Top 10 Reasons Taking the Summer Off Is A Bad Idea

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Under the heading, “There’s an upside and a downside to everything,” encouraging your groups to “take the summer off” can have some serious downsides.  Here are what I think are the top 10 reasons it’s a bad idea:

  1. Absence actually doesn’t make the heart grow fonder.  Contrary to what you might have heard, time away rarely makes me long for our time together.
  2. New habits and time commitments can form that make it hard to kick start the group after the summer break.
  3. An extended time away from the group makes the weakest links more vulnerable when challenges arise.
  4. Meeting together during summer’s slower pace allows deeper connections and longer conversations.
  5. The relaxed nature of summer can offer the best chance for neighbors and friends to rub shoulders with your group.
  6. Summer offers a chance to focus on the grouplife components (love, learn, decide and do) that get crowded out during the rest of the year.
  7. Summer offers the best chance for many groups to take advantage of an extended time together.  Taking a weekend to hang out at the lake or a nearby beach can be the most memorable time of the whole year.
  8. It is often during the summer months that unconnected people are finally able to put their toe in the water of a group.  If everyone’s off for the summer…
  9. Many churches experience a steady flow of visitors and new attendees during the summer months.  Easily finding a group that is currently meeting near them helps them establish connective tissue quicker.
  10. Having fun together is a major component of grouplife.  Game night together is just as valuable as studying 1 Corinthians 13.  After all, if I can memorize scripture with the best of them, but can’t joyously lose at Monopoly…

Honestly, one of the best things you can do is give your group leaders ideas about what to do over the summer.  One of my most popular resources is a handout I developed called, What Have You Got Planned This Summer.  You can download a copy right here.

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