A sense of belonging to the local church is vital for our kids' discipleship

Lisa Skinner believes that part of discipleship is helping our youth and children embrace the breadth of people in our churches and helping everyone feel that they belong

Few things trouble a parent more than seeing their child on the outside looking in. Whether it’s not being invited to a party, being left out of a group chat, or walking into church and feeling invisible, exclusion cuts deep. And if we’re honest, it still cuts deep for us too. The desire to belong is not superficial. It is fundamental. We are wired for connection.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our rhythms of community in ways we are still recovering from. Necessary seasons of isolation fractured everyday interactions, the casual conversations, shared meals, and weekly gatherings that quietly anchor us. In the years since, loneliness has lingered, particularly among young people. What was already fragile has become more so. For many children and teenagers, belonging feels harder to find. And the uncomfortable truth is that sometimes church is one of those hard places.

Many young people growing up in church quietly wrestle with this tension: If I belong to God, why don’t I feel like I belong here?

Belonging is woven throughout Scripture because the desire to belong is woven into every human heart. We are made in the image of a relational God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect communion. We were created to thrive in community. So when our children struggle to find belonging where it should be found, something feels out of joint. Many young people growing up in church quietly wrestle with this tension: If I belong to God, why don’t I feel like I belong here?

Belonging to God and to one another

One of the things that continues to amaze me, despite having been a Christian for nearly 40 years, is that ……