Overcome Church Summer Slump with These Fresh Ideas

Written by Diana Davis

This article is excerpted from Diana Davis's book Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church by Diana Davis

Also, check out Diana's new book: Fresh Ideas for Women's Ministry: Creative Plans and Programs that Really Work

Fresh Ideas

Summertime can be one of the most exciting seasons of the year for a church, offering expanded opportunities for church ministry. Here are a few fresh ideas.

1. Take it outside
Choose a beautiful summer Sunday and plan a morning or evening worship service outside on the church lawn or at a nearby park. Hang a banner to invite passersby to join you.

How about an outdoor movie night on a blank exterior wall, a softball tournament, or an all-church picnic?
Stage a quality outdoor music performance featuring your youth band, Vacation Bible School musical, praise team, choir or a guest performer or band.
Even better: plan a Christian music series on consecutive Sunday evenings.

2. I went to church in Kalamazoo
Create a large bulletin board titled “I went to church in…” When individuals or families travel for vacation or business this summer, ask them to take a photo in front of any church they attend, and attach it to the board with the church name.

3. Made you look
Attract attention to your church building by planting lush displays of God’s colorful flowers. Tight budget? Allow the children’s class to plant and water several packets of zinnia seeds.

4. Only in summer - Impact children this summer.

Invite the community to a weekly story-time in the church library.
Plan a summer reading program, with an emphasis on great Christian children’s literature.
How about offering an arts program on the afternoons of Vacation Bible School?
A “bring-your-own-sprinkler” party on the church lawn?
A fishing contest, accompanied by an appropriate Bible story.
A summer-long kids’ music ensemble.
A Christian sports clinic.
A children’s music camp week at the church?

5. Dinner theatre
One of my all-time favorite summer projects was an annual full-length Christian dinner theatre by our high school students. Performing a carefully-selected script, such as Three in One by tledford@prodigy.net, the students’ perfectly-rehearsed performance was an effective Christian witness. It took lots of work and energy to prepare sets and backdrops, rehearse actors, and serve a four-course meal. Performances were sold out every year, and many lives were impacted.

6. VBS Blitz
On Sunday after Vacation Bible School, declare an evening of outreach and celebration. Make nice packets of church information and small gifts, address one for each guest who attended VBS, and church members deliver every packet during a one-hour blitz. When they arrive back at the church, the church staff or deacons are grilling burgers and cranking homemade ice cream for an outdoor picnic celebration.

It’s sum-sum-summertime – let the Son shine brightly through your church!

More "Fresh Ideas" for your ministry are available in these practical books by Diana Davis:

Also, check out Diana's official website at www.keeponshining.com

Diana Davis lives in Indianapolis, where her husband Steve serves as the Executive Director for the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. A popular women’s conference speaker, Diana has ministered to women’s groups internationally. She especially loves encouraging pastors' wives and deacons’ wives.

Other free articles from Diana Davis on LifeWay.com:

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Overcome Church Summer Slump with These Fresh Ideas