THINQ Summit marks 20 years as Gen Z turns more open to faith

THINQ Media is bringing more than 1,600 leaders to Nashville this week for its 20th annual summit, with Gen Z and millennials making up most attendees. The event comes as new research points to renewed religious interest among younger Americans and spotlights debates over AI, Israel, psychedelics, disability and other cultural flashpoints.

Why it matters: - THINQ Summit is aiming at the generation gap now shaping faith and culture. - New data showing Gen Z is more likely than prior generations to describe itself as religious gives the event added relevance. - The summit is designed to help churches and Christian leaders navigate issues that are increasingly debated in public life.

What happened: - THINQ Media opened its 20th annual THINQ Summit Thursday in Nashville. - More than 1,600 leaders are gathering for the event, and Gen Z plus millennials make up the majority of attendees. - Keynotes are being held at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, with additional experiences across the city. - Gabe Lyons and Rebekah Lyons are hosting the summit. - The event runs through Saturday.

The details: - The first THINQ gathering two decades ago featured Lyons and Barna Group’s David Kinnaman releasing "unChristian," a book centered on how many young people viewed Christians as judgmental, hypocritical and too political. - Kinnaman is returning this year with "Is Jesus En Vogue?" based on new research into renewed interest in Christianity. - THINQ is using a 9- or 18-minute talk format for more than 30 main-stage sessions. - Sessions include debates and talks on artificial intelligence in discipleship, Israel, assisted suicide, delayed healing, disability, psychedelics and sports gambling addiction. - The AI sessions are "How AI Helps Discipleship" with James Poulter and "How AI Harms Discipleship" with Dave Clayton. - Debate Night will focus on "How Should Christians View Israel?" and examine biblical Israel, the Jewish people and the modern State of Israel. - The main-stage lineup includes Gabe Lyons, Dallas Jenkins, Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, Kelsi Sheren, Jonathan Pokluda, Shelbi Shutt, Christa Black Singh and Anthony B. Bradley. - Attendees will also see an advance screening of "The Chosen" Season 6, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Between the lines: - THINQ is positioning itself as a forum for conversation across ideological lines at a moment when many Americans avoid people who disagree with them. - Lyons said the summit’s goal has long been to reach younger people who were skeptical of Christianity and are now more willing to reconsider it. - The mix of topics suggests THINQ is targeting areas where faith, ethics and modern life are colliding most sharply. - The summit’s format favors short talks and direct debate over long lectures, which fits its audience of younger leaders. - Past speakers include Malcolm Gladwell, David Brooks, Erica Komisar, Soledad O'Brien, Jonathan Haidt, Rick Warren, Tony Hale, Lecrae, Tim Keller and Chuck Colson.

What’s next: - Talks from the summit will be released after the event. - THINQ says its broader summer initiative, THINQ Dinners, is inviting Americans to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with Jeffersonian-style gatherings and guided discussion. - More information is available at the company’s website.

The bottom line: - THINQ is betting that younger Americans are more open to faith than the culture-war moment suggests, and it is building its 20th anniversary summit around that shift.