Influencing Faith: Canadian Research on Social Media and Faith Formation in Evangelical Youth

This research partnership formed to investigate how social media engagement affects the faith of Canadian youth participating in Canadian evangelical youth ministries and how Canadian evangelical youth ministry workers working with Canadian youth use social media in their ministries. Youth for this study are those aged 12 to 18 and in grades 7 to 12.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

The full report, a 315-page pdf, includes a 6-page executive summary. Related supplementary documents are coming soon, including a “Six Key Findings” document and an academic report on the methodology used by the study.

A journalistic introduction to the report is also available in Faith Today magazine's Nov/Dec 2026 issue. You can also download a copy of the research plan or subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest news and updates.

The Influencing Faith Study is a research partnership between the following EFC affiliate organizations:

• 787 Collective

• Alberta and Northwest Territories District of the PAOC

• Alpha Canada

• Briercrest College and Seminary

• Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec

• Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research

• InterVarsity Canada

• One Hope Canada

• Power to Change – Students

• The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

• Youth for Christ Canada

• Youth Worker Community

​Partnership Chair 

• Sid Koop, Youth Worker Community

EFC Centre for Research on Church and Faith (CRCF) Research Team Members

• Rick Hiemstra, EFC Vice-President of Ministry and Public Engagement (former director of the CRCF)

• Lindsay Callaway, Director of the CRCF (formerly researcher with CRCF)

• Christie Chan, Research Assistant with the CRCF

Other Contractors and Consultants

• Elise Bigley, English-language transcription assistant

• Susan Bramer, English-language transcription assistant

• Caitlin Crozier, English-language transcription assistant

• Chiante Duncan, English-language transcription assistant

• ​Marie-Josée Fortin, French-language transcription assistant, French-language interviewer, and French translator

• François Godbout, French translator

• Stéphane Couture, French-language interviewer

• Jon Mark Forsyth, contract Research Assistant

• Thomas Chapman, EFC Research Assistant

• Dr. Yau Man Siew, Consultant (retired Associate Professor of Christian Education & Discipleship, Tyndale Seminary)

This research is being conducted in compliance with TCPS2 policy standards for ethical conduct for research involving humans and has been approved by Briercrest College and Seminary's Research Ethics Board. 

Research Process

1. Partnership Formation (Completed June 2024)

2. Literature Review (Completed April 2025)

3. Ministry Expert and Youth Ministry Worker Interviews (Completed April 2025)

4. Youth Interviews (Completed December 2025)

5. National Youth and Youth Ministry Workers (Completed May 2026)

6. National Youth Survey (Completed May 2026)

7. Dissemination of Findings (November 2026)

For more information about the IFS please contact:

Rick Hiemstra

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

275 Slater Street, Suite 810

Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9

613-233-9868 x332

research@theefc.ca