It All Begins Here…
January 2026
I thank God for you and this opportunity to walk alongside you in your quest to follow Jesus even more obediently. I have been accused of sending too many emails and being too verbose…
So, in light of that gentle critique of my preferred communication style, and in alignment with GOAL #3, I am creating this blog to share updates, nudges and a new campus utilization tracking spreadsheet.
I will endeavor to create a brief list of key points at the beginning of these blog posts to allow you to jump to areas of interest to YOU. In addition, since these blog posts will ‘live’ on the website, they will be available to you - at your convenience - to refer to and easily see where we have succeeded and where we could do better.
Let’s begin!
Here is a list and full explanation of the Campus Manager’s Goals 2026
You can access the Campus Utilization Tracker HERE
My year 2025 end report to church council is HERE
You can access the current Trustee’s To-Do List HERE
The rest of the story…
Over the past four months, you all have educated me on the church culture. I have struggled to align my activities with often ambiguous - and conflicting - requests from church leadership. I modified my job description to remove the evangelist roles. I also reduced my salary from $50,000 to $25,000 - in part - so the church would feel more comfortable investing in the physical building to make it more attractive to potential tenants. All of which leads me to my One Word for 2026 - “OK”
“One Word Method”…
Refers to several techniques using a single word for focus, most commonly choosing one word (like "Growth" or "Balance") to guide goals for a year, replacing complex resolutions. If you want to know more about One Word, please check out the book: One Word That Will Change Your Life (I read it over a decade ago!)
MY Word for 2026 “OK”
I’m choosing it not as a sign of settling or disengagement, but as a commitment to live and lead from grounded faith, emotional health, and steady purpose. “OK” names a season of trusting God with outcomes while being deeply intentional about the work entrusted to us: choosing clarity over constant urgency, consistency over intensity, and shared responsibility over carrying everything alone. I haven’t lost my edge; I’ve sharpened it by focusing on what truly matters and setting a pace that can be sustained. This year is about doing fewer things better, showing up faithfully, and encouraging one another to bring our best not through pressure or performance, but through presence, accountability, and a long-term vision that forms people and strengthens mission over time.
[Full Disclosure] I struggled over choosing “OK” as my one word. I thought OK meant just going through the motions, abandoning excellence and ‘lowering the bar.’ Instead I was able to reframe OK into a long obedience where I show up with consistency and faithfulness that “God’s got this!” If you want to know more about ‘long obedience' I highly recommend “A Long Obedience In The Same Direction” by Eugene Peterson.
For those of you that don’t like ‘links’ here are my three goals for 2026:
GOAL 1: Campus as Mission, Not Just Maintenance
By December 1, 2026, I will reposition the church campus as a mission-activated community hub by increasing overall campus utilization, formalizing 5-7 mission-aligned partnerships, serving 2,000 or more individuals annually, and offsetting 15–20% of annual facility costs, with progress tracked through monthly dashboards, quarterly Trustee reviews, and an annual Campus Impact Report.
GOAL 2: Clarify Governance and Reduce Operational Friction
By December 1, 2026, I will establish and implement a comprehensive campus governance system by drafting, approving, and training leaders on 9–11 formal policies, reducing crisis-driven decisions, decreasing governance-related confusion, shortening decision turnaround time, and conducting an annual policy audit to ensure clarity, consistency, and accountability.
GOAL 3: Communicate Progress with Consistency and Credibility
Throughout 2026, I will provide clear, consistent, and transparent campus communication by delivering 12 monthly Campus Updates, 4 quarterly leadership briefings, and 1 Year-End Campus Impact Report, and maintaining a searchable archive of communications and decisions.
As always, I am open to meeting with you, at your convenience, to discuss anything!!
A prayer for when you feel discouraged…
God of the long road,
On days when I feel uninspired or weary, and quietly wonder if this is worth it, remind me that Your deepest work often happens in the ordinary middle. It is the place where faithfulness feels repetitive and progress goes unseen.
This is not failure; it is formation. Teach me again that You have not called me to be impressive or successful by the world’s standards. You have called me to be obedient, to listen, to follow, and to take the next faithful step without needing to see results. Guard my heart from bitterness and pride.
Help me stay without growing hard, and let my endurance be a quiet strength rooted in trust. When “OK” is all I can offer, let it be enough. I do not seek escape, but alignment; not applause, but faithfulness; not control, but trust.
Slow me down.
Help me choose roots over recognition.
Give me grace to remain curious, honest, kind, and obedient, trusting that in staying, You are shaping me for what only You can see.
Amen.