
By the time July hits, summer ministry feels less like a sprint and more like a slow crawl through a humid, snack-fueled wasteland. Camp is over. Mission trips are done (or nearly there). Your volunteers are vanishing like free pizza. And your students? They’re somewhere between sleep schedules that make no sense and spontaneous road trips their parents forgot to tell you about.
If you’re feeling tired, a little crispy around the edges, and wondering if ministry is supposed to feel like this: congrats. You’re normal. And good news: you’re not done yet.
Here are a few survival tips (and one or two thrive tips) to help you finish the summer well:
1. Lower the Bar, but Keep It Meaningful
If your July calendar is full of epic theme nights and you have zero energy to run them, you’re allowed to pivot. Movie nights. Board games. Popsicles and prayer. Give yourself permission to simplify.
Students don’t need high production every week. They need consistent adults who care. If that adult is wearing mismatched socks and drinking iced coffee like it’s a lifeline, even better. You’re relatable now.
2. Don’t Skip the One-on-Ones
Summer is the perfect time for relational wins. Some of the most meaningful ministry moments happen when you grab ice cream with a student or coffee with a leader.
If your regular rhythm has been big events, now is the time to go small. Text the student who’s been quiet. Call that volunteer who’s had a tough summer. The relational deposits you make now will pay off big when fall hits.
3. Take a Day Off and Actually Take It Off
You’ve earned it. Really.
Stop checking the group chat. Leave the inbox unopened. Don’t “just drop by” the church office. Sabbath is not for superstars. It’s for humans. You are one of those.
And if you’re the type who struggles to rest unless it’s productive, call it “strategic soul recalibration” and put it on your calendar. There. Now it’s official.
4. Let Students Lead Something. Anything.
One of the sneakiest benefits of summer is the freedom to experiment. Let a student share a devotional. Have them run games. Ask them to lead a prayer night.
Will it be awkward? Yes. Will it be awesome anyway? Also yes.
When students take ownership, they feel the weight of ministry and the joy. Don’t wait for fall to start giving them chances to lead.
5. Remember Why This Matters
Some of the students in your group right now are figuring out who they are. They’re trying to understand faith. They’re deciding if church is for them or if this was just a summer thing.
You’re showing up when it’s easy to cancel. You’re caring when no one’s clapping. You’re making a difference that’s hard to measure.
So don’t lose heart. Or at least don’t lose it alone. Talk to your people. Pray with your team. Laugh at the weird stories and hold on to the good ones.
You’re doing better than you think. And summer’s not over yet.
But hey: neither are you.