If you’ve been to church recently and noticed a shift in the crowd, you’re not alone. Many churches across the country are struggling to bring back young families, even as they see these same families at birthday parties, school events, and social gatherings. This raises a critical question: Why will young families go to your party but not your church?

This dilemma isn’t just anecdotal—it’s happening everywhere. In our work at FiveTwo and in conversations with pastors nationwide, we’ve heard the same concern: the families who were once active and engaged in church life are now missing from the pews. But why? What changed? And how can churches respond?

Let’s break it down.

1. Church Has Become “Non-Essential”

During the pandemic, churches were categorized as “non-essential” while businesses, schools, and other institutions adapted quickly to stay open. Many young families got used to life without in-person church. They shifted their routines, found new rhythms, and built spiritual habits at home—many of which didn’t involve Sunday morning worship.

Even though life has returned to normal, church hasn’t regained its place as an essential part of family life. Many parents feel they’re already stretched thin with work, school, and extracurricular activities. If something needs to be cut from the schedule, church is often the first to go.

The challenge for churches? Re-establishing their role as a necessary part of young families’ lives.

2. The Effort vs. Reward Problem

For parents with young kids, getting out the door on a Sunday morning can feel like running a marathon. The checklist is long—dressing the kids, packing snacks, checking in at multiple drop-off locations, making sure everyone behaves during the service—it’s exhausting.

Meanwhile, online church offers a low-effort, high-reward alternative. Parents can stay in their pajamas, sip coffee, and listen to a message without the stress of getting everyone ready.

If churches want to attract young families, they need to consider the effort required and make church as easy and welcoming as possible. That means seamless check-ins, kid-friendly environments, and services that engage the entire family.

3. Young Families Prioritize Other Social Events Over Church

The challenge isn’t that young families are spiritually uninterested—it’s that church simply isn’t at the top of their list. Time has become one of the most valuable commodities for young families, and they are investing it where they find immediate community, connection, and shared experiences.

Young families pack their week with birthday parties, sports leagues, social gatherings, extracurricular activities, or even quiet moments of rest at home. These environments offer what many parents are desperately seeking: a place where their kids are safe and engaged, and where they can find relational support with other adults. Unfortunately, church often doesn’t present itself as a compelling alternative.

For many, church doesn’t feel relational enough.

It’s not that young families are resistant to faith—they are hungry for belonging and spiritual meaning. But if church events feel like one more obligation rather than an opportunity for genuine connection and value, they will choose spaces that more naturally meet those relational needs.

Churches that want to re-engage young families need to prioritize relationships. By reimagining how they build community, churches can become the kind of place where young families are eager to invest their limited time—not out of guilt or obligation, but out of genuine desire.

4. Kids Matter More Than Ever

A major factor influencing church attendance? The experience of children.

Research shows that 58% of parents choose a church based on their kids’ needs. If children love going to church, parents are far more likely to prioritize it.

But if Sunday school feels outdated, check-in is a hassle, or the kids’ ministry doesn’t engage them, families will opt out. They have too many other options competing for their time.

Churches must ask:
✅ Are we creating an environment where kids WANT to come?
✅ Is our children’s ministry fun, engaging, and spiritually enriching?
✅ Do we make it easy for parents to trust us with their kids?

When kids are excited about church, parents will follow.

So, What’s the Solution?

Attracting young families isn’t about gimmicks or entertainment—it’s about meeting them where they are and addressing their real needs.

✔️ Make Church Feel Essential Again
Emphasize why in-person worship and Christian community are irreplaceable. Show how church adds value to daily life beyond Sunday mornings.

✔️ Reduce the Effort Barrier
Streamline the experience for families. Make check-in easy, provide quality childcare, and consider service times that fit young families’ schedules.

✔️ Prioritize Relationships
Build authentic connections through small groups, casual events, and social gatherings. Make church feel like a home rather than an obligation.

✔️ Invest in Kids’ Ministry
A thriving kids’ ministry is the key to reaching young families. If the kids are excited about church, the parents will come too.

The good news? This challenge is also an opportunity. Churches that adapt and innovate will not only bring young families back—they’ll create thriving, multi-generational communities where faith is lived out in everyday life.

It’s time to re-engage young families. The future of the Church depends on it.

We help congregations determine who, for the sake of the future, God is calling them to serve. Nearly all of the churches we’re working with have been called to reach young moms with kids. 

Whether it’s yoga classes, camping trips, food ministries, or childcare programs, the churches in our network are re-engaging their community so their  future generations get to know Christ. 

Schedule a call today to learn more about how to activate your church’s entrepreneurial leaders to launch or refocus your ministries, leading you to a thriving future.