Summer is often one of the slowest times in your church’s life, with members traveling to spend time with family and friends or just enjoy the warm weather.
But just because your congregation is scattered from June to August doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities for fellowship in the summer months.
With the emphasis typically on giving kids and students something to do when they’re out of school, adults tend to be put on the back burner until the fall with many activities pausing between school years.
Instead of halting (or not starting) programs for adults, here are 5 things you can plan for this summer to connect specifically with the men in your congregation. These ideas require minimal planning and monetary commitments, making them perfect things to incorporate in the slower months when attendance will likely fluctuate from gathering to gathering.
Activities for Men
#1: Play Golf, Pickleball, or Other Outdoor Sport
Once or twice a month, schedule a tee time or reserve courts and invite the men in your congregation to play together and get to know each other at the same time.
You can plan to meet in the mornings and evenings or alternate each time so that those with varying work and family commitments can participate at least some of the time.
If you are unsure what kind of activity would appeal to your congregants, send out a survey asking what they like to play and what times/days would work best for them.
Depending on your budget, you can cover the cost of playing or reserving spaces or ask each participant to chip in for their slot. Many places offer discounts for groups or recurring bookings. Look for options that would help decrease the cost and help keep the costs low.
#2: Host a Cornhole Tournament
Cornhole is a fun game that anyone can learn quickly, even if they’ve never played before.
Choose an afternoon or evening and put out the word. Ask men to sign up and rate their experience/skill level. You can use these ratings to make pairs, putting a less experienced player with someone who knows how to play. This will let the participants learn from each other and also get to know someone they may not normally have partnered with.
Cornhole boards can be pricey, but they last for years if you have the budget to invest in a few sets. Or you can ask participants if they have boards you can borrow for the event.
Ask each person to bring a dish to share or to bring $5-$10 as the cost to play. Use that money to pay for a catered meal that everyone can enjoy at the end of the tournament.
#3: Plan a Monthly Dinner
There’s something special about sharing a meal with someone. Invite the men in your congregation to go out to dinner once a month and get to know others outside of services and small groups.
Choose a day and time that doesn’t conflict with anything else on your church calendar. Try to keep it consistent, like the third Tuesday or the first Thursday, to make promoting and planning easier.
You can plan to go to the same restaurant each month or rotate to different places. Pick locations that are low or reasonably priced so everyone can participate without worrying about money.
#4: Organize a Chili Cookoff
Pick a Saturday and give men three ways to participate. They can either sign up to make chili, bring another item to share, or just come, taste the samples, and vote on their favorites.
You’ll need some tables, chairs, and extension cords. Provide drinks and sides or ask attendees to bring something instead of chili.
Make sure you’ve got some baskets, jars, bowls, etc., and some kind of token or marker that participants can use to vote for their favorite chilis.
Ask those who make chili to bring an ingredient list in case someone has allergies or food restrictions and needs to know which foods are safe for them.
#5: Arrange a Drop-In Breakfast
Reserve a space at a local coffee shop or breakfast spot for 1.5-2 hours once a month. Make the reservation early enough that those who have to work can stop by beforehand, and invite men to drop in as they’re able to during that time.
They can order something if they’d like to, or they can simply spend some time with other believers, getting to know one another and building relationships.
Things to Consider
Cost and Scholarships
All of these ideas can be done at a relatively low cost for your church and the participants. While you want to keep expenses as low as possible, there will likely be someone at some point who can’t afford to attend.
If your church has the budget for it, offer the option for full or partial scholarships for these activities for those who truly need assistance. You want to remove as many barriers to the Gospel as possible, so provide a way for men to participate regardless of finances as often as possible.
Requirements
In addition to cost, promote all of these activities as come-as-you-are events. Eliminate any attendance requirements so no one feels like they aren’t welcome if they can’t buy or bring the needed items.
For example, if you’re planning to play golf, ask around for men who have extra clubs or would be willing to share theirs so those who don’t already have clubs can still participate.
Sign Ups
Your attendance numbers will likely fluctuate throughout the summer. Asking participants to sign up in advance will help with budgeting and making sure you’ve got enough space reserved for excursions.
Use Realm Events or a similar program to get a headcount before the event. You can also use these tools to let people sign up to bring items or even pay for the spot (you can also put an option in for the attendees to let you know if they need scholarship options!).
Focus on Jesus
The goal of all of these events is to give the men in your congregation fun ways to connect and fellowship with each other, especially during the summer, outside of the regular ministry activities in your church.
But while the goal is to build relationships with each other, don’t neglect to encourage these men in their relationships with Jesus. Each of these activities should point attendees back to their Maker and find their places in the Body of Christ.
You don’t need to plan anything elaborate, but make sure that each event includes time for prayer or even a short devotional that draws hearts and minds closer to the Father.
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