Summertime!

An agriculturally-driven agenda was the way of life prior to the industrial revolution in America. Patterns of life were established on the basis of the times for planting, cultivation, and harvest. It was an era in which the Farmers’ Almanac was as widely read as the Sears and Roebuck catalog and the family Bible. One of the summer events that define Americana was a summer revival meeting. After the crops were harvested and prior to planting for a fall garden, many local churches scheduled outdoor services with enthusiastic music and evangelistic preaching. Thus summer was not only a time to gather the fruit and vegetables, but also provided occasion for a spiritual harvest.

Schedules in our urban culture are no longer based on growing seasons, but now revolve around the school calendar.
This week, textbooks were returned, report cards mailed, and graduates tossed their caps. This summer recess does not affect just teachers and students, but literally sets the calendar for the whole community. Thus, families anticipate “school’s out” to plan vacations, reunions, and other recreation.

Completion of the 2009-2010 school year also affords opportunity for a summertime spiritual harvest. Although an outdoor, post-harvest brush-arbor camp meeting is not scheduled, our First Highlands June-August calendar is filled with events designed for spiritual renewal. Youth Camp, Pre-teen Camp, Vacation Bible School, and student ministry events are not designed to just entertain the kids. These programs have the deeper goal of spiritual harvest just as much as the camp meeting revivals of rural America. This summer, maximize summer vacation by taking advantage of these special events for spiritual growth of kids and for all the family. Schools out for summer!!!