Summer is a special time in the calendar of the church. It is also a special time in the calendar of the youth ministry. Many churches take the summer off. Most importantly, it gives the adult leaders a break. Our church gives our Sunday night kids ministry a break during the summer.
But there is something special about the 7-12 grade age range that makes meeting during the summer important. These students need as much time to build relationships with each other and the adult leaders as possible. Taking a couple months off would be difficult for both the leaders and the students. During the summer, if the student is not working, they’ve got more time to fill than when they have school!
Sure, getting 75-100% of the group to show up at an event is probably not going to happen. Families are going to take camping trips, vacations, and just relax together during the summer. But if the goal is relationships, then actually, the smaller the better.
Summer provides an opportunity to get together with students during the day. It also provides the opportunity to do some of the activities they want to do and go some of the places that they want to go and invite others to join. That is what we are doing this weekend.
A few of the girls really wanted to do a self-defense class. So, I made sure 2 leaders could make it and we scheduled it. The news spread and a good number of the girls are going to attend. But it doesn’t really matter how many show up, as long as there are a few it will be a great event! The same is true for the boys. We are getting together at a campground with the rest of the church. We will do some things together and it will be a success. Will there be a lot of people there, probably not, but we will have done something memorable in a small group and built relationships.
What does your church do over the summer? What are some ways you can build relationships with students in your church or in your family during the summer? Focus on building relationships, not the percent of the group that shows up, and it will be successful.
