Steward the Season

Week of October 20 – October 26, 2025
A Monday leadership brief from Forward Creative

Fall is here. And with just two weeks left in October, you're right in the middle of one of the most strategically important seasons for churches and nonprofits. Between now and the end of the year, you'll navigate some of your highest-attendance Sundays, your biggest outreach opportunities, and some of the most memorable moments your community will experience all year.

But here's the tension: the opportunity is massive, and so is the workload.

This week, I've been thinking a lot about how churches and nonprofits can steward this season well without burning out their teams or settling for average. Because the truth is, fall doesn't have to feel chaotic. It just requires clarity, rhythm, and the right systems in place.

Here's what's been on my mind as we've worked with churches and nonprofits this season:

1. October through December isn't just busy. It's strategic.

The next ten weeks carry weight. Fall festivals. Trunk or treats. Thanksgiving services. Christmas programs. End-of-year giving campaigns. Community outreach. These aren't just calendar fillers. They're bridges. Moments when people who don't normally show up might. Your strategy should reflect that weight. Every event is an opportunity to invite, connect, and disciple.

2. Your events deserve more than a Facebook post the day before.

I've watched too many churches plan incredible outreach events only to market them like an afterthought. A last-minute graphic. A rushed story. No follow-up. No strategy. Here's the reality: people need multiple touchpoints before they commit. Email. Social. Print. Stories. Text reminders. If you want people to show up, you have to show up consistently in their world first.

3. Social media isn't about more posts. It's about better rhythm.

Fall and the holidays get overwhelming fast when you're scrambling for content every week. But what if you weren't scrambling? What if your October, November, and December content was already mapped, scheduled, and ready to go? That's not a luxury. That's stewardship. Planning ahead doesn't kill creativity. It protects it. And it gives your team margin to lead well instead of just survive.

4. If your volunteers don't know what to post, they won't post anything.

I've talked to ministry leaders who say, "We have people who could help with social media. They just don't know what to say." That's a clarity problem, not a capacity problem. Your volunteers need clear templates, approved messaging, and simple tools they can use without needing a degree in graphic design. Empower them with structure, and they'll surprise you.

5. Consistency builds trust. And trust fills rooms.

People don't just show up to events because they saw one flyer. They show up because they've been watching. They've seen your church present, engaged, and consistent. Fall is the perfect time to build that rhythm, because when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around, your consistency will have already earned their attention.

6. Your fall and holiday message shouldn't stop at Sunday.

That sermon series you're planning? That trunk or treat night? That Christmas Eve service? That testimony? Don't let it live and die in one moment. Clip it. Repurpose it. Share it throughout the week. Digital discipleship means extending the message beyond the room. Every event is content. Every moment is a story worth stewarding.

7. You don't have to do this alone.

Here's the honest truth: if you're reading this and thinking, "This all makes sense, but I don't have the time or the team to pull it off," you're not alone. Most churches and nonprofits don't. And that's exactly why Forward exists. We step in as your creative team so you can focus on leading, shepherding, and doing what only you can do. We handle the media. You handle the mission.

Free Download: Fall & Holiday Marketing Toolkit for Churches & Nonprofits

We've put together a free resource to help you navigate this season with clarity and confidence. Inside, you'll find:

✅ A Fall & Holiday Content Calendar Template
✅ 10 Go-To Post Ideas for October, November, and December
✅ Event Marketing Checklist (so nothing falls through the cracks)
✅ Social Media Best Practices for churches and nonprofits
✅ Affordable tools for creating quality content: Canva, Adobe Express, CapCut, and more

👉 Download it here: forwardcrtv.com/fall-toolkit

If something in this note landed, don't just save it. Build around it.

And if you don't have the bandwidth or time to do these things yourself, we're here.

📍 Let's move your vision forward → forwardcrtv.com/free