Experiencing a Coastal Summer

The arrival of summer always brings anticipation.

School’s out, the days are longer, the weather is hotter, and the outdoors call us to come out and play!

Here on the coast, there’s something special about the arrival of a beautiful Vancouver summer as it brings so many opportunities for people to build connections and deepen friendships while exploring endless activities and events that can be enjoyed together.

The Soundtrack of Summer

When you think summer, it’s hard not to think of the big summer hits that have stood the test of time and are on so many summer playlists today:

Summer In The City
Surfin’ U.S.A.
In The Summertime
Summer of ‘69
School’s Out
Soak Up The Sun
All Summer Long
Here Come’s The Sun

Summer & Spiritual Awakening

What might surprise you is that summer is the ultimate season for spiritual growth and refreshing too!

In previous generations like the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s that started in California and spread around the world, the momentum of revival would grow and peak every summer with thousands of young people and hippies being saved and baptized in the ocean during the summer months. These baptisms were evidence of the mass repentance and spiritual transformation taking place each summer.

Another major cultural and spiritual milestone that launched the summer of 1972 was Explo ’72, a nationwide event in Dallas, Texas, spearheaded by Campus Crusade for Christ. Designed to train youth and young adults to boldly share their faith, the event initially drew 80,000 participants. By the end of the week over 200,000 had gathered for a massive outdoor rally filled with “Jesus Music,” and culminating with a powerful gospel message from Billy Graham. Thousands responded, committing their lives to Jesus and answering the call to reach the world with the message of Christ.

Historians now recognize that this summer event has impacted worship, evangelism and Christian missions around the world and across denominations to this day and many pastors, missionaries and worship leaders from that generation trace their callings back to when God spoke to them at Explo ’72.

Summer in Vancouver: Then and Now

The same summer as all this was going on, two brothers, Ralph and Lou Sutera were hosting revival meetings at Ebenezer Baptist in Vancouver. On May 5^th, the first Friday night, approximately 2,000 people attended. The following Sunday 3,000 gathered across two churches and by the third week, five churches were now full, having meetings that resemble our Coastal Abide Nights – with “afterglow” prayer sessions that included altar times of repentance, healing, laying on of hands and ministry that lasted into the night.

Just like the Jesus Movement in California, this summer wave of God’s Spirit moving in Vancouver included hundreds of water baptisms at Spanish Banks and Second Beach as crowds of Jesus People would gather at Stanley Park. Space doesn’t allow for us to talk about the explosion of outreach that happened at that time with Christian coffee houses, campus ministries and youth groups growing all over the city. During that season, the ICVF Christian Club at UBC regularly had 250 students attending their lunch meetings as they were inspired to share their faith on campus.

Even though it’s not 1972 anymore, there is a huge amount of ministry happening in Vancouver and all over the world this summer. Between June and August, it’s estimated that there are 9,000 to 12,000 Bible Camps and Christian Conferences happening here in North America. Think for a moment how all these events are making space for God to move and for people to hear His call on their lives.

Unforgettable Summers

As you reflect on your life, I’m sure many of your greatest, fondest memories and experiences that have stayed with you for a lifetime have come from the summertime. And that includes your spiritual experiences!

It’s almost like summer was designed by God for spiritual awakening.

As a young boy, taking the church bus that came to our neighborhood, my most vivid memories of going to Sunday School seem to be from the summer.

Then I fast forward to the summer of ’79, when my friend Willy told me he wanted to check out my uncle Tommy’s church after he had been witnessing to us, and I reluctantly went with him. Then after the service we both went to the altar to receive Christ.

Two weeks later, we were back at the altar receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues.

Then my uncle in his wisdom decided these two teenagers needed discipling and took Willy and I on a summer road trip to the Okanagan. It was in those long conversations in the car and the times floating together on air mattresses at the lake that God used my uncle Tommy to ground me in the word of God and in my faith. Many things he said and verses he quoted still stick with me today. In fact, sometimes I will still hear those verses in his voice when I recall them.

I could go on about summer youth group events and camps that followed, and going to the Youth Alive conferences in Seattle in my late teens and 20s. And my first trip to Vancouver in the summer of 1986 as part of my future wife’s mission team, where we came to Expo ’86 doing street dramas and leading people to Christ. And when I almost got punched in the face on Granville and Howe during one of our drama skits when I stepped in to stop a druggie from harassing one of our girls on the team.

Oh yes, I also learned on that trip how to drive my 5-speed standard without a clutch after it blew out on the corner of Dunsmuir and Howe. Did you know that you don’t actually need a clutch if you shift gears at the exact moment – when the RPMs between gears are synchronized?

I’m barely scratching the surface as there are decades worth of amazing summer God memories that could be shared!

And I believe this works the same for all of us – that if you allow it, God will give you some of your most impactful and unforgettable spiritual experiences and adventures this summer. It’s there for you if you will lean in.

Experiencing a Coastal Summer

It’s one thing to experience a West Coast summer but it’s a whole new level to experience a Coastal Church summer!

Now it may be because Coastal is planted in the heart of a unique city in an urban setting, but I don’t recall there ever being a significant exodus in the summer like what’s typically seen in suburban congregations. It seems like there’s always something buzzing and happening in summer and there are always lots of people around.

There is a saying…

“There’s no coasting at Coastal.”

And it’s proven to be true.

Proverbs 10:5 says:

“He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”

Summer is a time to gather spiritually. To acquire.

Summer offers spiritual provisions that may not be available in other seasons – it’s a time to stock up. And every time we have church or meet with our life groups or do devotions – either alone or with family, we are gathering supplies and acquiring something valuable. We’re refreshing, refuelling and being revived also.

Coincidentally, every time we come together as Christians, we also call this a gathering. It’s just a different kind of gathering.

Either way, a good word for you and I this summer is to gather!

How You Can Gather This Summer

In addition to Sunday services, there are perfect opportunities for you to experience a Coastal summer – which is a gathering summer, as we make space for God’s Spirit to refresh and supply you for the harvest ahead:

• Establish a new rhythm gathering for Saturday Morning Prayer with other Coastal believers.
• Come downtown and immerse yourself in a Saturday Abide Night this summer.
• Be Water Baptized this summer or come cheer on those who are taking this step at English Bay or at our campuses.
• Families, do the Abide Family Summer program in July and August.
• Young Adults, experience revival fire at Summer Regen in July and August.
• Listen for Youth Events and Coastal Socials happening in July and August.
• Join a Life Group. If you are already in a life group or are a life group leader, click here for insight on Staying Strong & Connected this Summer.

Whether through summer gatherings, quiet times, or unexpected road trip conversations, God often uses the summer to shape and spiritually form our lives.

As you lean into personal revival and deepening your abiding relationship with Christ and with His people, I pray these next two months are filled with amazing adventure and lifelong memories as you experience a Coastal summer!