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May 27, 2026

Exhausted Moms, Open Dads, and the Bible Gap You Can Help Shrink | Featuring Kate Watson of Axis

New research from State of the Bible 2026 reveals a surprising pattern: young parents are significantly more likely to identify as Christian than their non-parenting peers but Bible engagement remains low. In this episode, Dr. John Plake sits down with Kate Watson, publisher at Axis, to unpack what's really driving faith engagement among millennial and Gen Z parents and what pastors and church leaders can do about it. Learn more about the State of the Bible research and download the latest chapter at stateofthebible.org.Chapters:00:29 - Meet Kate Watson of Axis02:02 - What the 2026 data says about young parents and faith03:18 - Does parenthood reopen faith or do faithful people have kids?08:04 - Encouragement for the exhausted mom10:03 - What pastors need to hear about moms in their congregation11:00 - Understanding the Movable Middle parent12:39 - One practical step pastors can take this week 15:34 - Making scripture part of everyday relationship16:20 - Overcoming the fear of giving your teen a Bible18:20 - Why parents pray with kids but don't read the Bible with them20:07 - Letting kids lead their own Bible engagement22:25 - What to do when you don't have all the answers23:15 - The gap after children's Bibles27:45 - What makes Gen Alpha different and why it matters for the church30:08 - The stakes of getting Gen Alpha right32:18 - Closing and resources


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