I don't have hard data, but based on our experience here at Concordia Publishing House, it seems that substantial numbers of congregations "take a break" from Sunday School during the summer months. The reasoning for this generally invokes things like "families are always gone," "kids disappear during the summer," or "we can't find enough people to teach." These can be serious challenges. They will require work to overcome, perhaps hard work. Why bother? I can think of three reasons!
1. Children (and adults) still need to hear the Gospel.
God's Word is His promised source of life and strength for His people. We don't "take a break" from eating, or drinking, or breathing during the summer. What would we take a break from God's Word?
2. It is easier to maintain inertia.
Eighty percent of our effort often goes into getting something moving (especially my wheelbarrow full of dirt). Taking the summer off kills Christian education inertia. It speaks loudly about a relatively low priority for Sunday School, as opposed to trips to the lake. It lets families "get out of the habit" of spending two hours at church each weekend.
3. Visitors are plentiful.
Large numbers of families relocate during the summer while their children are out of school. These families are looking for new church homes and making decisions about where to re-establish roots. They are looking for churches that will meet the whole families' spiritual needs. They are looking for churches with great Sunday Schools. "Well, we don't have that right now, but if you come back in a couple of months . . ." won't impress them.
Will you have Sunday School this summer? Why? (or why not?)
How will you sell your choice?
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