Christian Influencers Teach Faith Online as Gen Z and Millennials Seek Answers

ATLANTA — Millennial and Generation Z Christians are increasingly turning to online influencers for biblical guidance beyond Sunday sermons, as audiences grow across podcasts, videos and social feeds. They describe filling a void in American religion by offering practical help for daily life and a steady stream of scriptural context for questions that rarely get full treatment in a typical church service. “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, 35, says while recording her In Totality podcast from a couch in sweats.

These influencers, working largely outside traditional church hierarchies, describe themselves as churchgoers who don’t want to be boxed in by denominational labels. From diverse backgrounds, they say their messages emerge from spiritual transformations born of hardship or a sense of emptiness they associate with secular living. Arielle Reitsma, 36, co-host of the podcast Girls Gone Bible, says the show’s reach — more than a million listens or streams each month — comes from a willingness to be open about doubt and curiosity. “We’re like, listen, we’re two mess-ups too. It’s OK,” she said. These algorithm-savvy podcasters often pursue audiences more easily than some traditional congregations or media outlets can reach.

Scholars who study religion and media say the rise of such influencers continues a long arc in Christian celebrity culture. Zachary Sheldon, a Baylor University lecturer on media, religion and culture, notes that figures like televangelist Billy Graham paved a path for independent voices who can reach audiences without the filtering layer of a traditional church or network. “Exposing people to the faith and challenging them to ask questions and search for something more” are evident positives, Sheldon said, but he cautioned about “potential dangers in granting them too much authority on the basis of their celebrity and their acumen with social media.”

The influencers say their work is urgent in a moment when polls show a growing portion of younger Americans stepping back from organized religion. Pew Research Center data show that 41% of people ages 18 to 35 surveyed in 2023-24 said they believe in God with certainty, down from 65% in 2007. Angela Halili, 29, Reitsma’s co-host, describes a hunger she sees in listeners who encounter what they call “true life and fulfillment” through online conversations about faith, even if the medium is digital rather than a church pew.

The pair, who now draw live crowds at events, spoke in Atlanta with Bibles in hand and recounted their days as Hollywood actors battling addiction, heartbreak and mental health disorders. Halili described what she calls radical healing and said she wants listeners to know that miracles can happen in everyday life. A 17-year-old in the audience, Anna Williams, said the two feel like “a big sister” figures to her.

But the rise of online Christianity also comes with challenges. Influencers acknowledge a danger that online culture can foreground drama or esoteric beliefs at the expense of core Christian tenets such as love and sacrifice. “God does make everything better, but that doesn’t always come in the way that we think it’s gonna come,” said In Totality host Ashley. Jackie Hill Perry, 36, a speaker, author and seminary student who left behind same-sex relationships and has discussed police brutality and racial injustice, cautions that “simply talking about gentleness or respect or kindness or patience is gonna be boring” to some audiences if not tied to deeper practice.

The Perrys, a husband-and-wife duo who started their street-level podcast in 2019 and also run a streetwear brand, emphasize honest conversation about trust in God amid life’s pressures. They have faced criticism from conservatives for addressing racial injustice and from liberals for opposing same-sex marriage and abortion, illustrating the political and cultural rifts that play out online as audiences segment themselves.

Bryce Crawford, 22, another rising voice, distributes Bible chapters on his self-titled podcast and posts videos of himself engaging people at Pride parades, the Burning Man festival and a satanic temple. Rather than adopting a confrontational tone, he prioritizes one-on-one conversations, listening, and explaining their worldview with empathy. He says that approach has attracted followers who were anxious or bitter toward faith, and that his appeal lies in continuing questions rather than simple absolutes.

Some observers worry that relying on online platforms risks narrowing the audience for Christian teaching to those already comfortable with digital culture. Still, many listeners describe online Christian communities as a lifeline that provides a sense of belonging and moral clarity in a secular era, especially for young people who report declining attendance at traditional churches.

The broader context is a long-running shift in how faith interacts with media and entertainment. Influencers often blend scripture with pop-culture sensibilities, fashion, and personal storytelling, making faith feel accessible rather than remote. For fans like Williams, the approach is less about replacement and more about reimagining how to engage with God in a world saturated with information, noise and distraction.

As the online Christian space evolves, experts say the most lasting impact will depend on the ability of influencers to sustain trust, avoid sensationalism, and preserve opportunities for durable community—whether that comes through online forums, live events, or newly formed local gatherings that echo the mentorship some listeners found in traditional churches. In the end, the narrative of these influencers is about a generation seeking meaning and a mode of spiritual practice that fits a digital age, even as it grapples with the complexities and controversies that come with building faith in public online spaces.