Fishing for Men

There is a large jump in both church attendance and spirituality among young adults in the United States, according to a Barna Group report released in July 2025.[1] Among the startling data points was the finding that this generation’s young adults are attending church more often than previous generations. Another stunning finding was that Gen Z men (born 1997-2012) are exceeding the attendance growth of their female contemporaries. Attendance statistics for young men are up from 52 percent in 2019 to 67 percent in 2025. Historically, young women have led attendance statistics, but they are currently becoming less likely to attend than young men are.

These findings are mirrored by the American Bible Society’s 2025 report: “For the first time since 2021 we’re seeing an increase in both Bible use and Scripture engagement, particularly among younger adults and in men.”[2] The report further states that millennials (born 1981-1996) saw a 29 percent increase in Bible use from 2024 to 2025, and men saw a 19 percent increase.

Statistically there is currently an amazing opportunity to reach out to young men who are seeking authentic community, stability, and spiritual connection; they presently want connections with faith to fulfill their needs. While this helps drive connections with congregations, many of these young men are drawn to larger movements that are unconnected to denominations or congregations. This requires rethinking how to position outreach for males who are actively seeking spiritual connections and personal growth, looking for values and character beyond proof texts and information.

Not to discount young women, who are vital to congregational growth, but a specific focus is needed for meeting the needs of young men—a traditionally more difficult demographic to reach—while this heightened interest lasts.

Understanding Fish

When Jesus gathered His first disciples, He challenged them to make changes, follow Him, and become “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). Jesus used concepts and language intended to “hook” the interest of the fishermen he was inviting to join Him. He didn’t say, “Follow Me and I will make you knitters of scarves,” or “Follow Me, and I will make you world-class culinary experts.”

Statistically and realistically, there is currently an amazing opportunity to reach out to young men who are seeking authentic community, stability, and spiritual connection.

He deliberately used terms that compellingly met their interests, curiosity, and involvement. Not that there is anything wrong with knitting scarves or preparing food—the disciples brought spiritual warmth to those who were left out in the cold, and spiritual food to those who hungered for more than a physical meal. Jesus tailored His invitation to His audience.

I grew up in Colorado, pastored in Wyoming, and lived for a while in Alaska. Fishing is not a foreign concept to me—and I have learned a few salient facts about the art and skill of fishing. If you are to be a successful fisherman, you must study what the fish are looking for, when they are looking for it, where and how they will bite. Just because you really like the looks of the lure in your hand doesn’t mean that a trout has the same opinion. What interests me is totally irrelevant to the fish: I will not be successful if driven only by my interests. What works well for native trout in a clear mountain stream in Colorado or Wyoming is totally inappropriate for deep-water halibut fishing in Alaska. Conversely, if I try using a halibut hook to catch trout, the results will be disastrous: no bites, no results, no matter how I polish and sharpen the halibut hook.

Ellen White penned something salient: “The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors of endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature—the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man.”[3]

She is talking about character, values, and meaning—and these are things that current research says men are seeking.

Visual Tools Work Well With Men

Men have demonstrated a higher preference for visual learning than women and with respect to sexual arousal, research supports that men tend to be more visually stimulated than women.[4] Scripture alludes to this, too. Genesis 2:18-25 chronicles Adam naming all the creatures God had so marvelously created. At some point Adam realized that while there were pairs of animals consisting of a male and female, he was singularly alone: “There was not found a helper [that was] suitable (a companion) for him” (Gen. 2:20, AMP).[5]

The best time to fish, after all, is when the fish are hungry.

Adam saw the need, both visually and emotionally. God knew Adam’s need and responded appropriately by creating Eve to meet that need. Obviously Adam was delighted when he saw her; his response is recorded: “This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man” (Gen. 2:23, AMPC).[6] That is very philosophical—and a play on Hebrew words—but I imagine his response when he saw Eve translated to something more like: “Wow! At last! Finally! Someone to be my equal!” What Adam saw must have thrilled him to the core. She was, literally, the most beautiful woman on the earth. Men continue to respond visually to this day.

Finding Tools for Fishing

According to most contemporary studies of the phenomenon of men attracted to spiritual values, young men are seeking connection, community, positive values, involvement, and meaning to answer an inner voice asking, “What am I here for?” It sounds like a clarion call, an opportunity waiting for serious reflection and action to meet the surging phenomenon of male seekers.

The best time to fish, after all, is when the fish are hungry. Apparently—and statistically—men are currently spiritually hungry. As with actual fishing, there are always new materials being developed for fishermen. Creative imagination and specific planning always make “fishing for men” a challenge and opportunity. There are needs and opportunities out there, so let’s make serious plans, and go fishing!

If we are to be fishers of men, what kinds of materials, and “fishing gear,” are available for us to use? Here are a few I personally recommend you consider:

• The Armor of God is an eight-part DVD series featuring Shawn Boonstra, Dick Duerksen, and others demonstrating and discussing the various pieces of armor listed by Paul in Ephesians 6. Discussion questions and 60 pages of additional background material, including high-resolution photos of actual Roman armor, are downloadable from each disk. Segments have a 30-minute run time. The series was created specifically for men.

• The Desmond Doss Foundation recently created a series of seven very visual and interactive educational episodes (known as “edusodes”), using materials from the award-winning film Hacksaw Ridge. Each edusode features a value (courage, integrity, conviction, humility, selflessness, faith, and patriotism) lived out by Desmond Doss, along with discussion questions for participants to discuss with a personal mentor or accountability partner. The clips run between 15 and 25 minutes each. Test runs of the series, which won a Gold Award at the World Fest in Houston last year, have been well accepted. All the materials are available online at DesmondDossFoundation.com at no cost.

• Several books are available in the “fishing for men” category: John MacArthur’sTwelve Ordinary Men[7] is a study resource on the apostles that can prompt group discussions. The Apostles: Becoming Unified Through Diversity, by Gene A. Getz,[8] has the advantage of discussion questions for each chapter. Another resource is a unique biblical historical fiction, The Centurion.[9] Written specifically for men, this book tells the story of Longinus, who joins the Roman army at 18 “to get away from home and see the world.” He ultimately becomes the centurion in charge of the troops of Pontius Pilate and thus in charge of a historic crucifixion, as well as witnessing Jesus’ resurrection. Each chapter deals with his challenges and changes with discussion questions, contemporizing those experiences for modern readers. (The book comes with a money-back guarantee for readers if they write out answers to the chapter discussion questions and can say it was a waste of their time.)

[1] https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/

[2] https://www.americanbible.org/news/press-releases/articles/sotb-2025-release/

[3] Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1903, 1952), p. 57.

[4] See, for example, the following articles from the BioMed Central Medical Education journal and the National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-017-0965-5?utm_source=chatgpt.com; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15004563/.

[5] Scripture quotations credited to AMP are taken from Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

[6] Scripture quotations credited to AMPC are taken from Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

[7] John MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do With You (Thomas Nelson, 2006).

[8] Gene A. Getz, The Apostles: Becoming Unified Through Diversity (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1998).

[9] Dick Stenbakken, The Centurion (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2015).