Phil Knox Proposes Five Educational Directions for the Church in 2026

Phil Knox, an English evangelical expert, has outlined five major educational directions for the Church in 2026, describing the year as a potential “Return of Faith.” According to an article by the Evangelical Alliance in England titled “Mémorial Trends 2026,” the Church of England experienced a notable shift in 2025, with increased numbers of people turning to Jesus, seeking faith, and receiving baptism. Knox notes that while church attendance had declined for the past century, recent research suggests this trend may have reversed.

Knox predicts a continuous decline in atheism and an increase in the Evangelical Church. He advises the Church to focus on five key areas: openness to spirituality, the emergence of more spiritual and inexplicable images, the evangelical process, the deepening of people’s engagement with the Bible, and the challenge of training disciples. These directions are presented as a response to the changing spiritual landscape in the coming year.

In the midst of this spiritual wave, Knox observes that some individuals are seeking alternative or “mystic” forms of spirituality, such as witchcraft, magic, spells, tarot, and crystals. He notes that the “WitchTok” community on TikTok is already well-known, indicating a growing cultural interest in these practices. This trend highlights the need for the Church to remain engaged with the broader spiritual conversations occurring in society.

Knox estimates that there will be more inexplicable spiritual experiences, such as dreams, in the coming year. He cites data showing that approximately 28% of new believers began exploring Christian faith after experiencing such spiritual events. Knox states that the Church has heard countless cases of this kind over the past year, which were rarely considered a pathway to faith before. This suggests that personal spiritual experiences are playing a significant role in drawing people to the Christian faith.

The Church can also reach out to communities through practical mercy work, such as food banks and child workers. Knox points out that almost all food banks in England are now run by the Church, although only a small number of recipients are invited to learn about their faith. However, he notes that many of those who are willing to accept the invitation eventually become Christians. This practical outreach aligns with the biblical call to care for the needy, as seen in Matthew 25:35, where serving the hungry is equated with serving Christ.

Knox also highlights the recent rise in Bible sales, which he interprets as a sign that many people are exploring their faith in an era of false news and post-fact culture. He observes that the younger generation is particularly eager to hear true, profound, and good news. Knox predicts that as more people read the Bible, the Church will be called to seek the truth, and that churches which maintain their core teachings while reconciling faith with culture will flourish. This emphasis on truth and scriptural grounding reflects the principle in Hebrews 13:16 to remember those who are in prison, as they are in some sense with us.

Finally, Knox reminds the Church of the practical challenges involved in training new disciples. He states that the greatest need of the first believer is to build solid spiritual practices and integrate into the new community. Knox warns that many new believers leave the Church because they are not fully supported or accompanied in their early faith journey. This underscores the importance of community and mentorship, echoing the call in Galatians 6:10 to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)