Where are all the kids, youth and families?

​In mid-September, I shared in a Progressive Youth Ministry video meeting with the Pittsburgh Presbytery hosted by Rev. Brian Wallace.  Rev. Wallace brought to light several reasons that mainstream churches are not seeing a return of kids, youth and families to church or services.
Each of these reasons is on point with the families I engage with.  I thought it would be helpful to share these obstacles with our congregation. 
 
Habit or Inertia (a compelling motive): Getting out of the regular routine of attending church for almost 2 years is a hard habit to begin again.
Caution and Covid hesitancy:  Parents seek to protect their unvaccinated children and larger family, while also protecting the communities of people in our congregations.  Distance is safety.
Time and Fatigue:  Returning to all the other in-person gatherings such as school, work, sports, and a wide variety of extra-curricular activities has left children, youth, and parents exhausted and needing to choose their limited gatherings mindfully. 
Digital offerings are quality and in their own time:  Churches that continue to offer high quality digital worship services and take-home resources, help keep families connected and growing in their faith formation at the times and distance they require.
Weak relationships / attachments:  Perhaps the interpersonal relationships with families and members of the larger congregation are not as strong as they could be. 
 
It is important to acknowledge that our children, youth, and families are exhausted, cautious, and spread thin.  However, this does not mean they are not wanting to be connected to a community that provides them the spiritual formation and support that is the balm to their weariness. Engaging and reengaging with our families, needs to be a whole church effort. 
How can we engage this special part of our community?

• Continued high quality digital ministry offerings including worship.
• Tangible resources to help families engage in spiritual formation.
• Opportunities for community engagement outside of Sunday mornings.
• Caretaking and checking in by members of the congregation.

Don’t allow our children, youth, and families to be out of sight, out of mind.  Find ways to reach out and creatively engage with them individually and as a community of faith.