Farmers plan for their growing seasons. They know the best time to sow seed and when to expect the harvest. Spring, especially around Easter, brings a unique sense of renewal. Dormant fields come alive again, colors return, and the world seems to wake up with fresh energy. Vacations and events are often planned with this rhythm in mind.
Every organization also experiences seasons in which they naturally see more activity than others. Retailers know the weeks before Christmas are their busiest. Accountants feel the rush leading up to tax deadlines. These organizations plan their calendars around their growing seasons, taking steps in the quieter months that position them for a strong season of return when momentum builds.
Churches experience growing seasons too—times when they are more likely to welcome a larger number of guests and see higher attendance. Easter is one of the greatest opportunities of the year. The message of resurrection draws people who may not have been in a worship service for months, or longer. Momentum grows as families seek meaningful traditions, children participate in special events, and hearts are more open to hope and renewal.
The actions a church plans around these seasons, especially related to outreach and evangelism, can lead to “bearing more fruit.” Of the 52 weeks each year, 12 to 16 of them typically represent a church’s natural growing seasons. By planning events that till, sow, and water before Easter and other growth windows, we can maximize the natural momentum God provides. The more intentional preparation we do, the greater the potential for a meaningful harvest during these gathering seasons.
How to Discover Your Church’s Growing Seasons
1. Secure the monthly average attendance in your Bible study groups for the last twenty years. If twenty years of data isn’t available, gather as much as you can. Twenty years offers the clearest picture, helping account for anomalies (COVID being a major example). If you also have guest counts each month, that’s helpful, but not required.
2. Create a chart showing each year’s attendance by month.
3. Identify the months with the highest average attendance.
4. Look at the weeks leading up to those peaks. You’ll usually find a pattern of rising attendance before the peak and a dip afterward.
Historically, the most common growing season for the average local church is in the fall. That’s one reason many evangelism‑leaning Bible study series are placed during Lifeway’s fall quarter. However, Easter and the spring season represent a significant and predictable surge in attendance. The combination of warmer weather, school rhythms, family gatherings, and spiritual readiness makes Easter one of the church’s most fertile ministry windows.
This toolkit reflects the fall pattern, but your church’s growing seasons may look different depending on your region, community patterns, and local culture. Take time to identify your unique rhythms—including where Easter fits—so you can prepare intentionally for the seasons where God may be preparing a special harvest.