Seasonal Leadership

What is the one thing your church could do this Fall that would open the near future - either in the Spring or a bit later?

That's what we call seasonal leadership.  Seasonal leadership begins with asking, "What could we do this summer that would help us in the Fall?"  Could we equip some leaders?  Do a summer reading challenge at our church that could involve everyone?

One church launched "Summer Pursuit: More than Rest…Restore."  The dream was to keep the people connected as they vacationed and played by reading, blogs and facebook.  Restore was built around a reading schedule and each week the worship highlighted something from the reading schedule and recast the vision of what the summer was about. 

What was even more telling was the response of the church!  By setting direction for the summer it allowed the peopleto take action!  It was restorative action not busyness.  Still, it brought a sense of direction, joy, and anticipation to the body.

Setting a seasonal direction can make the vision even more "earthy" as the people not only hear the larger picture (vision), but see the next steps toward that vision.  Seasonal direction also gives meaning and significance to every thing the church does.  Sermon series, an outreach event, small groups, etc. all have meaning in the season which helps to accomplish the larger vision.

Seasonal direction can give handholds for the vision so that the average person knows how to engage the vision, knows what to do that can add significance to the church, sees their part as a meaningful piece of the larger vision that the Lord is breathing into the leadership.

Seasonal leadership can be as short as 3 months or as long as 12 months.  Leaders need to cast vision beyond 12 months but when a leader brings it down to the next 3-12 months with real action steps (launching small groups, hosting a Friend Day, etc), the leader empowers the people to action.

What's the most important thing for your church in this season?