Statistically, the country is growing more secular with youth far more likely not to affiliate with any given religion or church than their parents or grandparents. However, those superficial facts and figures can hide the fact that most young adult are receptive to the gospel.

According to a study from LifeWay Research, more than four-fifths of unchurched 20- to 29-year-olds believe in God. About 57 percent of them believe God is the God described in the Bible. Two-thirds of these unchurched youth believe Jesus rose from the dead, and 77 percent believe Jesus can make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Why don’t they go to church then? About two-thirds believe it’s full of hypocrites, and nine out of 10 believe they can have a dandy relationship with God without going to church. That said, 89 percent would be open to friends sharing the gospel with them, 61 percent would go to a Bible study if a friend invited them, and nearly half (46%) would join a small group.

“It is a mistake to say young adults now are as connected to church as previous generations—they aren’t,” Ed Stetzer said in Christianity Today. “But, it is a bigger mistake to think they are not open to spiritual things—because they are. The younger unchurched are actually more open to the Christian faith than their older unchurched peers.” (Christianity Today)

Paul Asay has written for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for PluggedIn and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He recently collaborated with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, on his book The Good Dad. He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and his two children. Check out his entertainment blog or follow him on Twitter.