4 Ways to Keep Your Church Engaged All Summer Long
Historically, the summer is when attendance drops. Families go on vacation. Kids are out of school. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you start wondering if it’s okay to ease up a little.
However, the mission of your church doesn’t take a summer vacation.
People in your community are still searching. Eternity is still on the line. And the leaders who stay intentional in summer are the ones who come back in the fall with more momentum, not less.
So instead of lifting your foot off the gas, what if this summer became one of the most engaging seasons your church has ever had?
Down below are four practical ideas to keep your people connected, excited, and growing all summer long.
Launch a Movie-Based Teaching Series
Every summer, Life.Church runs a series called At the Movies. Our campuses transform their lobbies with movie-themed decor, and our Senior Pastor, Craig Groeschel, uses popular films to open up conversations about Scripture.
As we started doing At the Movies, it contributed to summer being one of our highest-attended seasons.
- Pick two or three movies your community already knows and loves. Think about the themes underneath (redemption, sacrifice, identity, courage) and find the biblical truth that connects.
- Decorate your lobby to match the experience. Popcorn, themed decor, a photo-op area. Make it something people talk about before they even sit down.
- Use the cultural moment. People are already going to movies in the summer. This is your chance to meet them where they are.
You don’t need a huge budget to pull this off. You need creativity and a willingness to try something different.
Download At the Movies Assets
Everything you need to run At the Movies at your church — completely free from Life.Church Open Network.
Download At the Movies Assets →Mobilize Your Church to Serve
Summer is the perfect time to get your people out of the seats and into the community. When your church serves together, something happens that no sermon alone can create: they stop attending a church and start being one.
- Partner with a local school, nonprofit, or neighborhood organization for a one-day serve event. Pack backpacks for kids heading back to school. Clean up a community space.
- Give every age group a role. Kids, students, adults — everyone can contribute. When families serve side by side, it creates memories that outlast any summer vacation.
- Make it easy to invite. A serve day is one of the lowest-barrier invitations you can give a neighbor or coworker: “Hey, we’re volunteering Saturday morning. Do you want to join me?”
When your church becomes known for what it gives, not just what it offers, it opens doors to people you might not have reached before.
Look at Local Missions Resources
Need help partnering with a community organization? Check out the missions resources we have.
Local Missions Resources →Go All In on Your Kids Ministry
If kids are engaged, families come back. And summertime creates the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Kids have more time, more energy, and more openness than they do during the school year. The church that gives kids an unforgettable summer helps families stay connected all year long.
- Use a fun, theme-based curriculum that keeps kids excited week after week. Resources like Camp Wannastay from NewSpring Church — a fully animated outdoor adventure series for preschoolers — are free, ready to use, and built to engage young hearts with biblical truth.
- Incorporate games, creative activities, and hands-on projects. Kids remember experiences more than they remember lessons. Make the experience memorable.
- Decorate your kids’ space to match the theme. When a kid walks in and their eyes light up, you’ve already won the day.
The seeds you plant in a child’s heart this summer could be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Jesus. Don’t let that opportunity pass.
Explore Free Kids Ministry Resources
Find free, ready-to-use summer curriculum and kids ministry resources at open.life.church.
Explore Kids Resources →Host a Family Day at Your Church
One of the simplest, high-impact things you can do this summer is give your church a reason to show up together outside of a normal weekly service. A family day creates connection, lowers the barrier for guests, and reminds your people why they love being part of your church.
- Pick a day and go all in. Lawn games, food, music, a bounce house if you can swing it. Make it a neighborhood event, not just a church event.
- Set up a photo-op area that’s shareable on social media. That’s organic reach you don’t have to pay for.
- Use it as a moment to cast vision. A short word, a prayer over families, a reminder of what you’re all about. Keep it light, but make it meaningful.
People don’t just want to attend a church. They want to belong to one. A Family Day is one of the best ways to remind them that they do.
You Got This!
Don’t let the momentum that your church may be feeling dwindle just because the season changes. When you are intentional with engaging your people this summer, God can use your efforts to reach people and change lives.
You don’t have to do all four of these at once. Start with one:
What’s One Thing You Can Do This Week?
- Pick a date for a summer series and start planning backward.
- Reach out to one local organization about a serve partnership.
- Head to open.life.church and find a free kids’ curriculum for this summer.
- Send a save-the-date for a Family Day to your congregation.
Your people are worth the effort. The mission is worth the energy. And God can do more this summer than you might expect.
Your success matters to us. When you win, the Church wins. Let’s reach people together.
Find free resources to fuel your summer at open.life.church →
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