Summer changes the rhythm of church life.
After the spring hustle of Easter, Mother’s Day, and graduation activities, a different pace settles in. Families set off for vacation, kids head to sports tournaments and camps, and weekly routines change. Before long, it may seem like your congregation has scattered in every direction.
While a less-packed calendar can offer a welcome breather for church leaders, summer can also create challenges. The work of ministry never stops. Sunday comes every week, no matter the season. Even when your regular attendees are less engaged, services still need volunteers, budgets still need support, and fall calendars wait just around the corner.
If you’re feeling these pressures, you’re not alone! Many leaders face these common summer realities—regardless of church size. Though there’s no one magic action item to remove the challenges completely, it is possible to balance the slower pace of summer with the ongoing needs of ministry life.
Read on for a list of four common problems church leaders struggle with every summer, and some of our tips to help you navigate them.
Problem #1: A Shortage of Volunteers
Many churches have a dedicated rotation of faithful volunteers who provide consistent support throughout the year. Gaps can arise when schedules change; however, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options for help. Summer offers an excellent chance to build your volunteer base and develop leaders in your congregation. The slower-paced season offers new volunteers ways to get involved with less pressure (think: organizing a casual picnic is much simpler than heading up the women’s Christmas outreach event!).
Every church is different, but most congregations have capable individuals who would love the opportunity to use their gifts to assist during the summer. A member of staff can provide encouragement and support, without carrying the full burden of planning. Not only does this give your staff some breathing room, it also creates opportunities for more people to experience the meaningful rewards of investing in the ministry of the church.
For specific areas such as children’s programs and worship, planning ahead can make a big difference. Ask your regular volunteers about upcoming vacations and summer absences so you can identify potential gaps in the calendar before they become last-minute problems.
Learn how OCS helps manage volunteer schedules and communication here >>
Consider inviting responsible tweens or teens to serve as classroom assistants (be mindful of your church’s policy on background checks). For worship ministry, explore the possibility of inviting a guest worship leader to provide additional support and variety during the summer months. If tech volunteers are shorthanded, acoustic sets can provide an impactful worship experience. Build rotating teams so that there is a solid base to pull from, and establish clear communication for swapping assignments when the need arises.
Volunteer shortages can feel challenging, but they often reveal opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked. By inviting new people into service roles and recruiting volunteers to help with event planning, you can turn summer gaps into a chance for growth.
Problem #2: Supporting Busy Parents
Summer doesn’t necessarily feel slow and relaxed for parents. School routines disappear and calendars quickly fill with camps, sports, and vacations. Many parents are still working full-time while juggling all of these moving pieces.
During a season that can feel hectic, parents need to stay connected with their church community, but they may not have the capacity for another major commitment on their calendar. The good news is that meaningful connection can happen in simple ways.
Instead of feeling pressure to plan standalone events at your church, look for opportunities happening in your community and invite church families to attend those together. A local farmer’s market, outdoor concert, community theater production, or library story hour can become an easy gathering point to keep busy parents from feeling isolated, but not burden their schedules.
If you do plan events at your church, look for options that don’t create a heavy workload for staff or volunteers. An ice cream social following the Sunday worship service, family board game night with snacks, or tailgate in the church parking lot with yard games like spikeball and frisbee can offer low-effort yet meaningful spaces for conversation, friendship, and encouragement.
Our Communication features help you streamline the administrative side of event management—enabling you to spend less time scheduling and communicating, and more time enjoying summer fun with your church family. Learn more >>
Problem #3: Decreased Financial Support
Summer often brings a dip in both attendance and giving. If your church still relies heavily on in-person donations through the offering plate, changes in attendance patterns can cause budget fluctuations. As families travel and routines change, many givers miss opportunities to donate simply because they aren’t in the building.
That’s why summer is a great time to remind your congregation about digital giving options. Online and text-to-give tools make it easy for people to give securely from anywhere, whether they’re at home, on vacation, or sitting on the sidelines at a baseball tournament.
Recurring giving is especially helpful throughout the summer because donations continue automatically when schedules change. No matter the life stage—retiree, working professional, or busy parent—everyone appreciates having one less detail to keep track of!
Setting up an automated donation only takes a few minutes and makes giving easy, no matter where summer plans lead. It’s a simple convenience for your congregation and a practical way to help your church maintain a more predictable summer budget. Donors can even choose to cover processing costs, helping more of every gift support your ministry
Learn more about One Church Software’s online giving >>
Problem #4: Helping Church Staff Recharge
Summer can be a challenging season for church leaders. Without a chance to recharge, staff can quickly find themselves running on empty after a busy ministry year.
Thankfully, there are ways to create margin for your staff to refuel, while still caring for your congregation throughout the summer months.
Summer is the perfect time to use technology to stay connected to your people without requiring extensive monitoring and follow-up. Communications can be scheduled in advance, allowing ministry to continue while staff members take time away. Consider preparing email newsletters in advance, scheduling push notifications with encouraging Bible verses, or creating devotional content to be shared regularly throughout the summer months. With a little preparation, you can help your church members stay connected and inspired—while still giving your staff a chance to enjoy a much-needed break.
We provide the tools needed to send emails, texts, and push notifications to stay in touch with your congregation over the busy summer months. Learn more >>
One Church Software can also help reduce the administrative workload by automating common tasks to give church leaders more time. Features such as automated follow-up workflows, online forms, and reporting tools can keep ministry moving forward even amidst the variables that summer brings.
Strategic use of automated tools can help care for your congregation and allow your team to return refreshed, energized, and ready to hit the ground running for fall.
See Summer as an Opportunity
The warm days and golden sunsets of summertime offer a unique chance to slow down and savor life. Rather than viewing summer as a season of low engagement or small numbers, see it as an opportunity to build relationships, develop new leaders and volunteers, streamline systems, and simply take time to recharge.
With a little planning, flexibility, and a positive mindset, your church can embrace the rhythm of summer while laying the groundwork for an impactful next season.
We are here to help you thrive in every season of ministry! If your church needs help setting up online giving or customizing your communication systems, now is the perfect time to try out a FREE 30-day demo of One Church Software.
