
“Simply talking about gentleness or respect or kindness or patience is gonna be boring,” – Jackie Hill Perry
These influencers are, right now, working to create communities more focused on shared values and experiences than on division and fear. They provide inspiration to anyone looking for spiritual depth in an often chaotic world.
