Two Signs of a Healthy Church: Crying Babies and Singing Men

I recently read an article that made a simple but powerful claim. If you want to know whether a church is healthy, do not start by checking budgets, buildings, or how trendy the services are. Look for two sounds: Crying babies and singing men.

At first, it almost seems too simple. Yet the more I sat with it, the more I realized how profoundly biblical it is. These two sounds say something about life, legacy, worship, and discipleship. They reveal whether a church is growing the right way, not just numerically but spiritually. And they expose whether we are raising the next generation or simply entertaining the current one.

Crying Babies Tell a Story of Life

When you hear a baby cry during worship, it is not a distraction. It is a reminder that God is still entrusting this church with the next generation. It is a sign that young families are here, marriages are being strengthened, and new life is being nurtured within the community of faith.

A church without babies is a church without a future. A church full of babies is one God is still calling to disciple, shepherd, and prepare for the decades ahead.

Crying babies mean young parents are choosing the house of God over convenience. It means moms and dads believe this church is safe, loving, and spiritually grounded. It means the mission continues.

So when you hear the noise of little ones, do not sigh. Pray. Celebrate. Thank God for the privilege of stewarding their lives. That sound is the sound of hope.

Over the past few months, our nursery has had upwards of 20 babies. That 's a good sign.

Singing Men Tell a Story of Strength

The second sound is just as important. Singing men. Not apathetic men. Not silent men. Not men watching worship like spectators at a game. Singing men.

When men lift their voices to God, something powerful happens in a church. It signals that hearts are humbled, pride is surrendered, and leadership is aligned under the lordship of Christ. Men who sing are men who engage. Men who engage become men who lead. And when men lead spiritually, homes are strengthened, marriages are protected, and children grow up with godly role models before them.

A church full of silent men is a church headed for spiritual weakness. A church full of singing men will stand firm through trials, temptation, and cultural pressure.

When men sing, entire families follow. Entire congregations are built up. Whole generations are shaped.

That sound is the sound of revival.

What These Two Sounds Mean for Us

Crying babies and singing men. One represents the future. The other represents the foundation. Together, they create a picture of a church that is alive, healthy, and growing the right way.

At Ignite Church, these are the sounds we pray for. They are the sounds that remind us why we gather, why we serve, and why we preach the gospel without compromise.

If you hear crying babies, rejoice. If you stand next to a man who sings boldly, thank God for him. If you are a man, lift your own voice. If you are a young parent, keep bringing your children.

These sounds are not noise. They are signs. God is moving among His people.

May He continue to fill His church with life in the nursery and strength in the sanctuary, for the glory of His name and the good of generations to come.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Jody