Houston (Houston Belief) - A recent study reveals 1 in 4 U.S. Christians to be Pentecostals. According to the Barna Group, 29% of Christian adults aged 26-44 claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit and possess one of the charismatic gifts such as tongues, prophecy or healing. The number of Pentecostal/Charismatics is three times the number of Evangelicals in the United States and is roughly equal to the number of those attending Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopal or non-denominational churches.

Pentecostals are spread across all denominational, geographic and political lines. Denominationally, 20% of Catholic adults and 26% of Protestants identify as part of the Pentecostal movement. Roughly the same percentages of Pentecostals can be found in the nation's four geographic regions. 24% of Republicans, 23% of Democrats, and 21% of Independents are Pentecostals.

David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group, says "For millions of the youngest Christians, the charismatic, Pentecostal and Spirit-filled labels are not as divisive as they were to their parents' generation."

The modern Pentecostal movement began in the early 20th Century with a wide variety of young adults leading the way. For the future of Pentecostals, the knowledge that a similar group of young adults hold to the belief that their lives can be filled and led by the Spirit is very encouraging.

Changing the world is not a function of might or intellect. Only God's Spirit can change the world.