The Importance of Summertime

Today officially marks the beginning of the summer season. Generally speaking, summertime means longer days filled with more sun and warmer weather. It is also the season when many families get away for vacation and fun. But for many of the Christian leaders and churches/ministries that we serve, this summer is shaping up to be a critical one. Here are three reasons why:

For one, this summer is shaping up to be the "summer of transition". As we shared several months ago, 8 out of the 30 leaders that we serve through B&C are already in-transition. Some of these leaders will begin their new assignments this summer. However, we also know at least 3 more leaders that will be transitioning out of their roles this coming June or July. When leaders transition, typically the churches and ministries that they lead also undergo a transition as well. We cannot underscore the importance of navigating these transitions well - both for the leader and for the ministry that they lead. How a leader/ministry goes about this transition process can either set them forward for the next few years or in the worst case scenario, set them backwards a few years.

Secondly, summer is typically a time when leaders and churches scale back the load of ministry to experience rest and renewal. For example, a couple of the leaders that we serve through B&C will be taking an extended sabbatical this summer. Several more will be getting some much needed time away from their week-to-week responsibilities for solitude or extended family time. And this experience of deeper rest/renewal is not only critical for pastors but for the lay leaders that serve as small group leaders, teachers in education ministries, as well as other ministries in the church. At B&C, we firmly believe that leading and serving out of the place of rest and renewal is one of the key ways to keep the church vibrant and strong.

Last but not least, summer is typically a time where many churches/ministries experience a reset of sorts and recalibrate so that they can either have a good start to the new ministry year (typically Fall quarter) or finish the remainder of the ministry year strong. Part of this can be done through assessment and re-strategizing. But the other huge part in this process requires the leadership to discern and trust the overall direction of God's leading over His church. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, it is always better to trust the Lord and lean into His leadership above our own.

So as the summer season closely approaches, we'd like to invite you to pray for the leaders, churches, and ministries that we serve through B&C. Please pray for any leader or ministry that will be going through a transition this summer - that there would be grace in the process. Please also pray that this summer would be a time of deep rest and renewal for them. Last but not least, please pray that these leaders would discern the heart of God and trust in His leadership over His church.