{"id":32515,"date":"2022-09-10T16:12:33","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/15-ways-to-beat-the-summer-slump\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:12:33","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:12:33","slug":"15-ways-to-beat-the-summer-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/15-ways-to-beat-the-summer-slump\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Ways to Beat the Summer Slump"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Lisa Cannon Green<\/em><\/p>\n

Ah, summertime. The living is easy, and the pews are empty.<\/p>\n

Family trips, kids\u2019 camps, and a penchant for relaxation can wreak havoc on summer church attendance\u2014but leaders who simply hang on until September are missing an opportunity, says Kris Dolberry, a pastor, Bible teacher, and former leader of Lifeway Men.<\/p>\n

\u201cPastors and leaders say, \u2018We can\u2019t do what we would normally do, so let\u2019s batten down the hatches and do only the essentials,\u2019\u201d he says. \u201cCreativity and new strategies to reach people are put on hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, summer can be a time to shift focus and extend the church\u2019s ministry into new areas. \u201cRide the wave of momentum culture gives you,\u201d Dolberry says.<\/p>\n

In every age group, churches can use summer as a time to re-energize. Here are some ideas to try.<\/p>\n

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Kids<\/h3>\n
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1. Create summer traditions. Schedule special events such as Vacation Bible School at the same time each year, says Jana Magruder, director of Lifeway Kids.<\/p>\n

Whether you choose the beginning or end of summer, keep it consistent. \u201cFamilies will start planning around that week and will be there to participate and help.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Experiment. Trying new curriculum can be disruptive in the middle of a school year, Magruder says, and developing new study materials can be a time-consuming burden if tackled year-round.<\/p>\n

Instead, she says, \u201cuse off-peak times like summer to try new things, whether it\u2019s a curriculum you haven\u2019t used before or writing your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Have fun. While school\u2019s out, kids are looking for ways to get together. Check out the parks and recreation opportunities in your community, and schedule some fun outings, Magruder recommends.<\/p>\n

\u201cTarget the different age groups, from preschool to preteen, and offer times for them to get to know each other better.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Sunday mornings, get kids\u2019 attention with fun T-shirts, prizes, games, and activities that feel different from the rest of the year. \u201cThe kids enjoy it so much, they wake up on Sunday mornings and say, \u2018Mom and Dad, we have to go.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Provide resources for families to use at home. Parents and kids who study the Bible together in the summer can create a habit that lasts all year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough families may not be coming to church as regularly, they might be spending more time together,\u201d Magruder says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to encourage them to get into the Word together.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Recruit new volunteers. Volunteers go on vacation too\u2014and without them, many kids\u2019 ministries can\u2019t even open their doors.<\/p>\n

To fill the summertime gap, leaders can attract new people with a short-term commitment: \u201cHey, I really need help for just six weeks. Will you be around?\u201d Some may discover they love children\u2019s ministry and stick around for the long term.<\/p>\n

Students<\/h3>\n
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1. Be creative with the calendar. Teens\u2019 summer schedules are packed with camps, sports, summer jobs, and other commitments. To reach them, churches need to offer Bible studies and activities outside typical hours, says Paul Turner, student ministry expert.<\/p>\n

Churches may even need to offer the same event multiple times in a single week. \u201cIt requires more work of leaders, but if we\u2019re called to equip the saints, we need to do it at times when students can actually be equipped.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Get out of town. Summer camps and mission trips can immerse students in ministry and open their eyes in ways that are difficult to duplicate during the rest of the year, Turner says.<\/p>\n

Teens in search of activities to list on their r\u00e9sum\u00e9s often discover something deeper. \u201cThey begin to understand the opportunity and really the responsibility we have to be involved in ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Get into the community. While mission trips are great, students may not realize people in their hometown have the same needs, Turner says. Perspectives change when teens encounter nearby soup kitchens and homeless shelters.<\/p>\n

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\u201cKids begin to realize these are real people, created in the very image of God,\u201d Turner says. \u201cWe help them see how Christ is at work right here where we live.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Build deeper relationships with smaller numbers. Summer attendance may be lower, but numbers don\u2019t define success, Turner says. Less hampered by the demands of crowd control, leaders can focus on strengthening relationships and guiding students deeper into ministry, nurturing a faith that will ripple into kids\u2019 adult lives.<\/p>\n

5. Equip parents to be spiritual developers. Parents may try to outsource their students\u2019 spiritual growth, Turner says: \u201cI\u2019ll send my kids to church, and the church is going to develop them spiritually.\u201d But Deuteronomy 6 shows spiritual development is a parent\u2019s responsibility.<\/p>\n

Youth ministers can support parents by saying, \u201cI realize your role is the primary spiritual developer. What do you need from me? How can I best serve you? How can I resource you to be all that God wants you to become?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adults<\/h3>\n
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1. Give people permission to be away. Instead of fighting the cultural trend, plan to be \u201cthe church scattered\u201d during the summer, Dolberry advises. Your people will be traveling; show them how to be an extension of the church as they go. \u201cIt\u2019s almost as if you\u2019re mobilizing missionaries for the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those who remain at home, let summer be a time to relax and enjoy. \u201cGive your groups permission to get together, talk about life, laugh together and play corn hole in the backyard,\u201d he says. The enhanced relationships will enrich the entire year.<\/p>\n

2. Plan outreach opportunities. Where do people in your congregation tend to vacation? Contact ministries there and find out how visitors can help. Share the needs with your people and suggest they devote a day of their vacation to serving.<\/p>\n

\u201cPastors or Sunday school teachers can be proactive before the summer to offer those kinds of opportunities,\u201d Dolberry says.<\/p>\n

3. Stream your services. With technology such as video streaming, people can engage in worship gatherings while they\u2019re out of town. \u201cIf church leaders aren\u2019t streaming their services, they should figure out a way to, especially in the summertime,\u201d says Dolberry. \u201cIt\u2019s easier now than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Keep in touch. A weekly devotional\u2014delivered by email or even via Facebook Live\u2014can keep vacationers engaged in what\u2019s happening back at church, says Dolberry.<\/p>\n

5. Dive deep in a book of the Bible. Summer can be a great time for an in-depth study of a single book of the Bible, Dolberry says. \u201cIn the fall, when everybody re-engages, you\u2019ve got a better picture of the Bible than you had when the summer began.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly King, women\u2019s ministry specialist for Lifeway, agrees. \u201cSummer is a really good time to offer Bible studies for women, especially schoolteachers who may not have time during the school year,\u201d says King. She suggests choosing Bible studies light on homework and easy to follow even when someone misses a week.<\/p>\n

Summertime brings new rhythms to everyday life, and although church attendance may dip, the different pace can be a source of spiritual growth, Dolberry says.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod worked for six days creating, and then on the seventh day He rested\u2014not because He was tired but because He changed his focus,\u201d Dolberry says. \u201cSo, picture summer as a Sabbath time for a local church. Change your focus to something different from your normal rhythm throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the summer, we\u2019ll celebrate\u2014\u2018Look what the Lord did, not just in us while we gathered here but through us as we scattered from here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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Lisa Green<\/h2>\n

@lisacgreen<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Lisa is a former senior editor at Lifeway Research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n