It shouldn't come as a surprise, but the age demographics are shifting in Canada, which, in turn, is creating some waves around the nation in health care, labour and education. Stats Can reports that: Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996 and between 25 and 40 years old in 2021, are the fastest-growing generation and account for the largest share of the working population (33.2%).
Take a look around your church. What do you see? If your church reflects this nation, you should see a lot of families with young children. If you don't, you have an excellent opportunity to reach them. In most Canadian churches, however, this is not reflected, with the majority of evangelical church attendees over 55. Why? Because they're the largest demographic in your community.
"Families with young children are the largest demographic in your community and the easiest to reach."
Families with young children are the largest demographic in your community and the easiest to reach. How can I say that with such confidence? Because parents need help. They want well-done, moralistic, fun and community-building programs for their kids. Most parents want their kids to learn good values (sharing, caring, loving etc.), and they want them to make friends. Your church is in the prime place to provide this for the young families in your community.
Here are some ways you can reach young families.
Think outside the Sunday School Box. For some reason, we've got this idea that children's ministry is at school on Sundays. We gather them in a room, sit them on chairs, and teach them things they don't care to know at this stage in their life. Why not create a day camp-like experience with songs, stories, crafts, and interactive lessons that allow children to learn and grow through participation? Want to create an exciting children's program? Watch this webinar.
Mid-Week Skills Lab. A mid-week program for kids that teaches them skills like sewing, baking, sports, computers, photography etc. is a great way to engage families looking for a "scouts-like" experience. Make it an 8-10 week registered program with limited people (depending on your volunteers) and a fee to cover supplies. You can subsidize families that can't afford it. Even if you did this once a year in the winter, you'd reach more families than before.
Family Fun Nights. Churches that may not be able to do a regular weekly program can always do a few family fun nights a year. The best part about this is that parents must come with their kids. Use themes like "Space Adventure," "Pirate Treasure," or "Dino World" to create fun nights that kids and their parents can enjoy. You can do a Movie Theme Party (Minions or Incredibles or ???) where you dress up, play themed games and then watch the movie. You can do a carnival-like experience where kids dress up, go from game to game with their parents to get tokens and then get a big prize at the end. Here are some more ideas for this.
Adopt A School. The local elementary school is the hub for all things young families. If you have not yet adopted the closest school to your church, do that now. Connect with the principal and get involved in the school; get seniors to read to children, get volunteers to help at school activities, and do a teachers appreciation coffee and muffin break. Keep working on that relationship ongoing. The school, the teachers, the parents and the kids will thank you as long as you're adding value to what they're doing.
Enhance Your Facility for Kids. Your church should scream, "we love kids." Most of the time, our kids' spaces are away from adult spaces. What can you do in the main spaces (lobby, auditorium) to let families know they are more than welcome here? Do you have a nursing mother's room with a television feed? Do you have obvious kids’ check-in? Can people locate where the kid's space is? The church should feel like "this place loves kids." Update your furniture. Make your kid's space the nicest space.
Sunday Morning Registered Programming. This may be a new concept, but it can work if you lack volunteers for Sunday but still want to reach families. Do a similar "skills lab" program (complete with registration, capacities, and fees) ON a Sunday. The program would start at the same time as your service, and you would run it like you would on a Wednesday. Parents can drop their kids off (or stay for the service), and you will run the program for a set time, and then they'll come back. If parents come whose children are not registered, they can participate but are encouraged to sign up for the remainder of the program. If your program is full, then children would have to remain with their parents in church.
Your community is full of families with young children. How is your church reaching them? If you'd like a free coaching call, email our Children's specialist at kathy@abnwt.com.
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.