Four Part Series: Leading Through the Seasons of Ministry

Jul 24

Every ministry has seasons — not just in terms of the calendar, but in terms of rhythm, energy, and focus. These don’t always line up perfectly with the weather outside, but metaphorically, they often mirror the natural seasons in surprisingly helpful ways.

In this series, I want to explore four ministry seasons — Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring — not as fixed dates, but as leadership mindsets. Each one offers unique opportunities (and challenges), and when we recognize and lead in rhythm with these seasons, we can shepherd our churches more faithfully, strategically, and sustainably.

Part 1: Summer — The Season of Building and Preparation

For many pastors and ministry leaders, summer falls into one of two extremes. Either it’s a wide-open stretch of relaxed, lackadaisical days that slowly drift by until—surprise!—fall ministry shows up like a freight train. Or it’s an over-packed, every-week-has-a-thing kind of summer that leaves you crawling into August exhausted and wondering how you’ll muster the energy for a full fall kickoff.

But what if summer could be something better? Something more intentional?

I want to offer a different lens: summer is a season for both building and rest.

Not burnout. Not coasting. But intentionality.

The Myth of the Summer Break

Let’s be clear: I’m not against rest. I believe in the deep necessity of Sabbath, sabbaticals, and rhythms of recovery. In fact, I think the reason so many of us need a full summer off is because we’ve neglected those rhythms the rest of the year. We run too hard for too long and treat summer like a spiritual emergency room.

But here’s the thing — summer is not a sabbath season for most of the people in your church. It’s just a different kind of schedule. It’s more flexible. There’s room for margin. And within that margin is a powerful opportunity to invest in things we often don’t have time for the rest of the year.

A Strategic Season of Building

Summer gives you space to think, plan, and invest in what matters most — if you take advantage of it. When we treat summer like a strategic building season, here’s what can happen:

Leadership development: People are more open to relational invites, slower rhythms allow for deeper conversations, and informal mentoring becomes more doable.
Vision clarity: The slower pace gives you space to lift your eyes beyond the week-to-week grind and ask bigger questions. Where is God leading us? What’s missing in our culture? Where do we need to go?
Fall preparation: You don’t have to be surprised when September arrives. Use the summer to test new systems, refresh training, and get your teams aligned.
Family & personal renewal: Ironically, when you're not overcommitted or completely checked out, you can actually find life-giving rest and relational presence — both at home and in your soul.

Rest Is a Part of the Work

Building doesn’t mean you run at full speed. But rest isn’t an excuse to disengage completely. It’s part of a rhythm.

Instead of thinking of summer as “off” or “on,” think of it as intentional pacing. Schedule time away, absolutely. Take the vacation. Honor your sabbath. But don’t miss the chance to invest in your leadership, your team, and your church’s future simply because the calendar feels quieter.

Don’t Let the Fall Catch You Off Guard

Fall is one of the most missionally ripe seasons in the church calendar. People return from their summer rhythms looking for community, clarity, and next steps. But too many churches arrive at that moment unprepared — scrambling to launch groups, patch together teams, or even cast vision that should have been clarified months before.

Don’t let that be you.

Summer is the chance to lay the groundwork before the surge. It’s when you can prepare your systems, strengthen your core team, and dream about what’s next without the pressure of weekly deliverables looming over you.

A Final Word: Lead with Rhythm, Not Reactivity

What if summer wasn’t just the season you recovered from the past year or crammed full of events? What if it was the season that set the tone for the one to come?

The truth is, when we steward the summer well — with a thoughtful blend of preparation and presence — we’re not just making our lives easier come fall. We’re leading our people with wisdom, building with purpose, and aligning our pace with God’s timing.

So rest where you need to. Build where you’re able. But don’t waste the summer. It’s more strategic than we often realize.

Brad Daugherty

Brad serves as the COO of Replicate Ministries, a coaching and consulting organization with a mission to empower churches to activate their unique disciple-making movement. Prior to Replicate, he has held various roles within the church, from Worship Pastor to Executive Pastor, and loves serving the local church by helping pastors and leaders discover ways to do ministry differently. Brad has coached and consulted leaders from both large and small churches, equipping them to grow sustainably through discipleship tools and strategies. Brad Lives in East Texas with his wife Stephanie, and four kids, James, Henry, Eleanor, and Andrew. He loves serving at his local church, New Beginnings, where he is on the worship team, and serves on the lead team in an advisory role.