One moment they’re wrapped in swaddling blankets, eyes full of wonder, adjusting to a brand-new world. Then suddenly, they’re sounding out their first words, tying their shoes, asking big questions about God and the world.

Childhood is precious—and fleeting. We blink, and the wonder years are gone. If you’ve ever watched a toddler wobble through their first steps or heard a child sing “Jesus Loves Me” with their whole heart, you’ve seen how quickly those moments pass.

The voices that speak into those early days have the power to shape a lifetime. And the question before us is simple: Will the church be one of those voices?

The Battle for Young Hearts
We are living in a time when the noise of the world is louder than ever. Children are constantly being shaped by media, culture, and competing worldviews that often leave God out entirely. And the enemy is not passive—we are in a spiritual battle for the hearts of our littlest ones.

Studies show that 60–70% of kids leave the church during their youth years. That is not just a statistic—it is a wake-up call. These are children who once sat in our Sabbath Schools, who colored Bible story pictures, who sang songs about Jesus.

The spiritual foundations we lay now—during these tender, forming years—can make all the difference. The time to reach them is not later. It’s right now.

All are needed on the front lines of this sacred work.

Our Mission and Our Growing Support System
The mission of the Children’s Ministries Department for the Montana Conference is simple yet powerful: to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation to shine brightly for Christ—by equipping the leaders who serve them.

Whether your church is large or small, you are not alone. We know children’s ministry can feel overwhelming, especially when resources or volunteers are limited. That’s why we’re here: to offer support, training, and encouragement for every step of your journey.

We’re working toward building a shared network of resources that churches across Montana can access, including VBS kits, some backgrounds/props, Bible-based teaching materials to help bring your programs to life, and digital resources soon available on our website.

To make support more accessible, we now have two regional leaders: Cheryl Des-Jarlais from the Ronan Church for the Western Region, and Deborah Kyle from the Billings Church for the Eastern Region. These experienced leaders are here to encourage, guide, and support you as we grow together.

Building a Statewide Network
However, one crucial step toward strengthening our support system is by asking each church to designate a local Children’s Ministries leader—someone to act as a liaison between your church and our conference, even if your church doesn’t have children YET.

This connection will allow us to share resources, stay in communication, understand the needs of your individual church, invite your leaders to training opportunities, and create a network of people all moving toward the same goal: reaching the next generation for Jesus.

When we work together, we multiply our impact. One church’s effort to share love can become an entire statewide movement to change lives. We can lean on each other for support, guidance, and encouragement. Our collective mission becomes stronger when we share the load.

A Call to Every Heart
You don’t have to be an enthusiastic teacher or pastor to make a difference. We simply ask that you please keep youth leaders in your prayers. To say “yes” when you’re asked to serve (childrens’ division volunteers for next year, anyone?). We need hearts willing to step in, whether it’s lending your time, sharing your talents, encouraging your leaders, or supporting our cause financially.

The window is small. The mission is eternal.

When we invest in our children, we’re not just blessing them—we’re planting seeds that ripple outward. Through child evangelism, our kids become a light to their friends. They invite, they share, they tell others about the joy they’ve found in Jesus and their church family. Many of those friends may never have stepped into a church otherwise—but through the loving outreach of your programs, and your children, they just might.

Let’s be intentional in creating programs that are joy-filled and meaningful—not just places to learn about God, but spaces where children feel they belong, form lasting friendships, build bridges between youth and adult divisions, and grow up knowing they are deeply valued and loved by their church family. Because the time to reach them is NOW.

For more information or support with your local Children’s Ministries efforts, contact:

• Cheryl Des-Jarlais (Western Region): cheryld@southern.edu

• Deborah Kyle (Eastern Region): deborahdkyle@gmail.com

• Lizbeth Geary (Central Region & Conference Children’s Ministries      Coordinator): childrensministries@montanaadventist.org