We do not stop our youth ministry for the summer. It looks A LOT different, but it continues week in and week out.

Some of the differences...we don't have our Volunteer Staff Pre-Program Gathering meetings (UPLOAD), no weekly big band worship, no small groups, the teaching is done by an intern or volunteer, and we shorten the program by 30 minutes from 2 hours, to 1.5 hours. And within the Middle School, we have a every other week cycle of an on-site simple event with food.

These changes over the summer allow me time to rest, refresh, cast vision, prepare for the following school year, recruit and enjoy a more relaxed pace of ministry. It also gives me room to breathe and hit up all the summer trips and events we've got planned and not feel like I am running 100mph all the time.

It gives our leaders a break, and allows for smoother operation week to week...so their at liberty to go on vacation and not worry about their small group or other ministry responsibility. As well as the possibility of feeling guilty if they simply don't come or plan to do something else. Our ministry design over the summer is simplistic and can be run/staffed with many less volunteers.

It allows all of us to focus on relationships, especially with the new incoming 6th graders and freshmen. As well as with each other and our own families.

It gives the worship team a break, and allows a natural break if they want to stop being on the team in the fall. It also allows us time to audition some new people and rehearse for the fall in August without adding more nights out.

The worship scale back, different teacher and small group hiatus, creates a hunger making the students super excited for the Fall and having our ministry in FULL SWING again.

We stumbled upon this strategy after noticing that running our program at full intensity all year didn't work...and cutting it all together wasn't an option...so we met in the middle.