Summer Slip Offs

Sargent Baptist,

Summer is upon us. School is out. Vacations are being planned. More family “get-togethers” take place. Fishing, swimming, grilling out and host of activities take place because of the warmer weather and longer days. But one thing that tends to suffer is church attendance. Most churches now experience the “Summer Slump” or what I call the “Summer Slip Offs”. It’s a time when folks slip off and forget to come back. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with a vacation. I will be taking one too. The problem is folks forget to come back. And then they find it easier to stay away. And when confronted about their attendance, or lack thereof, they say, “Oh but brother Royce, we’ll be there in spirit.” The only problem is your spirit doesn’t tithe. Your spirit doesn’t sing. I can’t call on your spirit to pray. And your spirit will not hear the Word of God preached nor experience worship. Spirit attendance equals absent. It’s your physical presence that gets counted present. And your attendance is not for the church’s benefit. It’s for your benefit. When you tithe, God says that He’ll open the windows of heaven and pour out such blessings that there will not be enough room to receive it (Mal.3:10). When you’re present you personally experience the worship service, hear the prayers prayed and hear the Word of God taught and proclaimed which all benefits you. When you are present you receive the blessings of fellowship. You personally get to serve and thus you are blessed. Think of it this way: Present in spirit = no growth. Physically present = spiritual growth.

Yes, school is out, but Sunday School is not. “Let us…not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” –Heb.10:25. See you in church Sunday. And trust me, you will be blessed.

In Christ,

Bro. Royce Hendry