3 Ways Your Kids Ministry Could Hinder Your Young Adult Ministry

A new young family is walking through the front doors of your church. Excited at a chance to connect a fresh face to your church family, you walk up and say hello. It’s just a few moments before worship starts, so you rush them down to the kids welcome desk, get the children’s name tags, and hand the parents their security tag for pick up. The kids, ages one and three, are eager to meet new friends, and after a quick tour of the hall, you take the parents back to worship, just in before the first song finishes.

It’s just a few moments before worship starts, so you rush them down to the kids welcome desk, get the children’s name tags, and hand the parents their security tag for pick-up.

The kids, ages one and three, are eager to meet new friends, and after a quick tour of the hall, you take the parents back to worship, just in before the first song finishes.

The service ends late again, and a herd of parents rushes through the hallway, ready to get to lunch. After waiting in line, both kids are secured, and you see them heading toward the exit.

Politely, you get in the way and ask if they had a good morning. They said they had a great morning, shook hands, and walked to their car. As a pastor, you tell several others about the young family you met—likely mid-20s—and you’re confident you’ll see them again.

In the minivan, a post-church evaluation starts on the way to a drive-through before nap time hits. They talk about how it was a lovely church, and the kids seemed happy, but they (as adults) are unsure where they “fit in” to the church community, raising a family in their mid-30s.

Most churches do an excellent job of ministering, supporting, engaging, and keeping kids safe. The question is: Are we reaching the family or only the kids through our efforts?

Consider these three ways your kids ministry could be holding your young adult ministry back.