5. Take a Break From Preaching.
Many churches do this, but bring in different speakers. Depending on the size of your church, it might give someone else on staff or a member an opportunity to develop their gift of communication. Your church gets to hear a different voice. And depending on who speaks, your church might realize how gifted you are as a preacher and teacher.
6. Evaluate the Direction and Vision of Your Church.
Sometimes leaders need to work on the church rather than in the church. I’m not sure doing both is possible concurrently.
It’s hard to step back and look at the overall direction of your church or ministry during fall and spring months. This takes time and thought. Maybe you pull your staff (or the leaders in your church) together for thoughts and input.
7. Invest Time in your Staff.
Fall and spring are busy times, not just for you, but also for your staff and volunteers. Use the summer months to invest in your staff, especially the ones you don’t know well or don’t often cross paths with.
Invite your staff and their families over for dinner and maybe some corn hole. Grab coffee with a different staff member each week.
8. Recharge Your Batteries.
Yes, family vacations and reading books are part of this. But I’m talking specifically about spiritual batteries here.
Use the summer to take a prayer retreat. Take an extended sabbath. Spend a few days without your phone and away from electronics. You would need to plan this ahead of time. But it could be an important reminder that neither your church nor your God need you. The world will run with or without you. God’s in control, and nothing could be more foundational to your effectiveness.
9. Make resources available for people to connect with God and others even if they are traveling.
As a pastor and leader, you want to equip people for ministry. Remind them they are bearers of the gospel whether on a baseball field or a condo on the beach. Give them resources to engage and grow where ever life takes them. Here are a few examples:
Send out a Bible verse daily with a question for thought. You can do this via email. You could also do this by creating a Facebook page. This will give everyone a sense of togetherness and keep their hearts and minds focused on Scripture.
If your church has live stream, encourage your church to worship wherever they are. If you don’t have live stream, use Facebook Live (it’s easy to use, here’s an article to get you started) or Periscope.
Put together of list of summer reading books. Working in full-time ministry and blogging, people often ask for books I recommend. Make this list available on your church website.
10. Plan Ahead for the Fall.
Get a head start on the sermons and teachings for the fall. This gives your mind several months to stir around ideas and thoughts. The longer your topics marinate in life experiences, the more impactful they will be.
The “summer slump” isn’t a waste of two months. You can thrive during this season. Your church can do the same. If you embrace this time, you will grow, your family will be healthier, and your church will be stronger. Then, as summer gives way to fall, the ground will be ready for a large harvest.
May you and your church thrive this summer.
I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!
