Most churches are still focused on Gen Z. And while that matters, they may be missing the generation that is already sitting in their kids’ ministry, their middle schools, and their youth groups.
Gen Alpha is no longer the “next” generation. They are the now generation. And churches that want to stay connected to the future must learn how to reach, disciple, and empower them today.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Table of contents
Gen Alpha is Already Here
Gen Alpha is the generation born roughly between 2010 and 2025. That means the oldest members are in high school, while the youngest are still toddlers. But here’s the key point most church leaders are missing: Gen Alpha now makes up most of the school-aged population.
They are growing up in a world where screens are everywhere, school is increasingly hybrid, and questions about life, identity, and truth come faster and earlier than ever before. And even though they are digital natives, they are still human beings who long for connection, meaning, and faith.
What Most Churches Get Wrong
Many churches still see Gen Alpha as too young to reach or too distracted to disciple. But that view underestimates their capacity for faith, focus, and leadership. Gen Alpha is growing up fast, and they are more spiritually aware than we often realize.
If churches keep waiting until these kids “grow up” before investing in them, they will already be gone. Now is the time to disciple them intentionally, listen to them sincerely, and invite them into something bigger than themselves.
How to Actually Reach Gen Alpha
You do not need to throw away everything that worked for Gen Z. But reaching Gen Alpha is not just about being on TikTok or adding a kids pastor. It is about engaging them as whole people, supporting their families, and showing them a real, lived-out faith.
Here are seven proven ways to do that.
1. Give Them Leadership Roles
Gen Alpha does not want to be babysat. They want to be believed in. That starts by giving them responsibility and letting them lead in age-appropriate ways.
Let a 5th grader assist in caring for the toddlers during Sunday service. Let a middle schooler help lead a Sunday School service with an adult. Invite high schoolers to lead worship at youth group. Let them share their own ideas for how to reach others their age. You do not have to wait until they are 18 to start treating them like leaders.
What to do instead: Create low-risk, high-value leadership roles for Gen Alpha kids and students. Even small tasks build trust and ownership.
2. Focus on Family Discipleship
If churches really want to reach Gen Alpha, they cannot do it alone. Their most important spiritual influences are still at home. That means supporting, equipping, and encouraging their parents is essential.
A strong Gen Alpha ministry is built on strong family discipleship. The church’s role is not to replace the home, but to come alongside it with tools, encouragement, and vision.
What to do instead: Offer parenting classes, weekend resources, and prayer nights that focus on family faith formation. Make it easy for parents to lead well at home.
3. Respect Their Culture and Slang
Every generation has a unique culture. Gen Alpha’s just happens to be built on fast-moving trends, memes, and online personalities. While you do not need to copy their slang or dance trends, you do need to show them respect.
Mocking their interests or belittling their world sends the message that you are not listening. And if Gen Alpha feels judged, they will not engage. They want to be seen, not stereotyped.
What to do instead: Ask them about what they care about. Listen without laughing. Use their language as a bridge, not a barrier.
4. Combine Digital and Tactile
Gen Alpha may be growing up in a digital world, but they still crave real experiences. They still want to build something with their hands, gather in circles, and play games that are not on a screen. In fact, physical experiences are more powerful precisely because they are less common.
The best Gen Alpha ministries are not digital-only. They are hybrid. They embrace digital discipleship tools, but they balance that with in-person connection and tangible activities.
What to do instead: Use digital tools for communication, devotionals, and storytelling. But also prioritize campfires, craft tables, and face-to-face conversation.
5. Empower Their Questions and Faith
Gen Alpha is not afraid to ask big questions. About God, pain, justice, identity, and eternity. That is a good thing. What they need are safe places to ask, wrestle, and be heard.
The mistake churches make is thinking they need to have all the answers. But what Gen Alpha really needs is authenticity and honesty. They are not looking for a sermon. They are looking for someone to listen and walk with them.
What to do instead: Host Q&A nights or discussion circles. Empower small group leaders to say, “That’s a great question, let’s explore it together.”
6. Share Stories and Testimonies
Gen Alpha may be more online than ever, but they’re still humans. They respond to story more than structure. A sermon might get their attention. A testimony will keep it.
When they hear how God has worked in the lives of other kids, students, or adults, it creates an emotional connection. They begin to see faith not as a list of rules, but as a real-life journey they are invited into.
What to do instead: Share testimonies from kids and teens their age. Use videos, Instagram reels, or short clips in service. Let them see themselves in the story.
7. Stop Treating Them Like They’re Too Young
Gen Alpha may be young, but that does not mean they are incapable of spiritual growth. Some of the most powerful prayers, worship moments, and insights come from their mouths. But if the church does not make space for them, they will go looking elsewhere.
The goal is not just to teach them Bible stories. It is to involve them in the mission of God. That means giving them space to serve, pray, lead, and grow.
What to do instead: Include Gen Alpha voices in the life of the church. Let them pray over the service, help lead worship, or serve in other ministries. Treat them like full participants, not a side project.
Your Next Step
Gen Alpha is not a mystery to be solved. They are people to be discipled. And if the church misses this moment, we risk losing a generation that is hungry, capable, and ready to follow Jesus.
So what should you do now? Pick one of these seven shifts and implement it this week. Empower a Gen Alpha leader. Text a parent. Share a kid’s testimony in service.
This generation is already here. Let’s not wait to reach them.
More Resources on the Next Generations
