I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm not even sure of the reason why. I could give you my thoughts on it. Maybe you've even gotten to the place where you are wondering what you can do. But the fact is...I'M NOT BUYING IT!!!What I'm talking about is the idea that church growth doesn't happen in the summer. This is especially an excuse I hear in youth ministry circles. "Summer's coming and our numbers are usually low."
Maybe it's just me...WHO IN THE WORLD MADE THAT RULE!!!
And why are any of us buying it. If you really want to make it happen you will. And you won't let anything get in your way.
Can it happen? Sure it can. In 2006, we saw the youth ministry we led grow from an average of 35 to 50.
Are there any other stories of summer growth so we can start squashing this????
4 comments:
Our attendance slumps by about 25% from the may average. If you calculate from the september average, it is down about 80% from where it will be.
I consider the Spring and Fall months as natural growth times. So, we invest in leveraging those times. We spend the summer preparing for the fall and investing in developing leaders we'll deploy in the fall.
We don't stop reaching during the summer though. I'm convinced that a lot of the growth we see in the fall is growth we had in the summer but didn't realize until later...when people returned from vacation and people were attending regularly after vacations, etc...
Thanks Travis....and it is great to see some numbers.
You also make a great point...just because attendance numbers are down didn't mean you weren't growing.
I think that is what I want to hear as well....are people still seeing first time guests coming in.
I agree with both of you guys.
Travis, growth does occur and intentional developing of leaders pays off and prepares you for the fall.
Jason, you're right. Let's not look at the summer and assume (therefore be satisfied with) low numbers. Work at growth. Work to bring people in. The numbers may not reflect it, but the newbies checking it out will still be there when your regulars return from vacation.
The overall point is... keep the intensity even through the summer months.
Couldn't have said it any better Gina....
Does anyone out there think there is this prevailing attitude out there that we have accepted summer as a slow down therefore we just kick back.
That is why I how Travis ended his thoughts. Nelson Searcy also has been saying a lot on these lines.
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