Summer means many things. We get longer days, luminous weather, leisurely vacations…. and lastly church growth. Okay, maybe that last one seems a little out of place. As church leaders, we all know that summer is the worst time of the year for church growth, right?
When the temperature rises, we stare down a slump that’s as inevitable as a breaking wave. We’ve been taught by those who have gone before us that summer is a time to strap in and make the best of what we’ve got, while look forward to the tide’s turning in the fall… but what if that thinking is all wrong? What if it is actually possible to grow our churches through the summer?
Since it’s launch in 2002, The Journey Church in New York City has seen growth each and every summer. How? By discovering what it takes to use the tricky months of June, July, and August to our advantage. If you know how to maximize summertime, you can continue to be effective throughout the season and set yourself up for a huge growth spurt in the fall.
The key is to keep your attendance consistent when our regulars head out for their vacations by using the summer to reach new attenders. While you may not see actual numerical increase over the summer, you will see consistency and you will set yourself up for a strong start when school is back in session.
So, the onset of warmer weather means that you have a decision to make. You have two options before you pack away those jackets and sweats: You can either choose to plant in the summer or beg in the fall.
We recommend planting, planting, and planting some more. Plant the seeds of the gospel in the the summer sun by making an intentional decision to be creative in three important areas:
- Creative with Outreach
- Creative with Message
- Creative with Small Groups
Learn how your church can maximize the opportunities of summer.
Download your FREE Maximizing Summer E-book here:
www.churchleaderinsights.com/summer
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