Leadership Tips & Training Question & Answer

Question: How can I modify the First Place program for a shorter summer session?

Answer: Many times churches take summer breaks from their usual programming, and this may result in fewer weeks available for a First Place session. Think creatively! First, ask your members if they would like to meet on a regular basis for accountability and prayer. If the interest is there, then go for it! Have them weigh in, keep their CR, and attend each week. If quite a few members will be traveling during the summer, you may decide not to complete a First Place Bible study. Instead, you may want to choose a daily devotional book which youc could all do together; then lead a discussion over the devotionals for each week. If you have at least a 10 week session, you can go through one of the First Place Bible studies. To give the leader a break, assign a different week of the study to each member. On their assigned week, they will be the Bible study facilitator. If you do this shortened First Place session, I would recommend that you do not add new members, as you would not have the extra two weeks to present the food plan.


Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.