About a month ago, we shared seven mistakes churches make when it comes to summer discipleship and what they do (or don’t do). Today, we wanted to share the inverse of that. What does a solid summer of discipleship look like in the local church? Some of these may be applicable to your context. Some of them may not be, and that’s okay!
Here are seven ingredients that make for a strong summer of discipleship:
1. At least one clear discipleship goal for the summer
In all areas of life, we are much more likely to succeed in our efforts if we have a target at which we can aim. Many ministry leaders get through the whirlwind of ministry in the spring months leading up to and following Easter, and they are happy just to take some time to breathe in the summer. This is good and necessary–ministry leaders need rest, too!
But our churches would be well-served if we took hold of the summer with some intentionality and set at least one or two goals for how we want to see people be discipled throughout the summer. What could a goal be for your church?
2. Early and frequent communication with your church
People can’t stay connected to what they don’t know is happening. A lot of churches, if they’re being honest, sometimes struggle on the communications front. Sometimes events or programs fall through the cracks and never make it to weekly announcements or emails to the congregation. Even then, not everyone reads every email or makes it to church every week. Communication gaps happen, and this reality can be exacerbated in the spring and summer as schedules get a bit more erratic.
Every church may find its own solution to this common communication gap, but what it comes down to is consistency and repetition. Any plans you have for summer ministry need to be communicated early and often. Will some people hear that same announcement all six times and be slightly annoyed? Sure! But many will only hear that announcement once or twice over a six-week period and sign up or attend.
Communicate early and often this spring and summer.
3. Tools for small group leaders to lead on their own
Empowered small group leaders keep discipleship momentum humming even when staff bandwidth is thinner than normal. As we’ve discussed already, summer is a common time for church staff members to take time off or otherwise not be around as much. This is good, and it also doesn’t mean discipleship efforts have to slow down! The spring-into-summer timeframe can be a great time for church leaders to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” as Paul calls them to do in Ephesians 4:12-16. The church can still do this work even in the summertime.
Solid Bible study materials (like our topical studies or deep dive studies) can be effective tools in the hands of small group leaders who may not be getting as much direction from church staff this summer.
4. Flexible on-ramps for inconsistent attenders
Because summer schedules are unpredictable, the discipleship efforts your church puts forth in the summertime should account for some measure of inconsistency. People will travel, skip out for family functions, and otherwise miss out on opportunities to meet, so this makes a strong case for low-barrier ways to stay connected. What do these kinds of discipleship efforts look like, practically?
It may mean your discipleship ministry this summer is made up of shorter Bible studies (like our Rooted Rhythms series). It could mean that your small groups are even smaller than normal, to keep a more consistent core. Or it could even mean that you set up more one-on-one discipleship opportunities in the summer. Regardless, it is wise to account for the unpredictability of the season in your planning.
5. Follow up with every spring visitor (if this hasn’t happened yet)
The window to follow up and establish a deeper connection with a new visitor to your church is often shorter than you may think. People who visited your church for the first time this spring are still likely trying to figure out if your church is the right place for them to grow spiritually and develop community. A simple follow-up text, phone call, or even coffee chat with those new attenders can go a long way to keeping them around through the summer and into the fall. Unpredictable schedules aside, summer can be a great time for new church attenders to establish new relationships and grow more comfortable with your church family.
6. Piloting something new in the slower season
Lower stakes and lighter schedules can make the summer the smartest time to test and learn, if you can navigate the tricky and inconsistent schedules that come with the season. This is why we encourage churches to take the summer to pilot Rooted. By piloting Rooted in the summer, churches set themselves up for a solid slate of fall Rooted groups that take advantage of more consistent schedules and attendance. (We have a Rooted Pilot Kit available specifically for churches looking to pilot Rooted.)
A summer pilot of Rooted with a small group of church staff and other key leaders generates the kinds of feedback and leadership development that lay important groundwork for a fruitful fall of discipleship. When you pilot a Rooted group in the summer, you make an investment that will pay dividends as soon as the fall.
7. A clear bridge to the fall
Speaking of fall, a solid summer of discipleship doesn’t coast into fall. A solid summer of discipleship builds toward the fall. What could this look like practically?
Maybe your church hosts a fun event for the community that marks the start of the school year. This kind of event gives an opportunity for families who are new to the area or just recently learned about your church to get plugged in amid a fun, social environment instead of at a weekend worship service, which may be intimidating to them.
Maybe your church could hold a special gathering for church leaders and volunteers around the end of the summer to thank them for their work. You could provide childcare, order some delicious food, and spend some time celebrating and thanking leaders for the work they are about to do instead of thanking them after they’ve done it. This kind of event can set a tone of expectation and excitement for the upcoming fall season.
However it looks for your church, it is a good idea to build an intentional bridge from the summer into the fall instead of just stumbling into the more dynamic season of ministry that often comes with the school year.
It’s All About Intentionality
A solid summer of discipleship is not about doing as much as possible. A solid summer of discipleship is about being intentional. If you got a group of 12 churches together to talk about what summer looks like for their ministries, you’d get at least 12 different answers. However your summer is shaping up, consider how a couple of these ingredients may mix into your summer plans and help you not just coast through the season this year.
