David Henry Sees a Rise in Young Churchgoers

Disney actor David Henry is heartened by the growing trend of young people attending church, suggesting it indicates a significant cultural shift as they seek a connection with God.

Every time Henry goes to Mass, he notices an increasing number of young faces. “I see it everywhere,” he remarked in an interview.

Known for his role as Justin Russo on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, Henry believes many young individuals are rediscovering their faith after becoming disillusioned by worldly distractions. He himself experienced a spiritual awakening some time ago.

Reflecting on his past, he shared, “I wasn’t living a Christian life, and I found the world to be completely empty, prompting me to seek something beyond it.” He thinks this is why many youths are now gravitating towards faith; there’s a noticeable fatigue with contemporary life.

Catholic leaders in the U.S. have reported an uptick in adult conversions. A recent Gallup Poll indicated that 42% of young people now consider religion “very important,” which is a notable increase of 14 points from the prior year.

Henry feels that young people are drawn to a faith that is rich in tradition and historical depth. “You know, I’m a Catholic. I always say they want a ‘Lord of the Rings’ Catholic,” he explained, noting their interest in the traditional aspects of liturgy, such as the rituals and the ceremonial senses that are often found in Latin Masses.

In addition to his acting career, Henry has been involved in projects that reflect his faith, including a recent faith-based travel series titled “Seeking Beauty” on EWTN+. He has also returned to Disney with a continuation of his earlier show. Alongside this, he and his wife, Maria, are co-authoring a faith-oriented children’s book set to release this fall.

The book, titled “Is God Bigger than the Dragon?” aims to address children’s inquiries about God through engaging spiritual lessons. Henry mentioned that his four-year-old son inspired this project.

“Kids are really curious; they ask great questions,” he said, recalling how his son would ask if God was bigger than various things, leading Henry to feel that these questions deserved to be in a book.

The book features a question-and-answer format targeting children aged 2 to 8, blending rhyming responses with Bible quotations. It encourages parents to explore further Bible passages with their kids.

Expecting his fourth child this month, Henry emphasizes the importance of nurturing faith in children from a young age and helping them address profound questions about God. He hopes that after reading the book, children will come away with a better understanding of God’s immense love and power in their lives.

“Is God Greater than the Dragon?” is published by Ascension Press and is available for pre-order, slated for release on November 10th.