Where Your Church Should Invest in 2026

You can’t be great at everything.

You probably can’t even be good at everything.

Most churches have the capacity to make a meaningful impact in one or two areas at a time. The challenge isn’t a lack of opportunity. It’s focus.

That’s why this question matters so much right now:

Where will your church invest its energy in 2026?

Not your intentions.
Not your hopes.
Your actual energy, time, and leadership attention.

Because the direction you choose in this season will quietly shape your culture, your effectiveness, and your health for years to come.

The World Has Settled… But Ministry Hasn’t

We’re no longer in crisis mode. The uncertainty of the early 2020s has given way to something else entirely: complexity.

People didn’t “return to normal.”
They formed new rhythms.
New expectations.
New habits around church, community, and generosity.

Some of those changes have been good. Some have been hard. All of them are real.

So instead of asking, “What worked before?”
We need to ask, “What is actually working now, and what is worth building for the future?”

In-Person and Online Isn’t a Phase. It’s the Model.

Here’s my conviction in 2026: church is both gathered and distributed.

That tension isn’t going away.

People still deeply value embodied, in-person worship. They want meaningful relationships. They want to sing together, serve together, and experience the presence of God alongside other people.

In-person church still matters. A lot.

That means investing in:

• Excellent, hospitable worship experiences
• Clear next steps for connection and discipleship
• Environments people are proud to invite friends into

In-person services should never feel like the “old way we still do.”

At the same time, online church is no longer a backup plan or a temporary accommodation. It’s a front door.

For some people, it’s their first step.
For others, it’s their most consistent one.

Online church reaches:

• People who travel frequently
• Families with unpredictable schedules
• Those exploring faith before they’re ready to attend in person
• People far beyond your geographic community

The churches that are healthiest right now aren’t choosing between in-person and online. They’re designing both on purpose.

Not 50/50.
Not “we’ll stream it if we can.”

They’re investing 100% in gathered church and 100% in digital ministry.

Different strategies. Same mission.

Flexibility Is No Longer Optional

What used to work doesn’t always work anymore.

Programs that once thrived now feel heavy.
Systems that once scaled now stall.
Attendance patterns, volunteer pipelines, and engagement rhythms have all shifted.

That doesn’t mean your church is failing.
It means the environment has changed.

The churches moving forward aren’t the ones clinging to old models. They’re the ones willing to adapt without losing their identity.

This season requires leaders who are:

• Curious instead of defensive
• Willing to test instead of protect
• Comfortable saying “let’s try something new”
  
  

Flexibility isn’t about abandoning your convictions.
It’s about changing your methods to serve people better.

Invest in People Who Can See What’s Next

One of the most important questions you can ask right now isn’t about programs or platforms.

It’s this:

Who am I investing in?

Every church needs people who can:

• Imagine new approaches
• Solve problems creatively
• Lead change with humility and courage

That doesn’t mean discarding experienced leaders. It means pairing wisdom with fresh perspective.

If you’ve been in ministry a long time, this may be the season to invite new voices into your decision-making.
If you’re a younger leader, this may be the season to step up with bold ideas grounded in trust.

The future won’t be built by accident.
It will be shaped by the people you empower today.

Choose Focus Over Exhaustion

Trying to do everything is a fast track to burnout.

Healthy churches in 2026 are choosing focus. They’re deciding where to say yes, where to say no, and where to invest deeply instead of broadly.

So ask the hard questions:

• What deserves our best energy this year?
• What no longer aligns with our mission?
• What would it look like to do fewer things, better?

Because clarity isn’t limiting.
It’s freeing.

And the churches that lead with clarity will be the ones that thrive in the years ahead.

‍