Planning Ahead for Summer Ministry Starts Now!

For many churches and ministry leaders, summer feels far away when the calendar has just turned to January. Yet year after year, the most effective summer ministries are the ones that begin with early, thoughtful planning. January is not too early to think about summer. In many ways, it is exactly the right time.

Summer ministry often shapes the spiritual growth of students, young adults, and leaders for the rest of the year. Camps, leadership programs, and gatherings create space for transformation, but only when there is time to prepare well. At Green Lake Conference Center, we see firsthand how early planning allows churches and individuals to enter summer ministry with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

 

Why Summer Ministry Planning Begins Now

January offers something ministry leaders rarely have during the rest of the year: margin. The pace is slower than fall, Advent has passed, and calendars are not yet full. This creates a natural window to reflect on what worked last year, what did not, and where God may be leading next.

Planning early also allows churches and individuals to secure space, manage budgets, and communicate clearly with their teams. Youth leaders can align summer programs with discipleship goals. Young adults can make commitments before internships or travel plans fill their schedules. Pastors and ministry leaders can choose gatherings that will strengthen their preaching and leadership before summer becomes busy.

Rather than reacting to summer as it approaches, January planning allows ministry to be intentional instead of rushed.

 

Summer Ministries at Green Lake Conference Center

Green Lake Conference Center offers several summer ministries designed to support churches, leaders, and individuals at different stages of faith and leadership. These are Green Lake Conference Center ministries, and registration and applications for summer are open now.

Quest is Green Lake Conference Center’s youth ministry, created to serve churches and youth leaders who are seeking a Christ-centered, immersive summer experience for their students. Quest invites youth groups to come to Green Lake Conference Center for a week-long summer camp experience. Here, students and youth leaders engage in programs that help them grow in faith, build meaningful community, and engage Scripture in ways that are thoughtful, relational, and transformative. Youth leaders can register their groups now and begin planning for summer.

 

SALT (serve and learn together) is Green Lake Conference Center’s summer ministry for young adults, focused on leadership development, service, and Christian community. Staff enjoy lakeside living with Christian community for 9-weeks; they live and work together on the Green Lake Conference Center grounds while serving the mission of Green Lake throughout the summer. Applications for SALT are open now for Christian young adults who are discerning a summer rooted in faith, growth, and purpose.

 

The Creativity in Preaching Project is a Green Lake Conference Center ministry designed for aspiring and current pastors and ministry leaders. Through gatherings and learning experiences, this ministry creates space to engage Scripture deeply, sharpen preaching skills, and be renewed alongside peers. Registration for two summer Creativity in Preaching Project events is open now, and you can learn more about each one here.

 

Why Early Commitment Matters

Early registration and application benefit more than scheduling. They shape how participants enter the experience.

Youth groups that plan ahead arrive prepared and unified. SALT participants step into summer with clarity and expectation. Pastors who commit early often arrive with specific goals for growth in their preaching and leadership.

From a practical standpoint, early planning supports budgeting, fundraising, staffing, and communication. From a spiritual standpoint, it allows time for prayer and discernment. Instead of asking, “What can we fit in this summer?” leaders can ask, “What is God inviting us into?”

 

Looking Ahead with Purpose

Summer ministry has a way of shaping faith in lasting ways. Students discover new confidence in Christ. Young adults grow in leadership and service. Pastors return home renewed and encouraged. These moments rarely happen by accident.

January is not simply about planning dates. It is about stewarding the opportunities God places before us. As you look toward summer, we invite you to explore Green Lake Conference Center’s ministries and consider how Quest, SALT, or the Creativity in Preaching Project may support your calling or your church’s next step. Applications and registrations are open now, and we would love to walk alongside you as you prepare for the season ahead.