21 June 2025
Church Children's Ministry: 2025 Statistics Every Pastor Should Know
If you lead a church, run a children’s ministry, or work in faith-based childcare, you know just how important safety, connection, and retention are. These stats give a clear picture of the current landscape and can help guide decisions in 2025 and beyond.
Quick Stats Snapshot
43% of churchgoers say children’s programs are a “very important” reason for attending a particular church. (Pew Research)
There are more than 4,000 church plants started every year in the U.S. (Lifeway Research)
60% of formerly churchgoing young adults stopped attending regularly before the age of 18. (Lifeway Research)
The average pastor-to-congregant ratio is 1:76, making scalable systems crucial. (Barna Group)
90% of churches in the U.S. have fewer than 350 attendees, many relying on volunteers. (US Religion Census)
80% of churchgoers say feeling “welcomed” and “safe” is essential to returning. (Gallup)
Over 25% of American churches report struggles with maintaining adequate childcare staff. (State of Church Tech 2024)
Why These Numbers Matter
Families Prioritize Children’s Ministry
Church isn’t just for the adults in the pews. For young families, children’s programming is often the deciding factor for where they attend. Making sure it’s easy to check in, drop off, and feel confident in the process is key to retention and trust.
Volunteer-Powered Ministries Need Simplicity
Most churches, especially new or smaller ones, operate on volunteer help. They need tools that are intuitive, fast, and frustration-free. When tech gets in the way, families notice—and volunteers burn out.
Safety Isn’t Optional
Between limited staffing and high child-to-worker ratios, even well-intentioned ministries face challenges in safety and communication. That’s why systems like secure check-in, SMS alerts, and authorized pickup tags have become the standard.
Consistency Encourages Return Visits
For parents, the ability to quickly check in their child and know they'll be alerted if anything comes up (without leaving service) is a game-changer. Confidence grows when the process works every time.
How to Strengthen Your Children’s Ministry in 2024
Make a strong first impression on new families
Keep your volunteers happy and focused on connection, not admin
Ensure child safety without added stress
Stay organized across multiple ministries and age groups
Investing in a system that supports you is essential. That’s why many smaller and mid-sized churches use Kidddo, a check-in system designed to be simple, secure, and stress-free. From easy setup to built-in parent SMS messaging, it works right out of the box—without the need for IT support.
Final Thought
As churches adapt to changing demographics and needs, technology can either create friction—or remove it. These stats are a reminder that the tools we choose matter. When families feel confident dropping off their kids, they’re more likely to stay, grow, and engage with your church community.
Sources:
Pew Research: “Why Americans Go to Religious Services”
Lifeway Research: “Young Adults Leaving Church”
Barna Group: “State of Pastors”
US Religion Census: 2020 Report
State of Church Tech 2024: Internal industry report