2026 Ministry Targets

impact report Jan 02, 2026

Part of our prayerful planning process is as written in the Healthy Church book— with this image that’s pulled from the text:

Notably, we seek God’s presence, we pray, and He outlines the purposes He has for us.

From there, we receive plans and processes from Him and we emerge in power to accomplish the task.

Our intent here is to lead by design instead of default— with clear, prayerful targets that are tangible. This helps our team pray, it equips our board to lead well, and it provides our supporters with a clear strategy.

And, we can always evaluate and make adjustments as needed.

Like 2025, there are 7 tangible targets for 2026.

(You may want to review the previous update from the end of 2025, as this builds upon that!)

#1 = Healthy Church “live” workshops

Beginning in January, facilitate one workshop per month— which may include Healthy Church and/or GY6.

These workshops will host 50+ leaders and will happen at:

✅ Associations (ideally, multiple associations working together)

✅ State Board of Missions

✅ Churches

✅ Strategic Partners

Note: we currently have 5 workshops on the calendar for 2026. They are listed on the events page.

We are excited that the first two Healthy Church workshops involve multiple associations and groups.

#2 = Book strategy

We will focus on promoting the Healthy Church / Healthy Systems resource(s) AND the GY6 resource.

We will work on the “Jesus book" as time permits. Though the “Joy” project is important, right now there are open doors with these other resources.

Or, to say it another way, we will focus on promoting what we already have while also being open to the next projects.

3 = LifeLines podcast

Use the podcast to strategically promote the initiatives shared here.

We can talk through the Jesus story as we prepare to publish this book in early 2027. The “Jesus book” will be written over the course of 2026, built largely from the content we podcast.

Note: we recorded a series of talks about Healthy Church with the Alabama Baptist on their podcast. They are now available here and here and here.

#4 = Equipping trips

In 2026 we will:

📣 Translate the Healthy Church resource into two additional languages-- it is currently available in 4.

🔗 Look to work through other partners, too. For example, at a recent Healthy Church workshop, the pastor of FBC Boaz discussed taking the resources to their contacts in Kenya sometime in 2026.

🇷🇴 We have a trip scheduled in November 2026 to visit Romania and train a 250+ pastors there on the resources. They will, in turn, train their churches and other pastors.

These trips are always posted on the events page.

#5 = Transitional pastorate

Edwin began working with Pleasant Springs Baptist in May 2025. This is a small, struggling congregation. He led them through the “church health” review as part of this process. He will continue working with them as they explore their next best steps.

He will continue helping Pleasant Springs transition to their next best step… and then move into another transitional pastorate if this concludes.

#6 = Prayer team

We will grow the prayer team beyond 100, building on the momentum we will gain in the final quarter of 2025.

To join the prayer team go here.

Note: Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions is focused on revival in 2026.

We were invited to join them on a trip to the Billy Graham library / museum in September where they unveiled the project— because the state needs “healthy churches” to disciple the people who will be reached through revival.

We will work with the revival team throughout 2026 towards this effort.

#7 = The GY6 project

GY6 is a tool (and discipleship pathway) to reach veterans and first responders. It is intentionally faith-driven and connects the church to local veteran service organizations to partner to reach our “heroes.”

Here are a few GY6 updates:

📘 The book is ready— and has been edited .

🔗 This project, though run through LifeLift ministries, exists on its own website: www.GY6.online.

🦅 The 21st District of the American Legion (Greater Birmingham area) has embraced this project and will implement it throughout all of their 13 posts, working with local churches and other groups.

👟 They are hosting a “5K” fundraiser in May 2026 to fund this effort in Birmingham (the goal: $50,000+ to the project)— go to BeTheOneToday.com for details.