Young Adults Are Showing Up to Church — Why?

Are young people attending church more than they have in the past?

It appears so. About 1 in 3 young adults say they attend church more often now than a year ago, according to research by the Barna Group and Gloo, a technology firm serving faith organizations. Forty-five percent say they attend church as much as they did a year ago, while just 21 percent attend less than they did last year.

“I definitely see that young people are more interested in spiritual things today,” says Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International.

Others who work with young people recognize the shift too. “Over the last year, I have visited a number of schools and universities to give talks about Christianity and history,” said Bijan Omrani, author of God Is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England, in early 2026. “On every occasion, I have been struck by a thirst for knowledge amongst students, and a desire to reconnect with and cherish a religious tradition whose neglect by previous generations disturbs them.”

The young people who fill my classroom and frequent my home recognize the shift too. “The Holy Spirit is working in some pretty mighty ways right now,” says Ayden S., a high school junior. “I feel that we can all tell that there’s something big going on in the world.”

Jaden B., a high school senior, agrees. “I attend a local youth church, and attendance has doubled in the last year. Church gives our generation a sense of purpose and community.”

Why They Attend Church

“There’s so much artificial and computer-generated information out there,” Pastor Doug explains. “I believe the young people are looking for genuine truth and authenticity. They are looking for something to believe in.”

The Barna research points to additional reasons that Gen Z and Millennials are returning to church. Prayer is the most commonly cited reason for attending church (45%). Other reasons include worshiping God with others (38%), to experience joy in Jesus (35%), and to understand what the Bible says (33%). It seems young people want to have a real experience with Jesus.

“Church gives our generation a sense of purpose and community.”

Young people also attend church to connect with others. Twenty-four percent come to church to develop deeper relationships with other Christians and to learn from those who have gone through similar experiences. They also come to church for their children and family (23%), to make friends (23%), to share their experiences (22%), and to feel like someone cares for them (20%). In our digital world, genuine social connection matters more than ever for young people.

“Covid set us back socially and emotionally,” says Madi P., a senior in high school. “We tend to doom-scroll and keep to ourselves. Church gives us a place to be with other people and connect in a positive way with others. It’s calming to come to church.”

“Young adults’ personal motivations for attending church are primarily for inward reasons—reconnecting and self-discovery,” says Daniel Copeland, vice president of research at Barna. “Leaders should take that seriously as well as think carefully about how to help young adults turn outward toward community and contribution.”

Who Is Attending

Young men are leading the return to church, according to Gallup data from 2024–2025. Forty-two percent of young men now say that religion is very important to them, up sharply from 28 percent in 2022–2023.

The Barna research also found that Black adults (41%), Hispanic adults (36%), and those ages 25 to 35 are attending more frequently. Young women’s church attendance and commitment to religion, however, seem to be holding or dropping slightly.

“We keep asking whether young people are coming back or falling away, as if it’s one tide moving in one direction,” adds Copeland. “For nearly half, nothing has changed. The real story isn’t the average; it’s who’s stirring at the edges and what they are looking for.”

Nurturing Our Youth

Statistics can never tell the full story of what God is doing in individual lives, but they do hint at transformations God is bringing about in young people. The real story—and the joy of seeing young people fall in love with Jesus—happens when we get to know them personally.

A five-year study (2019 to 2024) of Sabbath-keeping youth in Australia found three major factors that draw youth to church, or that kept them in the church:

• Parents who love God, are active in church, and model grace-filled lives for their children. This was the largest factor for youth who remained in the church.
• Real connections and friendship with older people in church.
• Mentors who are willing to invest personally in young people and help them grow spiritually.

Madi explains why these relationships matter so much: “Older people are more grounded, and you can tell when they have God in them. They can help give us guidance for life.”

Church also helps young people deal with the challenges of life. “A lot of young people are dealing with a lot of pain in life,” Jaden says. “Coming to church is a place where they can get away from the trouble at home and do something more positive.”

Building Relationships with Young People

If you are an adult who loves Jesus and cares about young people, then you can help make church attractive for them. Here are some practical ways to do it:

• Talk to them. Be interested in their lives. Get to know them as a friend.
• Get them involved in church and give them meaningful opportunities to lead.
• Plan church activities that they can enjoy alongside the older membership.
• See them doing something you know isn’t the best? Instead of criticizing, pray for them. A lot!
• Spend quality time with them.
• Pray with them, especially about their concerns.
• Offer to study the Bible with them. You might be surprised at those who say yes.

No matter your age, if you are willing, God can use you to help nurture the last generation of godly young people who will help finish the work so that Jesus can return to take His waiting people—young and old—to our eternal home in heaven.

Looking for a practical way to help young people become disciples of Christ? Consider studying the Growing in Christ: Principles of God’s Kingdom Bible study lessons together.

Unexpected Encounters

I had barely stepped into Walmart when a stranger stopped me.

“Pastor Doug?” he asked. He didn’t attend our church, but he recognized me from watching Amazing Facts programs.

A little later, I met two more viewers—believe it or not—named Joshua and Caleb! We even took a picture together in front of the Raisin Bran.

Then another woman recognized me. She wasn’t a church member either, but she watched our programs.

All of this happened in just minutes!

Friend, these encounters remind me that for every person who recognizes me, thousands more may be quietly watching Amazing Facts—people you and I may never meet.

Arsen was one of them.

Someone We Didn’t Know Was Watching

As a lonely teenager, Arsen struggled with life’s biggest questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Why are there so many different religions and churches?

He prayed for guidance and discovered my book The Richest Caveman. Seeing similarities between his teenage struggles and mine, he searched for me on YouTube and discovered Amazing Facts.

Soon, Arsen was coming home from school and binge-watching our Bible programs every day.

“I found teachings that made more sense to me than anything I had heard before,” he shares.

Our Millennium of Prophecy series especially gripped him as he discovered biblical answers about Jesus, salvation, the Sabbath, and hellfire.

“I realized, wow! This is so simple. I finally understand what I believe and why.”

Friend, we didn’t even know Arsen was watching! Yet the Bible messages you helped make available were reaching his heart. Before long, he surrendered his life to Jesus and was baptized.

But that was only the beginning.

The Message Multiplies

Arsen began thinking about Russian-speaking people in Ukraine and beyond who needed these same Bible answers.

So he created a YouTube channel, taught himself media production, and began translating Amazing Facts prophecy seminars into Russian.

At first, only a few people watched. Then thousands subscribed. Viewers shared how these messages were helping them understand Scripture. Arsen even learned of people being baptized!

Today, those translated Amazing Facts sermons have been watched an astounding five million times—and counting!

Think about that! Through Amazing Facts, you reached one teenager we didn’t even know was watching. He gave his life to Jesus and then began sharing truth with millions more.

One unexpected encounter led to another … and another.

That’s how the gospel works!

Help Create the Next Encounter

Friend, God is still arranging these “heavenly interruptions.” Today, someone searching for answers can encounter Bible truth through television, YouTube, radio, or an Amazing Facts Study Guide.

And when someone requests a Bible lesson, book, or other resource, your generosity helps provide it at no cost.

Last year alone, you helped provide Amazing Facts resources to nearly 200,000 people seeking Bible answers. Those materials cost more than $100,000—not including postage.

And requests for free resources are growing!

Will you make a generous gift today to help put life-changing Bible truth into searching hands?

Just $25 can provide 23 Study Guides, $50 can provide 50 Bible-answer sermon books, and $100 can help more than 1,100 people encounter Christ and His truth on YouTube.

You may never meet on Earth the person your gift reaches. But imagine meeting that person in heaven!

As my thank-you for your partnership this month, I’d like to send you my new message, A Wedding, Water, and Wine, about Jesus’ first recorded miracle.

Thank you for helping us reach hearts with the everlasting gospel!

Horror Movies and the Christian

Game and movie studios are looking to cash in on horror this October. A recent Variety article recommends eight horror movies, three horror streaming series, and one horror book all releasing this month. ScreenRant lists 13 scary movies debuting in October. A Reddit thread identified 13 new horror games debuting this month alone.

“Interactive terror commands billions of hours of player engagement and livestream viewership,” says Game Vault. Sudden scares experienced while interacting with horror content cause “the exact same physiological cascade as it would if you met an apex predator in the wild. … As the immediate perceived danger passes without physical consequences, your brain’s reward pathway releases an intoxicating rush of dopamine and endorphins.” This keeps gamers coming back for more.

And when it comes to movie theaters, violence and gore are more popular than ever. Horror film Other Mommy debuted at number one domestically over the October 9 weekend, bringing in $27.5 million in ticket sales. Barron’s reports it’s the sixth horror film to open at No. one this year. The genre raked in a record-setting $1.4 billion in 2025 and is on track to exceed that before the end of 2026.

So it isn’t just a spike in horror entertainment consumption due to the Halloween season. There is a general year-round rise in the genre’s popularity. Reuters reported in July 2025 that “scary movies account for 17 percent of the North American ticket purchases, up from 11 percent in 2024 and 4 percent a decade ago.”

Psychology Today says that “we are living in a new Golden Age of horror,” and that “scary movies may be a symptom of anxious times, and a way to cope with them.” But is this sort of content really helpful? Or could the dark themes and violent murder scenes have a damaging effect?

Assessing the Mental Impact

“[When watching horror films], your heart pumps and the adrenaline flows, and your attention narrows in, even as you know you are at home or in the theatre and there is no real danger,” says Healthline. The adrenaline spike can make it difficult to sleep after a movie. There is also the potential for disruptive nightmares to be triggered by a film’s disturbing images. And some sensitive individuals are prone to increased levels of anxiety and panic.

A Penn State article says, “Many studies have shown that consistent direct exposure—especially among young people—to graphic material, decreases empathy and increases aggression.” And a recent study found that “violent video gaming predicted 14.1% higher aggressive behaviors and was also linked to anxiety and insomnia in teens.”

Simply Put Psych reports that “repeated exposure to violent video games, including horror games, reduced physiological responses to real-world violence.” An article featured by the National Library of Medicine says, “Exposure to violent content can decrease empathy and cause increased aggressive thoughts, anger, and aggressive behaviour.” And that “time spent watching screen violence has also been directly associated with increased bullying and cyberbullying in both boys and girls.”

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says, “Hundreds of studies of the effects of screen violence on children and teenagers have found that children may become ‘immune’ or numb to the horror of violence, begin to accept violence as a way to solve problems, imitate the violence they observe on screens; and identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers.”

Yet despite the evidence showing horror content’s traumatic effects, modern psychologists often suggest that viewing it is a “safe” way of experiencing emotions like fear, anxiety, and disgust. However, God’s Word gives very different counsel, and we would be wise to consider it.

We have clear biblical counsel on the type of content we should consume.

Divine Counsel

The Bible says that by beholding the glory of the Lord, we are “transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). If beholding God’s glory through the study of His Word changes us for good, what effect does exposing ourselves to violent, fear-inducing content have?

Jesus taught: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23).

According to Jesus, what we view can fill us with either light or darkness, good or evil. Perhaps King David knew this principle, which is why he said, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (Psalm 101:3). And the prophet Isaiah describes the righteous man as one “who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil” (Isaiah 33:15).

Romans 1:32 warns that those who take pleasure in and approve of wickedness will not be in God’s kingdom. The scenes of violence and demon possession depicted in horror films originated with the devil. He’s the first murderer and bends all his strength “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 8:44; 10:10). Repackaging evil as entertainment is one of his most effective tactics to degrade and destroy God’s image in humanity.

Don’t fall for the devil’s tricks. We have clear biblical counsel on the type of content we should consume.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Learn more about biblical principles for the Christian life by clicking here.

Priceless Pearl Summit Teaches How to Be Faithful Stewards

Is it undignified to talk about money? The Bible doesn’t think so. More than two thousand verses address finances and how to care for them.

Jesus Himself often spoke about financial matters. The only subject He addressed more frequently was the kingdom of God. In one of His best-known parables, He describes a merchant “seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45, 46).

The merchant understood that nothing he owned could compare to what he had found.

More than two thousand verses address finances and how to care for them.

That picture of a priceless treasure prompted Amazing Facts to host the Priceless Pearl Summit on October 3 and 4 at the Granite Bay Hilltop Church. The weekend focused on biblical principles for creating wealth, managing it wisely, and giving it to build up God’s kingdom. The summit was also broadcast on AFTV and social media.

“God is a giver,” says Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts. “We want to help His people learn how to be better stewards and givers.”

Scriptural Principles of Stewardship

On Sabbath morning, Dr. Randy Bivens, a physician and founder of the Life and Health Network, showed how to manage money God’s way. “God gave you the desire to create wealth,” Bivens shared. “The question is whether He can trust you to use the resources He gives you for His kingdom.”

Pastor Doug followed with a message on the three areas that God asks us to steward for Him: our time, our influence, and our finances. Using King David as an example, he preached on the importance of giving freely to God’s work and planning ahead so that we can leave a legacy of generosity.

“We need to have both hands open,” Pastor Doug said. “One hand must be open to receive God’s blessings, and the other open to give.”

Just as the merchant in Jesus’ parable about the priceless pearl gave everything for what he valued most, Pastor Doug encouraged listeners to plan now so that what God has entrusted to them keeps blessing others after they are gone. He shared a simple acronym to remember the steps: PEARL.

• Protect your assets
• Establish your wishes
• Assign trusted decision-makers
• Review and update regularly
• Leave a lasting legacy

Practical Tools for Creating Lasting Wealth

Sunday morning turned to the practical tools that help believers leave a legacy of generosity. In “Empowering Generations with Planned Giving,” presenter Monica Edwards, assistant legal counsel for the Western Adventist Foundation, explained how a charitable remainder trust works—providing income to beneficiaries during their lifetimes or for a specified term, with the remaining funds going to charity when the trust ends.

“These are powerful tools that enable us to give more to God’s work and give our children an example of generosity,” Edwards stated.

In “The Seven Essential Estate Planning Documents Everyone Should Have,” estate planning professional Elijah Grinevich explained why every family needs a will and similar documents. “Don’t delay to put these in place,” he said. “These documents make sure that your money will bless God’s work and your family, rather than going to pay lawyers.”

Free Estate Planning Tools

To make estate planning accessible for everyone, Amazing Facts offers a free will creator here. The tool takes only minutes to complete, and once two impartial witnesses sign the document, it becomes a binding legal contract.

“We are offering this free tool because we want every family to be able to have the assurance that their family, and especially their children, are protected in case of unexpected death,” said Pastor James Mangum, Amazing Facts’ director of Estate and Legacy Planning. “Without a will, the court decides what happens to your children and assets when you pass away.”

“For those with assets over $208,850, it is also important to have a living trust so that your estate will not go into probate court,” explained Grinevich.

Amazing Facts also offers free estate planning and trust creation services if you make a 10 percent donation to Amazing Facts at death. The Estate and Legacy Planning department will cover the cost of all attorney fees needed to set up your trust and keep it updated. They will also provide safekeeping of your documents in a safe deposit box if desired.

It’s Time to Help Others Find the Light

For Armando and Jasmine Reyes, the Priceless Pearl Summit came at a turning point. “We’ve graduated from our primary responsibility of raising our children,” they said. “Our mindset now is to focus outside our own windows and help others navigate to the light of Christ. The information on the charitable remainder trust was especially interesting to us because it would allow us to keep giving even after we are gone. We pray that our giving will inspire our children to give generously too.”

Pastor James sums up the heart of the weekend: “Caring for our God-given resources is a sacred work, not a secular one. It’s about honoring God and creating blessings so others can come to know Jesus.”

“If you have found Jesus to be the pearl of great price, then we invite you to partner with Amazing Facts in your estate planning so that you can leave a legacy of giving, even in your death,” he adds. “Your gifts will not only bring many to Christ, but they will also create a tradition of generosity that can inspire the next generation.”

To speak to the Amazing Facts Estate and Legacy Planning office and learn how you can create a Christ-centered legacy, please call 800-436-2695 or visit https://www.amazingfacts.org/estate-and-legacy-planning.

A Seed Waiting to Live

“Why am I still alive?

Duane had asked his daughter Ashley that question more than once.  He was fighting advanced cancer that had already spread to his lungs and bones, and he couldn’t understand why he was still hanging on.

“I have to believe that God has a reason for you to still be alive, Dad,” Ashley told him. “There are no accidents with God.”  Friend, Ashley had no idea how right she was!

Duane had been raised Mormon but drifted far from faith after nearly losing his life in Vietnam.  Years later, when Ashley and her mother gave their hearts to Christ and were baptized, Duane wanted nothing to do with their newfound faith.

“Your baptism means nothing,” he told his daughter.  Still, Ashley and her family kept praying for him.  Then something changed.

After health problems landed Duane in the hospital several times, Ashley asked if she could pray for him.  He said yes.  “We were all surprised,” Ashley remembers.  “He never used to let us pray with him.”

Soon afterward, Duane attended a Christian conference—where I happened to be speaking on what the Bible actually teaches about death.  Ashley says that afterward, “He started asking questions about faith and joining us for family worship and prayer.”

Then came the devastating diagnosis of late-stage cancer.  But even as Duane’s condition worsened, God kept putting answers in his path.

Ashley introduced him to The Richest Caveman, the story of how God rescued me from a lost life.  Duane wanted to watch it immediately.  He laughed, asked questions, and began thinking seriously about salvation.

Soon, he was tuning in to my sermons on his own.  One message especially spoke to his heart: “Do You Need to Be Perfect to Be Saved?” Coming from his background, Duane struggled to understand God’s grace.  But as he listened to Bible truth and studied God’s Word, the pieces came together: “For by grace you have been saved through faith … it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

A Life Transformed

“We had prayed for this for so many years,” Ashley says.  “It was truly nothing short of a miracle to see the transformation in Dad’s life.”  During his final months, Duane wanted to read only the Bible.  He began making things right with people.  Old wounds were healed and relationships restored.

Then Ashley shared something that deeply touched me.  “He was finally the dad I’d always dreamt of having.”  Duane’s cancer was not healed.  But before he died, his heart was.  Remember his question: “Why am I still alive?”  There was still a reason.  There was still time.

Today, Duane rests, awaiting the Lifegiver’s call.  Ashley says, “I fully believe I will see Dad in heaven.  He came to peace with Jesus before he died.  Amazing Facts played an important role in Dad’s spiritual journey, and I am so thankful.”

And friend, her thanks belongs to you too.  Your faithful gifts made those messages available when Duane needed them—a sermon heard in person, a testimony watched with his family, and Bible messages he later sought for himself.  We never know which message God will use—or when a resistant heart will suddenly open.

That is why I’m asking you to prayerfully send a loving gift today to keep planting seeds of Bible truth in searching hearts.

Your gift will broadcast Christ-centered Bible messages, keep biblical answers available online, provide books and study resources, and carry the everlasting gospel through evangelistic outreach.  As Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Your compassionate gift today will put Bible truth within reach when another Duane begins searching.  As my thank-you, I’d love to send you my message “Seven Keys to Spiritual Growth.”  I believe it will help you experience a more victorious and fruitful spiritual life—and plant seeds of truth in the hearts of those around you.

And please include your prayer requests on the enclosed reply card.  It is a privilege for our ministry family to lift you and those you love before the Lord each week.

Thank you for being a faithful co-laborer.  Because you care, seeds of truth are being planted every day—and by God’s grace, lives are being changed for eternity.

Does Believing in the End Times Make Christians Dangerous?

A popular new book—End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor—groups religious extremists with technofascists and ethnonationalists, arguing that they share an apocalyptic outlook in which a select group expects to survive—or even welcomes—the coming catastrophe.

The accusation in the book reflects an expanding attitude in society. An increasing number of people assume that Christians want the world to go up in flames because they believe Christ will then return. Admittedly, there are some “Christian” individuals or fringe groups who think this way—for example, social media has had influencers who actually celebrate disasters as “signs” of the end. Furthermore, there are those who ignore stewardship of the environment because “it will all be destroyed anyway,” as well as those who view every intense political conflict as a likely “Armageddon.”

Politicizing Prophecy

While it’s true that prophecy has sometimes been distorted to justify political power, violence, neglect of suffering, or indifference toward the world, this is not representative of scriptural Christianity. Those distortions are not the fruit of biblical prophecy. Jesus never told His followers to manufacture a crisis, seize political control, or abandon those who suffer.

Instead, He commanded them to remain faithful, proclaim the gospel, care for others, and watch for His return. No indifference, no extremism.

For centuries, political movements around the world have appropriated religious language to further their own agendas. From ancient times, history affirms a repeating pattern: countries that claim the divine destiny of being a chosen or superior nation; leaders who use apocalyptic language to rally support for their cause; and prophecy that’s meant as a spiritual warning hijacked as a political slogan, reducing it to mere propaganda. Political strategies dressed in religious clothing are an imitation that twists reality in order to gain power—the polar opposite of true Christianity.

Jesus and the End Times

To understand what genuine Christians believe, we need to know what Jesus actually taught. For instance, He rejected sensationalism, panic, and fear-mongering and instructed His followers: “See that you are not troubled” (Matthew 24:6) regarding end-time events. No hysteria, but calm trust in God. They were to preach the gospel (verse 14)—to share the good news of Christ’s offer of salvation with a race that is incapable of saving itself.

The goal isn’t cultural domination or political conquest but sharing God’s love and beneficence. Indeed, Christ made it plain that His followers are to compassionately care for those in need (Matthew 25:35–40). He further explained that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will be part of His eternal kingdom, “but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). His profound message was practical—stay calm, faithful, and compassionate.

Neither does believing in prophecy excuse destruction. Rather, knowing that Christ will return should produce “holy conduct and godliness,” not reckless indifference (2 Peter 3:11–14). Indeed, God has promised to “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). Knowing that judgment lies ahead should motivate responsible behavior and concern for others. This means that believers should, more than others, work to reduce suffering in all its forms and responsibly care for the exquisite planet entrusted to us by our Creator.

Mature Christians await Christ’s return; they do not manufacture it. They care for creation while longing for its restoration. They serve faithfully and do not retreat from responsibility.

“Undeniably, coercive alliances between religious and political power have caused unfathomable human suffering.”

A Volatile Mix

Historically and globally, religious rhetoric within politics has caused anxiety in many people. It raises red flags for many genuine believers, since coercive alliances between religious and political powers have caused unfathomable human suffering in the past, are currently doing so in many regions of the world and, according to the book of Revelation, will do so in a major way in the future. In the hands of humans, religion and politics rarely mix peaceably.

Currently, religious persecution is rampant around the globe. Tens of thousands are killed or maimed, lose their personal property, are displaced from their homes, or face intense discrimination. Only vigilant separation of church and state can safeguard religious freedom and minimize the cruelties of persecution.

As a coercive religious-political tool, counterfeit or misused prophecy is dangerous. But there’s a vast difference between this misuse of prophecy and what Jesus actually taught His followers. Authentic biblical prophecy produces compassion, courage, restraint, and faithfulness. Even the authors of End Times Fascism acknowledge that there are many religious individuals who stand up against hatred, violence, and oppression. The real danger in the end times is not genuine Christian believers but the merging of religious and political powers with intent to force compliance.

So, does belief in Bible prophecy lead to extremism or indifference to suffering? It’s possible, but only in those who misuse or misunderstand the prophecies, or who use them for their own purposes—rather than as sacred warning messages that lead to a deeper relationship with God and increased compassion for their fellow man.

Want to learn what the Bible really teaches about how the world will end? Click here to read our free, encouraging study guide, Ultimate Deliverance.

One Honest Question

A few months ago, I got an unexpected Sabbath call to visit Taka, a man who’d suffered several spinal fractures in a bicycle accident. I gladly went to the hospital to pray with him, and our conversation became one that I will never forget.

Taka told me that he grew up in Tokyo, surrounded by Shinto and Buddhist beliefs. Yet as a boy, he recognized God’s handiwork in the shimmering scales of a fish he had caught. “It was so beautiful,” he told me. “Intuitively, I could no longer doubt there was a Creator.”

In college, Taka joined an English conversation group led by Christian missionaries and began studying the Bible for himself, like the Bereans, “to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). At 20, he surrendered his life to Christ, becoming part of the tiny fraction of Japanese who identify as Christian.

The Seventh-Day Question

Years passed, and Taka and his wife, Airin, moved to the United States for work. One evening during a family worship on the Ten Commandments, his 11-year-old daughter asked, “Daddy, if the Bible says the Sabbath is the seventh day, why do we go to church on Sunday?”

Taka had no answer. “That’s a good question,” he said. “I’ll study it and get back to you.”

He had no idea how that one honest question would change his family’s life forever! As he searched for answers, God led him to sabbathtruth.com, one of our largest websites that puts clear, Bible-based truth within reach of seekers around the world. “I was blown away,” Taka said. “All the pieces came together.”

After months of prayer and study, Taka and Airin recognized they had to follow God’s Word wherever it led. In 2021, they met an Amazing Facts evangelist, studied with his family, and were baptized into God’s remnant church.

Then Taka told me something I will never forget: When you search online in Japanese, there is little straightforward information explaining Bible truth, especially the Sabbath and end-time prophecy. Only 1.5 percent of Japan’s 123 million people are Christians, and far fewer know the truth about the Sabbath. “God has put it on my heart to reach my own people,” he said.

Will You Help Answer More Honest Questions?

I am convinced that meeting Taka was providential because in just a few months, Pastor Jëan Ross and I will travel to Japan to encourage believers and share the everlasting gospel.

We will also explore opportunities to expand the translation of Amazing Facts Bible lessons and digital resources into Japanese, so sincere seekers like Taka and Airin can discover biblical truth in their own language.

Will you prayerfully send a missionary gift today so that another Japanese father, mother, son, or daughter can discover the truth that transformed Taka’s family?

As a thank-you for your compassionate gift, I’d love to send you my “Last Elijah Message” presentation, an inspiring study of the Bible’s two boldest prophets and how their example echoes what God’s people will be like in the last days.

Please write your prayer requests on the enclosed reply card. It is a privilege for our ministry family to lift your requests before the Lord each week.

WitchTok and the Word: What Scripture Says About Today’s Witchcraft Trend

Witchcraft is no longer hiding in the shadows.

If you have spent any time on social media this month, you have probably encountered videos set to haunting, ethereal soundtracks featuring creators frolicking in forests or touting tips for casting spells. Autumn has become the “season of the witch,” with witchcraft increasingly portrayed as an attractive expression of spirituality, intuition, and personal power.

Nowhere is that shift more visible than on TikTok. WitchTok, the corner of TikTok devoted to witchcraft and occult practices, has become a vast digital community where creators share readings, rituals, spells, manifestation techniques, and advice. Recent reports indicate there are over nine million posts under #WitchTok, and WitchTok content as a whole has generated tens of billions of views.

Hollywood is also fueling the fascination. Practical Magic 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 1998 film about a family of witches, opened at No. 1 at the box office. Disney’s Hexed, an upcoming animated film about a teenage witch, is joining the same cultural wave. The message is continually reinforced: Witchcraft is not something to fear or hide, but something to celebrate, watch, participate in, and enjoy.

But what draws people toward it? For some, witchcraft is “a practice of learning to believe you have the power to summon answers, to regard your own instincts as something sacred.” For others, it offers belonging, spiritual meaning, or a sense of control when life feels uncertain. On the surface, these motives can seem remarkably innocent, or even positive.

Yet if you look deeper, you’ll see a narrative eerily similar to Eve’s experience in Eden. There, the serpent tempted her to find knowledge and independence within herself, and apart from God. Is witchcraft subtly telling the same lie today?

Finding the Way Out

Alexandra Ashcroft, once one of the most influential New Age creators on social media, previously bought into the idea that sorcery could give her spiritual contentment. Her TikTok account, “Alex Reads Tarot,” amassed nearly one million followers and her posts boasted 52 million likes. But in June 2026, Ashcroft deleted all her occult content and announced that she had given her life to Jesus.

“The more that I’ve prayed, the more that I’ve reflected and sought God, the more that I realized that I couldn’t ignore where this journey was leading me,” she said of her decision to no longer practice tarot and psychic readings. “There is no amount of social media … that replaces the good old-fashioned love letter that God gave us, which is His Word, His Bible, which is time in prayer spent with Him,” Ashcroft continued. She has since launched an account devoted to her newfound faith.

Ashcroft’s case isn’t unique. Other former practitioners like Jordan Taylor and S.A. Tower have also spoken of how walking with Jesus necessitates walking away from witchcraft. To understand why, we need to consider what Scripture says about witchcraft and the deception it propagates.

The Original Lie

In Genesis 3, we encounter the first and greatest lie ever spoken to mankind. God had given Adam and Eve a perfect home in Eden and provided abundantly for their every need. He’d also warned them of the adversary. Yet Eve chose to speak with the enemy, believe his lies, and eat the forbidden fruit. He assured her, “You will not surely die,” but instead, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:4, 5). That choice to distrust the Lord opened the door to sin, suffering, and death.

If you were to scroll through WitchTok, you’d spot the same false promises but in modern packaging. Videos feature love spells, hexes for enemies, and countless rituals to gain wealth, pursue desired outcomes, or access spiritual realms. The shape of the lie may differ, but the underlying proposition is the same: There is much to be gained that God has withheld from us.

Scripture presents occult practices as a real spiritual threat. They draw people away from God and, when embraced without repentance, lead toward eternal loss.

But God’s gift of Jesus disproves the devil’s lie that He would withhold anything good from us. Scripture puts it like this: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Still, WitchTok piques many people’s curiosity. After all, if you’re only watching for entertainment, where’s the harm? The Bible, however, doesn’t share that sentiment.

Trend or Trickery?

God commanded Israel: “There shall not be found among you anyone … who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10–12).

God’s commands leave no room for His people to seek spiritual knowledge or power through occult practices. Nor should Christians casually feed an interest in entertainment that glamorizes witchcraft. The early Christians understood this, and those “who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all” (Acts 19:19).

We are called to commit every part of our lives to Jesus, including what we watch and choose for recreation. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light …  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8–11).

Scripture presents occult practices as a real spiritual threat. They draw people away from God and, when embraced without repentance, lead toward eternal loss. Yet we can trust that God’s commandments are “for our good always, that He might preserve us alive” (Deuteronomy 6:24).

WitchTok may be a viral phenomenon, but it is the oldest deception wearing a new filter. Before clicking the next WitchTok video or choosing entertainment that glamorizes the occult, ask: Who am I allowing to shape my thoughts and spiritual life?

Explore what Scripture says about the supernatural and how to identify spiritual deception.

From Pain to Purpose

From Pain to Purpose

As a teenager, however, Ella’s life grew heavy.

Her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness that caused daily struggles. Under that burden, Ella looked for escape, eventually drifting into unhealthy friendships, alcohol, and promiscuity. Then, right before she graduated high school, Ella was badly harmed by a family member. She says, “It devastated me.” Numb and hurt, Ella spiraled further into destructive choices, disconnected from God.

But something changed one day when a homeless woman asked Ella for help. Ella helped her find a place to stay. After they prayed together, the woman told Ella that she had planned to take her own life, but, somehow, she had met Ella instead.

“I drove away thinking about how God could still use me when my life was such a mess,” Ella says. “Deep down, I had always wanted to serve Him. That encounter convicted me.”

Turning Point

Ella returned to church and began seeking guidance on what she should do next.

The next day, her dad called. AFCOE had received an anonymous donation that covered the tuition to the exact penny.

AFCOE became a turning point that helped shape Ella’s life. “I built friendships I’ll carry for a lifetime, and I felt loved and discipled.” After graduating from AFCOE, Ella was baptized by her dad.

Since then, Ella has served in mission work and as a Bible worker. She met her husband, who later became a pastor. Today, they are an active ministry team, sharing the love of Jesus.

“AFCOE played a major role in where my life is today,” Ella says. “It truly changed my life, and I would recommend it to anyone. Christ is coming soon, and I believe we need to train workers, plant seeds, and be ready when He comes.”

Thank you for your generous gifts that bring hope and purpose to so many lives!

Amazing Impact!

Sharing Bible Truth on ROAR

Your compassion is opening the door for countless people to discover eternal, life-giving truth by helping to broadcast on ROAR, a network that covers 79 percent of U.S. television households every Sunday at 9:00 AM. Caryn writes, “We accidentally saw your show on TV, and it has been a blessing to me. Everything is based on the Bible. My children are seeking answers, and thanks to you, we find them.”

Growing Disciples at AF Youth Conference

Thanks to you, more than 600 young people were empowered and learned what it means to say, “Here I am, Lord—send me,” at the AF Youth Conference! Eden writes, “This conference was a HUGE blessing to me! Outreach and spending time with awesome youth, forming new friendships, was a really good growth experience.”

Freedom 250

Thank you for sharing last-day truth at the national “Rededicate 250” event in May in Washington, D.C. More than 14,400 bags filled with free literature, including the America in Bible Prophecy magazine, were given to open hands—lifelines of truth for searching souls. De Jhawann writes, “Today I’m a vegetarian, I’ve quit smoking, and I keep the Sabbath. I’m learning what it is to be a Christian from Amazing Facts’ America in Bible Prophecy!”

Praise Report!

Thanks to you, the Amazing Facts website papacywatch.com stands as a lighthouse, ready for the soon-coming storm. Jonathan from Belgium writes: “I was a committed Catholic. Over time, my soul began to struggle. Pastor Doug opened the prophetic Scriptures before my eyes. Today, I am a baptized, Sabbath-keeping Christian. Praise the Lord!”

Friend, your sacrificial gifts help transform struggling souls the world over into purpose-filled disciples of Jesus. Your loving heart means so much to them and to us. Thank you!

The Partners In Evangelism Report is a publication of Amazing Facts International.

P.O. Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678 | 877-506-1751 | amazingfacts.org

AI Spiritual Advisors: Would You Trust Your Soul to AI?

There’s a good chance you’ve seen AI influencers on your social media feed.

It is hard to tell at first glance. They look real—almost. They sound right. Their stories even seem believable: “This is what I looked like before starting product XYZ. Now…”

A report by The New York Times found hundreds of these fake influencers selling health supplements online—some good for you, some definitely not.

Would you build your health on advice from a fake person?

But if you scroll further, you’ll come across something more alarming: AI spiritual teachers.

Religious Look-alikes

Yang Mun looks like a Buddhist monk with his saffron robe and shaved head. The voice sounds a bit off, but you’d be forgiven for not noticing it. His feed contains health tips, videos on forgiveness, and ads for books written under his name. He has 2.5 million followers. If you look carefully, you may notice the “AI Content” label.

“Rabbi” Goldman was an AI rabbi from New York who blended Jewish tropes, conspiracy theories, and financial advice. He had millions of followers before his account was taken down for misinformation.

Then there is Solomon Ray, an AI-generated gospel singer with 500,000 followers on Spotify. His song “Find Your Rest” topped the Billboard Gospel Music Charts in 2025.

AI cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit or wisdom.

The AI Bible Official channel on Instagram is filled with Hollywood-style video clips of Bible scenes. Many deal with Bible prophecy. Are they accurate? It depends on whether you use a historicist or preterist lens to interpret the prophecies. (This article by Pastor Doug on prophetic interpretation is helpful.)

A company called Just Like Me offers video chats with AI clones modeled on people like Mike Tyson, Al Gore, and Sarine the Astrologer. They also offer chats with Jesus—for $0.50 a minute. Stressed? You can chat with the AI Jesus about finding peace, a chat that promises to “discuss how to cultivate a tranquil spirit amidst life’s storms. You will find solace and learn practices to calm your heart and mind.”

Should You Be Concerned?

If all of this has you feeling a bit uncertain about what you are seeing on social media—good! You should be wary. According to some reports, as much as 71 percent of all social media content is AI-generated.

You absolutely should NOT believe everything you see online.

Some AI content is harmless. But spiritual content dressed up to look like real Bible teaching can be much more deceptive.

In Jesus’ discourse on the end times, He repeatedly warned His disciples not to be deceived. “Take heed that no one deceives you,” Jesus began. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. … For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:4, 5, 11, 24, emphasis added).

Was He talking about the rise of AI-generated preachers? Perhaps. The Bible doesn’t say. Certainly, He foresaw that deception—in every form—would be rampant in our day. That’s why He warned us to “watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

We must learn to be discerning students of God’s Word—especially when deciding whom we will allow to teach us.

AI is trained on massive amounts of literature and data, then guided by prompts from its programmers. Thus, every AI-generated teacher and every AI chatbot, even those trained on the Bible itself, will have its programmers’ biases built in. AI is not a neutral teacher.

That does not mean that AI cannot be a useful tool for Bible study or sharing Christ with others. To the contrary, AI can be a valuable study partner, as long as we recognize the biases it brings.

The Test of a True Teacher

The Bible is clear that anyone who teaches the Word of God must live according to its teachings. When deacons were chosen to help extend the work of the young church, the disciples exhorted the church to choose men who had a “good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3).

AI cannot meet these criteria. It possesses neither moral character nor a personal reputation, cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit, and cannot possess spiritual wisdom.

The calling to teach God’s Word belongs only to human beings who know Christ, receive the Holy Spirit, study Scripture, and demonstrate godly character. Indeed, James 3:1 says, “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

Those who teach Bible truth must allow Christ, the Author of all truth, to permeate their thoughts and transform them from the inside out so that their lives reflect His goodness and grace. Only then can we trust them as teachers. Even then, we must be like the Bereans who “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Don’t build your faith on AI’s representation of truth. Instead, compare every teaching with the Bible. Then, when trials come and the devil seeks to wash away your faith, your spiritual house will stand firm on the solid rock of God’s truth.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24, 25).

Want to know more about the Bible’s tests for a true prophet? Our Bible study “Proving the Prophets” is an in-depth look at what a prophet’s life and teachings must show.

Coming October 3 & 4: A Priceless Pearl!

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20, 21).

Everything we have is a gift from God. Yet faithful stewardship of His resources entrusted to us involves more than meeting today’s needs and commitments—it also means prayerfully planning for tomorrow, caring for our families, and using what God has entrusted to us to advance His kingdom.

That’s why Amazing Facts International invites you to A Priceless Pearl: How to Create Lasting Wealth, a special two-day event on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, at Granite Bay Hilltop Church in Granite Bay, California.

Hosted by Pastor Doug Batchelor, the weekend will offer practical, Bible-based guidance to help attendees make thoughtful decisions about Christian stewardship, estate planning, and legacy giving.

Pastor Doug will be joined by Dr. Randy Bivens of Life and Health Network; Monica Edwards of Western Adventist Foundation; and Elijah Grinevich of Grinevich Law Group. Together, they will share insights designed to help attendees provide for their loved ones, express their values, and create a spiritual legacy that can continue to bless others for generations.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Says Pastor Doug, “Over these two empowering days, you’ll gain valuable guidance to help you make thoughtful, faith-filled decisions that reflect your values and leave a lasting spiritual legacy. You’ll love our guest speakers, the fellowship, and the special music too! So please plan to join us—and register soon.”

The event’s PEARL principles provide a simple framework for wise, intentional planning: Protect your assets, Establish your wishes, Assign trusted decision-makers, Review and update regularly, and Leave a lasting legacy.

The weekend will also feature a question-and-answer session, giving participants an opportunity to receive individual guidance, as well as a concert on Saturday afternoon. Lunch will be provided both days; advance registration is required for Sunday lunch.

So whether you are beginning to think about estate planning or want to review plans already in place, A Priceless Pearl will help you approach the process with clarity, confidence, and a commitment to honoring God. Join Amazing Facts for this inspiring weekend of helpful presentations, uplifting music, meaningful fellowship, and practical tools for faithful stewardship.

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN
October 3 & 4, 2026
Begins Saturday at 10:00 AM

WHERE
Granite Bay Hilltop Church
6605 Sierra College Blvd.
Granite Bay, CA 95746

SPEAKERS
Pastor Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts International
Dr. Randy Bivens, Life and Health Network
Monica Edwards, Western Adventist Foundation
Elijah Grinevich, Grinevich Law Group

REGISTER TODAY

When God Opens the Way

It seemed impossible. Could Amazing Facts ever establish an Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) in Buddhist Thailand? That question became a prayer.

After attending AFCOE, Marxianne hoped Thailand would have its own Bible training ministry one day. While she prayed, God was already preparing the way. Friend, whether you realize it or not, you’ve already been part of that unseen work!

Earlier this year, our evangelism team traveled to Thailand and found believers eager to share Christ but hungry for training. What we discovered wasn’t merely an opportunity; it was an answer to years of earnest prayer. As Moses told God’s people, “The LORD, He is the One who goes before you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

A Heart God Was Preparing

An Open Door for the Gospel

Thailand is home to more than 70 million people. Over 90 percent are Buddhist, with Christians representing just one percent of the population. Yet Thailand is a promising door for evangelism.

Because of Thailand’s location, believers from neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam can gather there for discipleship training. Even our workers in the region who cannot easily travel to the United States can come to Thailand for training.

Working alongside experienced ministry partners throughout Southeast Asia, Amazing Facts has begun establishing a Bible training school to equip pastors, Bible workers, and lay members to share Christ more effectively. We’re also pursuing opportunities to bring Amazing Facts Bible teaching to television and other media so even more people can discover God’s truth.

One Thai church member volunteered to translate the Amazing Facts Study Guides into her own language. Studying them with a man who had attended church for two years, she heard him say again and again, “I never knew this was in the Bible!” She explains, “Translation is about opening the Scriptures in a way that touches hearts.”

Friend, that’s often how God begins a movement—not with crowds, but with one willing servant, one translated lesson, and one searching heart transformed by His Word.

Will You Walk Through This Door?

Your generous gift today will help equip pastors, Bible workers, and church members to share Jesus with confidence, translate Bible studies into local languages, and expand Bible teaching through television and other media across Southeast Asia.

Marxianne can’t do this alone. God works through faithful believers like you.

Will you prayerfully send your most generous gift today to share the hope of Jesus throughout Thailand and neighboring countries? As my way of saying thank you, I’d be delighted to send you a copy of my message, “The Profound Purpose of the Church.” I’d also be honored if you would share your prayer requests with me when you return your reply card with your gift.

Thank you for your faithful partnership in sharing God’s last-day message around the world.