There’s a lot of handwringing about young people leaving the church. I get the concern. A peak at the latest statistics is sobering. A record number of young adults now identify as having “no religion,” forming the first non-majority Christian generation in American history.

There are broad cultural trends behind this exodus. But it also represents a failure of discipleship. Somehow, many of these people abandoned not only the church but, in many cases, their faith as well. Let’s make sure we’re prayerful and passionate about engaging these young adults—and that we get serious about discipling the children in our churches now.

The future of the church is right in front of us. It is represented by the children in our churches (and the children our church is reaching) today. These young precious souls will end up composing the church of tomorrow.

We’re wise to invest in them now. That’s the focus this week. Spiritual Formation in Early Childhood is a resources designed to help you assess the spiritual needs of children and create a climate that fosters spiritual growth. Also, check out Sensitivity to Children from Non-Christian Homes. This download includes articles to help you consider the unique situations of children who haven’t been reared in the church and help you address their distinctive needs.