Rewriting the ‘we need more children’ narrative: Focus on building and nurturing relationships with kids, say Love of Children execs

The Rev. Trayce Potter, the United Church of Christ’s youth and young adult engagement minister and director for Love of Children and the Rev. Tyler Ung, minister of children and youth and assistant director for Love of Children came to the GS LIVE studios at General Synod 35 on July 14 to talk about the exciting possibilities for churches to minister to children and youth.

Joining them was Micah Potter, a rising 3^rd grader, as described by his mother, Tracye, who not only shared his favorite Bible story — that of the glory of Jesus, he said — but gave the adults a great group hug.

“I like being at Synod because it is a time for everyone to share their feelings,” Micah told GS LIVE co-hosts Charles Jefferson, UCC news director, and Donna Frischknecht Jackson, UCC communications specialist.

Potter and Ung then addressed the age-old lament heard churchwide, “pastor, we need more children and youth” by saying it was time to rewrite that narrative. It was time to stop focusing on bringing them into the church to save a church, but rather meeting them out the sanctuary and engaging them in conversation and getting to truly know them.  

“There are children and youth out there to minister to,” said Potter. “It’s about building relationships with them.”

Ung also added that it was important to recognize children as a vital part of the worshipping community, citing ideas like creating “prayergrounds” in sanctuaries where children and adults mingle and praise God together. They also stressed the importance of intergenerational ministry.

Beyond General Synod, the Love of Children team plans to carry the theme of “into the deep” throughout the summer of 2026, with a summer of advocacy in Washington, D.C., being discussed for youth.

“Surface level is great,” said Potter of the immediate work being done at General Synod. “But as UCC General Minister and President Karen Georgia Thompson said, ‘deep is calling to deep.’”

For all Love of Children news, visit ucc.org/loveofchildren/.

Click below to watch the full segment of GS LIVE now.

---

Content on ucc.org is copyrighted by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ and may be only shared according to the guidelines outlined here.