As the weather warms up and summer approaches, churches have a great opportunity to deepen relationships, foster new connections, and expand their reach within the community. However, these won’t just naturally happen. Instead, churches need to be strategic and intentional in both outreach efforts and member care.
Here are a few ways your church can make the most of this summer:
The Opportunity of Summer
Unlike every other season, summer brings a unique rhythm to day-to-day life. Families shift their schedules as schools let out, people spend more time outdoors, and there's a general openness to spontaneous gatherings and relaxed programming. For churches, this season is more than just a break from regular routines; it’s a chance to build relational bridges that can have a lasting impact.
With more daylight hours and fewer competing commitments, people are often more willing to attend events or try something new. It’s a perfect opportunity for churches to move beyond their walls and prioritize relationship building.
Types of Summer Community Events
There’s no shortage of creative ways churches can bring people together during the summer months. The key is to offer a variety of events that encourage participation from all ages and stages of the community. Here are a few ideas:
- Church Picnics or BBQs: Casual gatherings in local parks or on church grounds are great for fellowship. Add games, music, or a bounce house, and it becomes a multi-generational event.
- Outdoor Worship Services: Take advantage of beautiful weather by hosting services outdoors. These events can serve as an easy invitation for friends and neighbors.
- Summer Sports Leagues or Tournaments: Organize community softball, kickball, or volleyball leagues for both children and adults. Sports are a great way to build relationships and open doors for deeper connections over time.
- Service Projects: Whether it's organizing a community clean-up, serving in a food pantry, or volunteering at a shelter, summer is an ideal time to get more people involved in service.
- Family Movie Nights: Set up an outdoor screen and invite the community for free movies under the stars. It’s a simple way to connect with families in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.
Targeting Intergenerational Engagement
As you think through your church’s activities, be mindful about reaching out to every generation. Creating programs and events where children, youth, adults, and seniors all feel included strengthens the church’s sense of unity. Not every event needs to be targeted at every person, but here are a few ways you can help to bridge the gaps:
- Pair older adults with youth in mentorship-style volunteer teams
- Offer child-friendly options at adult events (like face painting or kid zones)
- Host storytelling nights or craft days that bring generations together
- Plan inclusive activities, like nature walks or ice cream socials, that naturally appeal to all age groups
Intentional intergenerational engagement not only increases participation, but also fosters meaningful relationships across age groups. Ultimately, this will strengthen your church and encourage engagement for years to come.
Leveraging Outdoor Spaces and Partnerships
One of the best things about summer events is the opportunity to utilize new areas and think outside of the box. Look at nearby parks, fields, and open areas that could work for some of the events mentioned above. You could also partner with local schools, community groups, or non-profits to extend your reach and establish relationships with other people in the community.
Especially with outreach, the more visible you are, the better!
Digital Tools to Extend Summer Reach
As you think through visibility and promotion for your summer plans, don’t forget to use digital tools to invite, engage, and follow up in meaningful ways. This could be done through:
- Email & Text Messaging: Keep members informed and involved with regular updates and reminders.
- Social Media: Share behind-the-scenes photos, livestream parts of events, or post testimonials to spark interest and reach new audiences.
- Event Livestreaming: For those who can’t attend in person, live broadcasts of worship services or events can help to expand your reach and engage people not physically present.
Engaging online can help to expand the impact of your event and keep momentum up long after summer ends.
Measuring Community Engagement Success
Lastly, to make the most of summer for community connection, it’s important to establish ways to measure engagement from the beginning. This means implementing a strategy to collect data and analyze what you find so you can be better prepared to make adjustments in the future.
Here are a few things to consider tracking:
- Volunteer Participation and Feedback: Are people excited to serve again? What suggestions do they have?
- Follow-Up Engagement: Are attendees returning for future events or church services?
- Guest Attendance: How many new people attended each event? Was this more for your members or for people in the community?
- Community Impact Stories: Capture and share moments where lives were touched or new friendships were formed.
Tracking these kinds of data helps churches celebrate wins and improve future efforts, so you can continue to have impactful summers for years to come.
Next Steps
Summer provides a great opportunity to reset and renew your church’s relationship with the community. By being intentional, creative, and inclusive, you can make the most of the summer months to build lasting connections that carry into the fall and beyond.
Whether you're planning a neighborhood picnic or launching a summer service campaign, the right tools can make your tasks more manageable and impactful. Ministry Brands Amplify can help you streamline event planning, track attendance, coordinate with volunteers, stay connected through digital tools, and so much more. Try your free demo here.
