We all know attendance tends to dip during the summer months, and understandably so. School is out, families are vacationing, and snowbirds have fled to warmer climates. Yet, the church doors are still open.
This begs the question–how can your church stay relevant during these summer months in intentional ways and host events for each and every member of your congregation without overextending your budget?
This isn’t an easy feat, but it is possible!
This summer, keep your church engaged with these five budget-friendly ideas that will foster involvement within your congregation and your local community.
1. Host a monthly cookout
Who doesn’t love a good cookout? Or maybe you call it a barbecue. Whatever you want to call it, cookouts and barbecues are a great way to not only provide connection amongst your members but also an informal way for you to invite locals who don’t attend your church to experience your church community.
Whether your church has an open, grassy space outside of your building to use or you have a local park in your community at your disposal, ask a member or two if they can bring their grills and fire up some hotdogs and hamburgers! Host a summer kick-off in June, a July 4th celebration, and maybe even a back-to-school barbecue in August.
Whatever best fits your church’s schedule, everyone loves a good cookout.
2. A day at the park
“Mom! I’m bored. There’s nothing to do around here…” Sound familiar?
Whether you have children of your own or help out with the children of your loved ones and close friends during the summer, one of the biggest challenges for parents/guardians during those summer months is what they can do with their children outside of planned vacations.
What better way for your church to foster community among families within your congregation than to have scheduled park days during the summer? If you have a church management tool that allows you to create and communicate with groups, create one for members with children in their care. Set a cadence for your park day, communicate the time and place, and encourage your members to tell their neighbors who aren’t attendees. Statistics show that when children become involved in church events, then their parents are more likely to begin attending that church.
Have that park day, and you may gain a new member or two.
3. Game Night!
Who doesn’t love a good game night? Whether you’re 5 or 95, board games bridge generational gaps by tapping into the playfulness that lies in us all. It’s also an excellent way for your church members to come together and enjoy a fun night without spending money!
Here are a few things you can do to plan for your game night and allow your members to contribute to the fun:
- Ask everyone to bring a game or two that they enjoy playing.
- If you’re concerned about tables and chairs, ask your members if they have any folding chairs and tables they can bring with them.
- Do a potluck! Ask everyone to bring their favorite dish or dessert.
If you have a church management tool that allows you to streamline all of the details and communication for events like this, utilize it to ensure your game nights are a success!
4. Bridge/Bingo Tuesdays!
Growing up, my grandmother and her friends played bridge and bingo weekly. I remember asking her why, and she said, “Well, it’s something me and all of my friends can do without breaking a sweat or a bone!”
Commonality paves the way for connection. It’s important to host events for the whole congregation, but it’s equally important to create events where people walking the same life path can fellowship with one another.
Poll your retirees within your congregation and discover what day of the week they would like to meet. Would they prefer mid-morning or a lunch gathering where everyone brings a dish? While technology has many advantages and older generations are much more comfortable utilizing communication apps than they sometimes get credit for, use your discretion here. If a paper sign-up works best, then do that.
Remember, the goal is to host low-cost yet fun events that your congregation can attend, ones they can invite their neighbors and friends to, and ones that will keep your church relevant during the summer.
5. Coffee Chat
Okay. So we’ve covered events for families, parents/guardians with kids, your whole congregation, and the older demographic, all with opportunities to invite the community. Which leaves…young, single adults!
If your town is anything like mine, coffee shops are crawling with young adults on summer break from college and young singles who are looking for entertainment without alcohol. From open mic nights and poetry readings to an occasional comedic night, a hip and moody coffee shop is the perfect place for this group to meet and fellowship with each other.
Lean into your church’s technology here. Utilize your church management solution’s app so these individuals can update each other on the time, place, and frequency of their meet-ups. If your church doesn’t have these types of tools, at ACS Technologies, we offer a plethora of communication tools for just these types of scenarios within our Realm bundles.
One Last Thing
I hope the ideas above help your ministry. But as always, you know your church and your people. So, use the above as a guideline or a springboard, or even brainstorm how your church can keep your members engaged and draw your community in during the summer.
Now, let’s make it happen!
Jenna Wallace
Jenna joined the ACST team in February 2020 as a Ministry Consultant for small to mid-size churches with a focus on empowering these ministries with the tools they need to accomplish their goals. She believes regardless of the size of the ministry, each church can utilize technology to fulfill the calling God has given them. Prior to joining ACST, she spent several years as a Sales Consultant across multiple industries, all focusing on relationship building, which she feels has allowed her to provide trusted advice to those in need. Jenna is passionate about helping others which fuels her eagerness to serve.
