While most of my childhood peers lamented the beginning of a new school year, I looked forward to it with enthusiasm. I loved the opportunity to learn and discover new vistas.

As a pastor, I saw the beginning of a school year as an opportunity to try new approaches and to make a statement about the priorities of our congregation. 

Over the past three decades, I have been blessed to hear from other church leaders on a multitude of topics. Let me share with you what I have heard about great success stories of churches as a new school year approached. 

Profound ideas

Since many areas have already welcomed children back to classes for the latest school year, there is no better time to try implementing at least one or more of the following approaches. They are both basic and profound at the same time.

1. Recommit to becoming a welcoming church.  September can be a month where you see a greater regular flow of guests. Families often move in the summer so their children can start in a new school at the beginning of the academic year. 

2. Dedicate a part of a worship service to praying for students and teachers.  We recently did that at our church. And we followed the service by writing brief thank you letters to the teachers at one of the schools near us. It had a huge impact on both the teachers and on our members.

3. Adopt a school.  Request a meeting with a local school principal. Ask him or her what your church could do to best help the school. If it is within the scope of what the church can do, organize a ministry to meet that very need. Some churches paint classrooms, others clean school grounds, and others provide back-to-school resources for students and/or teachers.

4. Revitalize the groups in your church.  Regardless of what you call them—community groups, life groups, Sunday school classes—these groups are the lifeblood of your church’s assimilation, ministry, and stewardship. Do whatever is necessary with a new school year beginning to re-energize and grow your groups.

5. Re-cast the vision of the church.  Many church leaders re-cast the vision of the church at the beginning of the calendar year. Consider casting the vision at the beginning of the school year. You will likely have more new members and guests in September than in January. You have a great opportunity to ride the wave of freshness that a new school year brings.

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