With summer just around the corner, I want to challenge you NOT to buy into the average way of thinking that you can’t avoid the summer slump.

You CAN flatten the summer dip and increase your stewardship using 8 practices we’ve developed at The Journey.

In this current blog series we’ve covered the first six ways to avoid the slump. Here are the remaining two:

1. 7. Work the stewardship system
      – Don’t get slack during the summer. Make sure you’re doing follow-up. Send out those giving statements.
      
      – Evaluate how the system is working for you – take measurements.
      
      
   8. Be sure that YOU’RE on track with your summer giving.
      – Set a spiritual model. If the leaders aren’t giving, the church won’t. If we’re behind in giving, the first thing I check is my own giving, then the staff’s giving.
      
      – Hold yourself and your leaders accountable. Have an agreement in place in advance with all your staff to tithe. If someone falls behind, address the issue to make any necessary corrections, while giving them the benefit of the doubt.
      

Don’t just glide through this summer to have to beg this fall. Using the 8 tips I’ve shared with you over the last three weeks, you can avoid the summer dip, encourage giving, and even grow this summer.

Click here for Part 1 of this series.

Click here for Part 2 of this series.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.