Filling the Summer Space

My kids just got back from camp. They’re all revved up — spiritually speaking! They don\’t want the mountain-top experience to end. I don\’t want it to end either.

For many churches, there are great amounts of energy and resources poured into camp and VBS events. While this is great, many churches don\’t consider what happens in the remaining weeks of the summer.

Are you maintaining a steady flow from the end of the spring season into the fall? As a kid’s pastor, I often treated summer ministry like the school system treats education; I would end the school year with a bang and hope that everyone showed up again in the fall when we got back to normal. If you remember, back when summer was actually three months long, it was somewhat difficult to get back into the rhythm of school after the long break.

Don’t let the energy drop during summer. Consider a weekly get-together with your kids. How about doing a mid-summer event? My church, in Franklin, Tennessee, is taking the energy from camp and continuing it well into summer. They\’re using a great product Lifeway created this year called Zip for Kids.

It’s a customizable event with some of the best qualities of VBS, as well as some great aspects from camp. (tracks) We partnered with Dude Perfect to produce the Bible Stories and Jeffrey B. Scott and other great song-writers to create the music.

Fill that summer space with something great!

Jeffrey Reed serves as the Director of Kids Ministry for Lifeway. He came to Lifeway with a wide variety of ministry experiences including worship leader, director of children’s ministry, and executive leadership in several growing congregations. Jeffrey’s posts will give your heart and brain a workout, just like the fitness Boot Camp he leads in the mornings for Lifeway employees. Jeffrey and his wife Katherine have four kids.