Yet, we recognize that while the mission is unchanging, the culture around us is shifting rapidly. The tools and methods that worked in the past often fail to translate to the landscape we navigate today. This creates a significant tension: how do you steward a never-changing mission in the midst of ever-changing methods?

The answer lies in a holistic, integrated, and highly responsive approach. We must anchor ourselves in what is timeless to better adapt to what is timely.

A New Name, A New Approach

For years, we gathered under the banner of Orange. In 2026, we are leaning into a new name;  Church Conference, to reflect our primary focus: the Local Church. This change is a responsive shift to the current season, moving us out of massive arenas and back into local church buildings.

We believe that by returning to where everything started, we can reclaim a sense of intimacy and authenticity. These settings allow us to pray, learn, and grow together in a way that large venues cannot currently offer. While there may be a future where we return to larger gathering spaces if the season calls for it, right now we are dedicated to creating practical, integrated tools specifically for today’s local church.

Our vision is to provide a catalytic gathering where you can learn and recharge, and rediscover the “why” behind your leadership in a supportive environment. We want you to be able to reconnect with and rediscover your calling as you find clarity in a world where burnout is common.  And lastly, we want to help and equip you to lead with an integrated strategy by showing you how you can access a holistic approach to ministry that combines discipleship content and organizational tools.

Moving forward requires us to be brave enough to paint a new picture for the future while leaning on the proven, timeless, and unchanging faithfulness of God. We are for the Local Church, and we carry a unique potential to reach the next generation.

ONLY THE CHURCH:

Built the first hospitals where none existed.

Is sent to disciple nations.

Kept libraries and learning alive through the dark ages.

Built the first hospitals where none existed.

Built by Jesus, cannot be overcome.

Backed early artists and composers who shaped culture.

Under the authority of Christ, holds the keys to the Kingdom.

Empowered by God’s Spirit, witnesses to the world.

Taught the world to read by translating Scripture.

Created the first orphan care and adoption networks.

Join us as we gather in a way that honors the local church and the leaders who pour into it every single week. 

April 28 – April 30, 2026 | Dallas, Texas

achurchconference.com

The post Only The Church appeared first on Think Orange.

You set out on your journey with total confidence in your tool. However, as the trail disappears and the terrain gets steeper, you realize something is wrong. While the map is technically perfect, it is actually a detailed street map of a city. It is a great tool, but it was designed for a completely different environment. In the wilderness, even the best city map becomes useless because it doesn’t speak the language of the landscape you are currently standing in.

In ministry, we often feel that same tension. We are surrounded by great ideas and “proven” formulas, but sometimes we realize we’re holding a tool that is too small (or just plain wrong) for the giant dreams God has placed in our hearts.

The Moses Trap

To understand where we are going, let’s look at the story of Moses. In Exodus 17, God tells Moses to strike a rock with his staff to bring forth water. Moses does it, water flows, and it is a miracle.

But years later, in Numbers 20, when the people are thirsty again, God gives Moses a new instruction: Speak to the rock. Instead, Moses does what is familiar because it worked in the past. He strikes the rock…not once, but twice.

The water still flowed, but because Moses relied on a previous method instead of a current instruction, he missed out on the Promised Land. The lesson we can learn from this is that using the wrong tool, or even the right tool at the wrong time, can be detrimental.

At Amazing Life, we believe we are in a “Numbers 20 moment.” We cannot simply keep “striking the rock” because it’s what we’ve always done. We believe the World’s Greatest Mission deserves the World’s Greatest Tools.

Re-humanization: A New Era in Kids Ministry

Over the last century, children’s ministry has evolved through some incredible eras, from the Sunday School models of the 1920s to the high-production digital media models of the 2010s. Every era brought great tools that served their season well.

However, as we look at the world today, it is clear that something is not working: we’ve never been more “connected” via technology, yet we’re finding that children have never been more lonely, parents have never been this frustrated and stressed, and leaders are feeling disconnected from those they lead.

This is why Amazing Life is moving into what we call The Re-humanization Era.

What is Re-humanization?

It isn’t a move backward, and we aren’t saying technology is bad. It is the realization that in a shifting world, we must focus on the things that remain the same: consistent relationships and person-to-person discipleship.

Re-humanization means:

1. Moving from ‘screens as the teacher’ to screens as a tool for the shepherd.
2. Building systems that don’t just count the 99 who show up, but empower a leader to go find the one who didn’t.

At Amazing Life, our mission isn’t to build the world’s greatest ministry model. It is to build Christlikeness in the hearts of the next generation. To do that, we must be willing to lay down the tools of yesterday to pick up the ones God is providing us with for tomorrow.

Despite technology ‘shrinking the world’, people are feeling more disconnected than ever. There’s never been a greater need for God; for pastors to pastor, and for leaders to bring His people together. 

That is the Rock that never changes. And helping the local church anchor their communities to it is the mission we’ve dedicated ourselves to. 

If you’re wondering what this next era of Kids Ministry actually looks like in practice, don’t miss Church Conference. We’ll be unveiling three of the biggest announcements in Kids Ministry history — giving you a clear picture of where re-humanized ministry is headed and the tools that will help you lead it. Learn more and join us at: AChurchConference.com

The post Striking the Rock: Why the Next Era of Kids Ministry is More Human Than You Think appeared first on Think Orange.

If you come across a grammatical error or something that feels “off” in our curriculum and bring it to our attention, please know this right away: we hear you, and it matters to us.

That’s why we want to bring you into our process and share the heart behind how and why we write and edit our content…and how we think about mistakes when they happen.

We Write for People, Not Pages

First and foremost, our curriculum is written to be said out loud.

Every script we create is designed to sound natural when spoken by real leaders, talking to real kids, in real rooms. That means we intentionally prioritize a conversational writing style, even when that choice doesn’t always align with the most formal rules of grammar.

For example:

• Ending a sentence with a preposition
• Choosing “and” instead of a serial comma
• Writing the way someone actually speaks, not how an essay reads
• Using sentence fragments for emphasis
• Starting sentences with “And,” “But,” or “So”
• Repeating a word or phrase on purpose
• Using informal phrasing instead of formal alternatives

These aren’t oversights. They’re intentional so that leaders can read a script and think, “Yes, this sounds like me.”

Because a script that’s grammatically pristine but awkward to say doesn’t serve kids well.

Kids Hear Differently Than Adults

We also write differently depending on who the content is for.

• Preschool content avoids contractions because that’s not how adults naturally speak to preschoolers.
• Elementary and student content leans more conversational to mirror how leaders engage older kids.
• Parent-facing content is held to a higher editorial standard because it lives longer and represents the church beyond a single service.

In every case, our guiding question is the same: Will this be clear, helpful, and usable for the person saying it, and will it share Jesus in a way that reaches the heart of every kid?

Humans Are at the Center of Our Process

All of our curriculum is written, edited, and reviewed by real people.

We do not rely on AI to create our curriculum. Every piece of written content begins and ends with human writers and editors who care deeply about kids knowing Jesus. While we use technology tools to assist with proofreading and editing, those tools have limitations… and they don’t replace human judgment.

Sometimes suggestions from tools like Grammarly are intentionally ignored because:

• They remove conversational tone
• They make sentences technically “correct,” but harder to say
• They don’t reflect how leaders actually communicate

That human lens matters to us. And unfortunately, sometimes human processes also mean human error.

When Errors Happen (Because Sometimes They Will)

Every error bothers us. Truly. But not every error carries the same weight.

When something is flagged, we process it through a few key filters:

• Is it parent-facing?
• Does it significantly change the meaning or takeaway?
• Is it a Scripture error?

Scripture errors are always a top priority to fix.

Other issues—like punctuation inconsistencies or possessive formatting (Jairus’ daughter vs. Jairus’s daughter)—don’t alter the heart or outcome of a lesson. In those cases, we may log it as a learning for future edits rather than retroactively changing every instance.

That doesn’t mean the feedback isn’t valued. It is. It simply means we’re balancing clarity, speed, scale, and stewardship.

Our North Star: Clarity Over Perfection

If there’s one thing we hope you take away, it’s this:

We will always choose clarity over grammatical perfection.

We will always choose people over polish.

Our goal at Amazing Life isn’t to create flawless documents. It’s to create content that helps leaders communicate Biblical truth clearly, confidently, and with heart. It’s to tell the Good News of Jesus to kids in a way that makes the most sense to them. 

Thank you for caring enough to notice. Thank you for partnering with us.

And thank you for the grace you extend as we continue to build, refine, and serve churches with excellence.

If you ever have questions or feedback, our Customer Success team is always here, and your input truly helps shape what’s next.

The post Clarity, Conversation, and Choosing People Over Perfection appeared first on Think Orange.

We get the challenges ministries face every week: limited time with kids, volunteers stretched too thin, parents unsure how to lead faith at home, and the overwhelming weight of ministry responsibilities.

We asked ourselves: What if there was a way to bring it all together? What if churches could access everything they need—content, strategy, and technology—in one place?

That’s why we created Amazing+.

So Much More Than Curriculum

Amazing+ is our new signature subscription—your one-stop hub for equipping every age and stage of ministry, from babies to high school. It’s more than just content; it’s a strategy that empowers churches and families to work together to build a lasting faith.

With Amazing+, you get:

• A Birth-to-18 Curriculum Strategy: Unified, Gospel-centered discipleship across every phase of a kid’s life.
  
• World-Class Media: Bible-based lessons, worship, and teaching resources that engage every generation.
  
• Powerful Ministry Tools: Technology that helps you present, organize, and share media playlists, housed in one unified system called APlay, that makes leading, planning, and equipping families simpler than ever.
  
• Customizable Experiences: Volunteer resources, family engagement strategies, Spanish translation, and music designed to fit your ministry’s unique needs.
  
• An App just for Parents: Parents report feeling ill-equipped to lead their kids spiritually. That’s why we created the Parent+ App—a tool that equips parents with this Sunday’s lesson, conversation starters, memory verse, and so much more, right in their pocket.

Why Amazing+? Why Now?

In today’s world, ministry leaders don’t just need curriculum. They need a holistic strategy, grounded in theology and tailored by technology, that makes it possible to thrive in the complexity of modern ministry.

We believe the Church and the home were designed to partner together. A parent has 3,000+ hours each year with their kids, while most churches only get about 40. Amazing+ helps you bridge that gap with resources that equip parents to lead faith conversations all week long—while giving you the tools to maximize every moment at church.

The Future of Discipleship Starts Here

Amazing+ is more than a subscription. It’s the next chapter of how we equip the Church to redefine what’s possible for the next generation.

Together, we can:

• Help kids and students build authentic, lasting faith.
  
• Empower parents to lead with confidence at home.
  
• Equip volunteers with resources that make serving joyful.
  
• Multiply your impact with tools designed to simplify ministry.

This is the future we’ve been building toward for decades, and it starts now.

Are You Ready?

Amazing+ is here. It’s everything you love about Orange strategy, now in one place, built to serve your church today and shape generations to come.

Get the Whole Strategy Today.

The post Introducing Amazing+: A Complete Strategy for Next Gen Ministry appeared first on Think Orange.

Most parents want to disciple their kids but feel unsure where to start. What do I say? How do I bring up faith in everyday life? Without help, those 3,000 hours slip away.

A Bridge Between Sunday and Every Day

What if parents could open their phone and see exactly what their kids learned on Sunday, plus a simple way to carry it into mealtime, car rides, or bedtime? What if faith at home felt less like pressure and more like natural, repeatable moments?

That’s the vision behind our brand-new, for-your-church app: Parent+.

Introducing Parent+

Parent+ is a customizable, church-branded app that puts your discipleship strategy right into the hands of families. Powered by the technology of Amazing Life and the Orange strategy of biblically grounded, age-specific content, it brings Sunday’s lessons into the rhythms of everyday life with videos, conversation starters, devotionals, and activities.

And because it’s your church’s name, colors, and logo on the app—not a brand parents don’t recognize—every notification feels like a trusted nudge from their own pastor and leaders.

What’s Included

Inside Parent+, families find:

• Weekly video lessons that match what kids and students learned on Sunday.
  
• Quick conversation starters to spark meaningful talk in just a minute or two.
  
• Devotionals and reflection questions for older kids and students.
  
• Family activities that turn faith into shared experiences.
  

For Amazing+ churches, Parent+ is included at no additional cost. Parents download it for free on iOS or Android, and setup takes minutes.

Ready to Move from 40 Hours to 3,000?

Small, repeatable moments over time add up to powerful spiritual formation. And Parent+ helps you make them happen.

At breakfast, a 90-second question sparks family conversation.
In the car, a quick prompt connects faith to real life.
At bedtime, a short devotional closes the day with peace and purpose.

Parent+ helps you bridge the gap between Sunday and everyday, equipping parents to disciple their kids with confidence. It’s simple, practical, and included with an Amazing+ subscription.

Parent+: Your church’s discipleship, every day of the week.

The post Parent+: Put Your Ministry in Parents’ Hands Every Day of the Week appeared first on Think Orange.

Will my child be welcomed? 

Will anyone know how to connect with them? 

Will this be a place where they truly belong? 

Too often, the answer feels uncertain. Not because the church doesn’t care, but because volunteers don’t feel equipped. When that happens, families feel unseen, leaders feel discouraged, and kids miss out on moments to encounter God’s love. 

We believe that every child is made in God’s image, so missing even one is missing too much.

An Invitation to Belong

What if church felt like a place where every child and family truly belonged?

Accessibility is about widening the door. Different kids connect in different ways: through words, music, art, movement, or even stillness. When we make space for those differences, we don’t just accommodate, we invite.

Because the truth is: a church that reflects the full beauty of God’s family is a church where every child, with every ability, has a place.

Introducing EveryChild

That’s why we created EveryChild—a sensory-friendly version of our Kids curriculum, designed specifically for children with different and special needs.

EveryChild was built with accessibility and sensory awareness from the ground up. It gives leaders the tools to help every child engage with God’s Word in ways that feel safe, welcoming, and life-giving.

This isn’t a side program or an afterthought. It’s a discipleship pathway because every child deserves the chance to know Jesus.

What’s Included

• Care Plan + Allergy Alerts for safe, personalized care
• Visual Schedule + Feelings Chart to build comfort and confidence
• Playdough Mats + Celebration Stickers for sensory-friendly fun
• Bible Story Image Cards + Pip & Bob video stories to bring Scripture to life
• ASL Memory Verses to promote inclusion and deeper learning
• Rest + Reset Visuals to create calm, supportive spaces
• Leader Guides with quick-reference tips for building confidence when working with neurodivergent children.

EveryChild equips your ministry with simple, practical resources that make a big difference:

A Fuller Reflection of God’s Kingdom

When churches embrace the needs of every child, everything changes: 

Families feel seen, supported, and safe.
Volunteers lead with confidence instead of hesitation.
Kids of all abilities encounter Jesus in ways that resonate with their hearts.

Learn how to bring EveryChild to your church and ministry today.

The post EveryChild: A Sensory-Friendly Church Curriculum from Amazing+ appeared first on Think Orange.

We know you want your teams to walk into Sunday confident, equipped, and ready.

Prepared Teams, Powerful Moments

What if every leader could preview the service before the weekend? What if they could rehearse transitions, learn the memory verse, and get familiar with worship motions ahead of time—so Sunday wasn’t the first time they saw it all come together?

Prepared teams create smoother services. Smoother services create fewer distractions. And fewer distractions make space for kids and teens to focus on what really matters: hearing and responding to the message of Jesus.

Meet: APlay View

APlay View is a simple way to equip your leaders by giving them access to upcoming service playlists. Once your playlist is built and published inside APlay, you can instantly push it to APlay View—a secure website where your volunteers can log in and see exactly what’s planned.

Every video. Every graphic. Every worship song, slide, and memory verse in the exact order you’ve created.

Your team can review it days in advance (or, let’s be honest, while pulling into the parking lot on Sunday morning). Either way, they’re ready.

How APlay View Works:

1. Build your playlist inside APlay.
   
2. Publish and push your playlist to APlay View.
   
3. Share the link with your volunteers and leaders.
   
4. Teams log in and preview the entire service flow. Anytime, anywhere.
   

Who It’s For:

• Children’s ministry leaders who want confident small group leaders and smooth large group experiences.
  
• Youth pastors who want their band, tech, and teaching teams aligned before students arrive.
  
• Volunteers who want to feel equipped instead of scrambling.
  
• Churches of any size that believe preparation makes space for God to move.
• Parents who want to review this week’s lessons and keep the conversation going with their kids at home.
  

More Confidence, Less Chaos

When leaders know what’s coming, they lead with confidence. Kids feel the difference. Volunteers aren’t scrambling; they’re present. Transitions aren’t awkward; they’re seamless. And the message isn’t competing with distractions; it’s amplified through clarity and focus.

That’s the power of APlay View.

It’s not just about sharing media—it’s about preparing your teams to lead kids and teens into life-changing encounters with Jesus.

Ready to prepare your volunteers with APlay View? Sign up for APlay today.

The post APlay View: The Ministry Preview Tool to Review, Rehearse, and Get Ready appeared first on Think Orange.

Are you trying to get approval for the budget or time away to attend The Orange Conference?

Let’s be honest—attending a conference is a significant investment. Tickets, travel, and lodging can add up quickly. And with Sunday always around the corner, every day out of the office feels like a challenge.

So, why should you invest in a conference?

In one word: Momentum.

For kids’ ministry and youth ministry leaders, The Orange Conference is the annual spark that drives momentum. Yes, you’ll leave with practical strategies, fresh ideas, and new connections. But the true impact comes from the encouragement, inspiration, and renewed sense of purpose that propels attendees forward for the year ahead.

With so many great conferences to choose from, here’s what makes The Orange Conference truly unique:

Why Choose The Orange Conference?

👥 A Conference for Your Entire Team
Bring your whole team—kids’ ministry, youth ministry, next-generation staff, and even senior leadership. It’s a shared experience with specialized learning for each role. The conference offers the perfect balance of tailored training and big-picture ideas for ministry alignment.

⚓ Future-Focused, Grounded in Today’s Challenges
Orange is known for its innovative strategies to help leaders build resilient faith in the next generation. At The Orange Conference, you’ll discover new methods to tackle timeless challenges with relevance and creativity.

💡 Curated Workshops to Answer Your Questions
With over 50 workshops, you can build a personalized agenda that addresses the exact challenges your ministry faces. Leave equipped with answers to the questions that matter most.

🥳 Fun is Serious Business Here
From sessions designed just for fun to moments of joy woven throughout the programming, you’ll rediscover the excitement and community that make ministry so fulfilling.

⚡ It’s More Than Just Content—It’s an Experience
This isn’t your average conference. The Orange Conference blends talks, meetups, community, resources, and even free coffee into an electric environment that recharges your team and ministry.

Why We Do This

We create this conference because we see ministry leaders struggling—burned out, feeling isolated, and questioning what’s next. At The Orange Conference, we hope to remind you: you’re not alone in what you do.

We want every leader to leave energized, equipped with practical next steps, and confident in their mission to lead the next generation toward faith.

Need Help Getting Approval?

We’ve made it easy to explain the value of The Orange Conference to your leadership team. Below, you’ll find a template you can adapt to outline why this conference is worth the investment.

Additional Resources for Ministry Leaders

• The Orange Conference Website
• 10 Hacks for a Friendly Orange Conference
• What is the Orange Strategy?
• How My Kids’ Ministry Leader Convinced Me to Say “Yes” to a Conference

Letter Template for Leadership

Subject: Request to Attend The Orange Conference

Hi [Leader’s Name],

I’d love to discuss the opportunity to attend The Orange Conference this April—a highly practical and engaging event designed to support and grow our family ministry.

Here’s why I believe this conference is worth the investment:

• It’s built for entire teams, offering specialized tracks for kids’ ministry, youth ministry, and even senior leaders.
• It provides 50+ workshops tailored to real challenges, from recruiting volunteers to addressing mental health in kids and teens.
• It’s a source of encouragement and inspiration, ensuring we return with actionable solutions and a renewed sense of purpose.

If we register by [insert date], here’s a cost estimate for our team:

• Tickets: [Ticket Price] x [# of Attendees]
• Travel: [Estimate]
• Lodging: [Estimate]

Total: [Insert Total]

For groups of 8 or more, we’d qualify for special pricing—and it would be incredible if you joined us! The conference even offers a parallel Senior Leadership Experience to align vision across ministry roles.

When I return, I’ll be ready to share key takeaways and actionable insights we can implement immediately. I believe this experience will help us better serve families in our church and grow our ministry impact.

Could we set up a time to discuss this further?

Thank you,
[Your Name]

We hope to see you in April!

The post How To Get Leadership Approval To Attend Orange Conference appeared first on Think Orange.

Inspiration to Reignite Your Passion

Ministry can be demanding, often leaving leaders feeling drained or stuck in routines. The Orange Conference is designed to rejuvenate your spirit and reignite your passion for your work. Through dynamic main stage presentations and breakout sessions, you’ll hear from some of the most influential voices in ministry and culture. These thought leaders share stories, strategies, and insights that challenge you to think differently and dream bigger.

For many, ministry is more than a job; it’s a calling. Yet, even the most devoted leaders need moments of inspiration to reconnect with their purpose. The Orange Conference provides these moments in abundance, offering fresh perspectives that can breathe new life into your vision and mission.

Practical Tools for Real-World Impact

While inspiration is essential, practical application is equally important. The Orange Conference ensures that attendees leave with actionable strategies tailored to real-world challenges. This year, Orange Conference features over 50 sessions and workshops covering a wide array of topics, including:

• Team Building: Learn how to foster collaboration and unity within your ministry team.
• Orange Strategy Essentials: Dive into the core principles that connect church and home to influence the next generation.
• Leadership Development: Gain insights into cultivating leadership skills that empower your team and community.

A Community of Like-Minded Leaders

Ministry can often feel isolating, especially when navigating complex issues or attempting to innovate. The Orange Conference brings together thousands of leaders from around the globe, creating an environment ripe for connection and collaboration. Networking opportunities abound, from casual conversations in the hallways to structured meetups and workshops.

One of the standout aspects of this year’s conference is the Senior Leaders Experience, a dedicated track for senior pastors and church leaders. This unique gathering focuses on investing in the faith of the next generation while addressing the distinct challenges senior leaders face. By engaging with peers who share your role and responsibilities, you’ll gain valuable insights and form relationships that can provide long-term support and encouragement.

Discovering Joy in Ministry

Let’s face it: ministry is serious work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. The Orange Conference recognizes the power of joy in creating impactful experiences, both for leaders and their communities. From moments of worship to comedy and entertainment, the event strikes a balance between profound inspiration and lighthearted enjoyment.

This intentional infusion of fun isn’t just about having a good time; it’s a reminder that laughter and connection are vital components of a healthy ministry. By embracing these moments, you’ll return to your team and congregation with a renewed sense of energy and purpose.

Innovative Scheduling for Maximum Engagement

The 2025 Orange Conference introduces a remixed schedule designed to enhance the experience for attendees. By balancing main sessions, workshops, meetups, and team time, the event ensures that every moment is impactful. This structure allows leaders to dive deep into critical topics while still having the space to reflect, connect, and strategize.

The Exhibit Hall is another highlight of the conference’s innovative approach. This space showcases a variety of organizations and partners offering tools and resources to help you enhance your ministry. The Exhibit Hall serves as a one-stop shop for discovering new ways to elevate your impact.

Investing in the Next Generation

At its core, The Orange Conference is about changing the faith and futures of the next generation. By emphasizing the partnership between church and home, the conference equips leaders with the strategies needed to create a cohesive approach to spiritual development.

This year’s theme places a special focus on empowering families and communities to take active roles in shaping the faith journeys of kids and teenagers. Through innovative workshops and discussions, you’ll learn how to:

• Equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes.
• Foster meaningful relationships between kids, teenagers, and adult mentors.
• Develop programs that resonate with the unique needs of the next generation.

These insights are more than theoretical; they’re practical steps you can implement to create lasting change.

What’s New in 2025

The Orange Conference 2025 is packed with exciting additions that make this year’s event especially impactful:

• Remixed Schedule: A thoughtfully redesigned agenda ensures a seamless balance between learning, connecting, and strategizing.
• PreConference Intensives: Four-hour sessions offer deep dives into specific topics, providing an intensive learning experience.
• Senior Leaders Experience: A dedicated track tailored for senior pastors and church leaders.
• Exhibit Hall: A dynamic space featuring partners and organizations offering resources for effective ministry.
• A Timely Theme: We’ll explore one simple thing every church can do to change everything for the next generation. 

These enhancements are designed to meet the evolving needs of ministry leaders, ensuring that every attendee finds value in their experience.

Why You Can’t Afford to Miss It

The Orange Conference isn’t just another event; it’s a catalyst for transformation. By attending, you’ll gain:

1. Renewed Vision: Rediscover why you do what you do and how to do it more effectively.
2. Practical Strategies: Learn actionable steps to address challenges and seize opportunities in your ministry.
3. A Supportive Network: Connect with like-minded leaders who share your passion and challenges.
4. Spiritual Rejuvenation: Return to your community recharged and ready to lead with purpose and joy.

The demands of ministry are great, but so are the rewards. The Orange Conference 2025 offers the inspiration, tools, and connections needed to ensure that your efforts not only meet the moment but shape the future.

Register Today

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself, your team, and your ministry. Registration for The Orange Conference 2025 is now open. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to ministry, this event promises to provide the insights and encouragement you need to make a lasting impact this year. Visit The Orange Conference website to learn more and secure your spot.

This year, let The Orange Conference be the catalyst that transforms your ministry. Together, we can create a brighter future for the next generation.

The post How The Orange Conference Can Shape Your Ministry This Year appeared first on Think Orange.

Yet, with declining trust in institutions, changing attendance patterns, and shifting economic headwinds, it’s clear that church leaders must adapt to these challenges to meet the needs of today’s families. 

The goal? To make church the place parents and children want to be—a space where they’re ministered to, equipped with biblical principles, and rooted in a welcoming community.

Here are five challenging trends shaping church families in 2025 and how we, as leaders, can respond with strategies to strengthen their ministries.

1. Declining Trust in Churches

In a society where trust in institutions has hit historic lows, churches are not immune. Trust in churches fell from 37% in 2021 to just 32% in 2023. For parents, this increased skepticism can translate into concerns about safety, transparency, and authenticity within church communities. If these concerns are not addressed, they may be tempted to switch churches or stop attending church altogether. 

How Can We Respond?

To build trust, churches need to prioritize transparency and demonstrate genuine, consistent care for their families and communities. This starts with creating a welcoming environment where parents feel secure leaving their children. For example:

• Safety First: Implement policies for background checks, clear emergency protocols, and child protection training for volunteers.
• Financial Communication: Offer regular updates on church finances, ministry goals, and how their generous contributions make a real impact on the community.
• Authentic Connections: Host family-focused events where parents can meet church leaders and build relationships with other families.

Trust takes time, but by intentionally fostering a culture of integrity and care, churches can become special places of love and belonging.

2. Changing Attendance Habits

With their packed schedules, sports practices, and digital distractions, families are attending church less frequently. In fact, 43% of Christians report that they attend church less than once a month. This creates a big challenge for keeping people engaged, connected, and discipled.

How Can We Respond?

Rather than worrying about lower attendance numbers or pushing people to show up, churches can embrace hybrid ministry models that meet modern family needs while also encouraging them to attend more often in person. Here are some strategies you can use to get started:

• Midweek Engagement: Offer virtual Bible studies, family devotionals, or prayer requests to connect with parents and kids during the week. 
• Digital Resources: Create a church app with access to children’s lessons, family activities, and discipleship content.
• Flexible Programs: Host weekend services or small groups at varied times to give families options that fit their schedules.

By meeting families where they are—both in person and online—churches can deepen engagement and make faith a consistent part of their lives.

3. Declining Christian Self-Identity

The percentage of Americans who identify as Christians has dropped sharply over the decades—from 90% in the 1990s to just 63% in 2023. At the same time, more people (especially youth) consider themselves to be non-religious. This decline reflects a broader cultural shift away from traditional faith practices, and this trend clearly has an impact on how people interact with our churches.

How Can We Respond?

As leaders in the church, we must focus our efforts on reaching unchurched families and reinforcing biblical values within their communities. This challenge can feel intimidating, but fortunately there are many tried-and-true outreach strategies your church can use, such as: 

• Public Outreach Events: Host community gatherings that attract people from your neighborhood like block parties, family movie nights, or sports clinics. These are great ways to introduce families to the church in a less formal way.
• Parent Empowerment: All parents struggle with knowing how to effectively guide and deal with their children. Provide practical workshops and resources that help parents handle conflict, manage their time, and even teach faith at home. These not only help parents do better, they also build biblical principles into their children’s daily lives.
• Personalized Ministry: Through these outreach efforts, take time to get to know families personally. Ask insightful questions and listen to their stories. This will allow your team to offer tailored support that addresses their unique spiritual needs.

The Church’s mission to make disciples is more vital than ever. By being intentional with our outreach and discipleship efforts, we can reintroduce families to the life-transforming power of Christ.

4. Cultural Tensions Impacting Families

According to Pew Research, 80% of U.S. Adults feel that religion is losing its impact on society. On top of this, nearly half of Americans feel conflicts between their religious values and mainstream culture—a statistic that has risen in recent years. 

This tension leaves parents grappling with how to guide their children through complex issues, especially when the Bible teaches its values and society teaches the opposite. 

How Can We Respond?

It’s crucial that we equip parents with practical tools and insights to navigate cultural challenges through a biblical lens, empowering them to lead their families in faith.

• Faith-Based Discussions: Offer age-appropriate guides or sermon series on topics like social media use, peer pressure, or identity. Create spaces in your church and at home to have open and honest discussions, where questions can be freely raised and answered.
• Parent-Child Resources: Provide devotionals or conversation starters that help families discuss difficult topics at home. Fortunately there are an abundance of resources available for free online or for purchase. 
• Workshops and Seminars: Host parenting classes and invite guest speakers to address real-world issues from a faith perspective. 

By partnering with parents, churches can help families thrive spiritually in any cultural moment.

5. Shifts in Generational Attendance

Since COVID, adults over 55 years old are attending church less than ever before. Attendance among Millennials (people between 27 to 42 years old) has grown significantly—up from 21% in 2019 to 39% in 2022. This renewed interest in faith among Millennials has a ripple effect on their children’s spiritual development.

How Can We Respond?

As parents, Millennials are eager to find churches that align with their values and provide enriching experiences for their children. As church leaders, we can demonstrate this by showcasing:

• Eco-Friendly and Service-Focused Outreach: Host events that combine fun with purpose, such as park cleanups or offering “local missionary” outings that provide practical services to people in your community.
• Interactive Children’s Ministry: Use technology to create engaging Bible lessons that impact young lives.
• Mission-Focused Events: Like most generations, Millennials value events that are focused on a specific mission. From outreach projects that serve the local community to international family mission trips, offering purpose-driven events will attract Millennials and their families.
• Inclusive Leadership: Involve Millennial parents in conversations for planning and leading family ministries to make sure programs resonate with their very real needs.

By creating family-friendly experiences that reflect Millennial family priorities, churches can nurture faith that spans multiple generations.

Let’s Move Boldly in Shepherding Families Through 2025

The trends shaping family ministry present both challenges and opportunities for church leaders. By addressing trust issues, adapting to changing attendance habits, and equipping families to navigate cultural tensions, churches can continue to make eternal impacts in their communities.

As you prepare your church for the coming year, remember that parents and children are looking for a place to belong—a sanctuary where they’re not only welcomed but ministered to, equipped with godly principles, and rooted in a supportive faith community.

From the team at Subsplash, we hope you can make 2025 the year your church becomes the place where families flourish—where parents feel inspired, children grow in faith, and every single person feels at home.

The post 5 Trends Shaping Our Families in 2025 (and How We Can Respond) appeared first on Think Orange.