The one-size-fits-all approach might have once been tried and true. But these days, it’s important to consider your community’s demographics before establishing your summer programming. Each community has a different vibe, and that means different needs and interests. Start by surveying your congregation. Ask them about their ideal summer faith experience. Then consider partnering with local organizations for joint events that bridge faith and community needs. Finally, find ways to weave faith exploration into engaging activities.

Let’s face it, people are more likely to donate and have fun if they feel involved. Fundraising isn’t just about the money. It’s about connecting with your congregation on a deeper level. Create a “Fundraising Committee” where folks can brainstorm and contribute ideas. By making it a team effort, you can help build community and create a sense of ownership among members.

You may think that because not many families attend your church that you can’t strengthen family bonds in faith this summer. That’s not true. Family configurations may have changed, but families are still looking for ways to have fun together. The difference between one or two members of a family coming to church and the rest of the gang showing up, is often just the difference between one or two invitations.

As much as we feel God’s presence in the Creation, it’s not until you get a picture of the whole of the Earth in the Heavens that you realize just how magnificent is God’s creation, and God’s love. For humanity as a whole, that day came in 1968.

Before I share the 4 ways to make the best of the next crisis, let’s address one persistent stumbling block, head on. This stumbling block is the belief that crisis means the best days are behind you. That the future is no longer hopeful. And that it’s all downhill from here. This belief becomes a roadblock to recovery. It prevents you from seeing new opportunities and unexpected openings, or to sense God’s blessing around you.

The further away a church is from being dream-driven and vision-led, the further away it is from Jesus’ miracle mindset. A culture of renewal, on the other hand, is a culture that is identified by miracles.

You may have heard that the church as an institution is over. After all, the nones and dones are increasing while the number of religiously affiliated are decreasing. Generally, giving, worship attendance, and missional engagement have dipped post pandemic. Pundits tell us that the church as we know it is over. Maybe. Maybe not.

What does it take to rebuild community in light of post-pandemic and post-disaffiliation realities? In this article I want to explore the hidden healing power of serving others for fractured communities and congregations.

Rather than fearing or dismissing the message that the spiritual but not religious have communicated by leaving the church, let’s learn from them instead. They’re signaling the need for a shift in church culture we can all benefit from. That’s why I’m writing about how spirituality is the key to re-building community.

…I will be exploring the 3 S’s of post-pandemic community-building. These include being social, being spiritual, and being of service. But before we discuss how the church can participate in ending the loneliness pandemic, there is one myth we have to dispel first.