May is coming to a close. Schools have wrapped up and students have headed home. If you’re a campus-focused collegiate ministry odds are you’re already shifting into summer mode. If you’re a church-based ministry that’s targeting young adults post-college then you’re facing the change of people’s schedules with vacation time, summer events, and more.
Regardless of what your schedule as a ministry leader will look like over the next 2-3 months, there are three words you need to keep in mind as you lead through the summer:
Lead intentionally
The only way you fail this summer as a leader is not putting intentional thought into how you’re going to use your time.
Don’t assume that because you did a certain event for the last 8 months that you should do it for the next 3. Don’t assume that because you’ve always done a summer project trip with your leaders that you ought to do that again this year.
Do the central work of a leader and step back to prayerfully evaluate your context, the needs, and the opportunities that are in front of you. Determine what is most important to accomplish this summer, and then shape your activities and ministry accordingly.
Lead Simply
For young adult and collegiate ministry summer is a prime time to simplify your schedule.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have less on your schedule (though that would probably be good!), but it does mean that what’s on your schedule should be simple.
If you usually have a mid-week collegiate worship service with a band, sermon, and large crowd, simplifying might look like shifting to two hang out nights a month and two worship services. If you have several student-led discipleship groups during the school year simplifying might look like shifting to two larger, gender-specific groups that meet a couple times a month.
Whatever it looks like, lead simply.
Lead Relationaly
This is perhaps the most important of the three words. Summer lends itself well to shifting the focus from training and equipping people to connecting relationally. Often those who stay connected to you over the summer are some of your most committed, faithful people – whether they’re physically attending events you have or have headed across the country to be back with their family after the school year.
Regardless of proximity to your people, you can leverage summer as an opportunity to go deeper with those who are connected rather than trying to convince more to stick around or trying to cram more knowledge into those who are connected’s heads. Whatever you do, make it intentionally relational.
Do a monthly Jackbox game night as a fun way to keep your leadership team connected if they’re college students who have headed home for the summer. Host those who are still in town for a couple grillouts. Plan a camping trip. Start a text thread and share ridiculous memes that remind you of memories from the last year.
Intentional, simple, and relational
Lead well this summer and it will set you up for a far more effective fall. Whatever you do over the next couple months our prayer is that it’s impactful and helps keep you and your people engaged as disciples of Jesus!
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