Stepping into the role of President of Cargill Associates has been both a homecoming and a recommissioning. After spending most of my career in local church ministry, the last five years took me into new arenas—business, consulting, and nonprofit leadership. I loved the work, but I missed being fully immersed in serving the Church and its leaders. That longing—and a renewed sense of calling—ultimately led me here

Over time, it became unmistakably clear: the American Church is approaching a pivotal shift. This moment demands clarity of vision, strategic focus, and courageous leadership. The era of the mega-personality is fading. New voices are emerging, churches are rethinking how they gather and lead, and the church experience itself is being reshaped.

I accepted this role because I genuinely believe in the Church. I believe in her leaders. And I believe the future belongs to those who are aligned in vision, intentional in strategy, and equipped to navigate the changing landscape with wisdom and boldness.

As we look toward 2026, I’m filled with hope—hope rooted in Christ, and hope fueled by the leaders God is raising up across the country. Yes, challenges remain: cultural turbulence, declining trust, financial uncertainty, and the ongoing aftershocks of the pandemic. But I see a Church adapting. I see pastors asking better questions. I see mission clarity rising. And I see the Gospel advancing.

I’m eager to see the Church flourish in 2026. Below are ideas, resources, and perspectives that proved impactful in 2025—and ones I believe are worth leaning into as we prepare for the year ahead.

2025 Year in Review

Three Podcast Episodes Worth The Time:

1. The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast — Episode: “The Future Church and the New Leadership Crisis”.

2. The Stetzer Church Leaders Podcast — Episode: “Discipleship That Forms Resilient Christians”. 

3. The BibleProject Podcast — Episode: “The Church as a Transforming Community”. 

Three Books That Impacted My Leadership:

1. Beloved by Francis Chan: A call to rediscover the simplicity and intimacy of Christ's love for us in the way that only Francis Chan can articulate 

2. The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen: A short but profound essay on the spiritual formation of stewardship and generosity. I find myself coming back to this classic time and again. 

3. The Culture Code by Danial Coyle: While not written from a strictly Christian perspective, this book is filled with biblical principles that Coyle lays out in clear, actionable ways that I believe is a must-read for any leader with a team

Three Leadership Voices That I Appreciate:

1. John Mark Comer: A younger church leader with a unique voice in the Church specifically on spiritual disciplines. Of particular value to me was his book, The Relentless Elimination of Hurry. 

2. Dave Ferguson: A vocal leader in the church multiplication space, Dave has written extensively on evangelism, disciple-making, leadership development and so much more. I have come to appreciate his perspective on church leadership discussions.

3. Jon Tyson: This is more from my role as a husband and father but God has used Tyson's weekly devotional email to encourage, challenge convict and empower me in more ways than I can count. If you are a husband or a father, Jon's voice is one you would be wise to consider. 

2026 Preview

Three Church Trends That Excite Me: 

1. Younger Generations Rediscovering the Local Church: Contrary to headlines, Gen Z and Millennials are showing a renewed hunger for rootedness, meaning and spiritual community 

2. Discipleship Moving from Programs to Pathways: More and more churches are defining intentional steps toward maturity, not just offering more activities.

3. A Renewed Honesty Around Stewardship and Transparency: With documentaries, news coverage and cultural skepticism on the rise,  wise church leaders are responding by doubling down on clarity, accountability and relational generosity. 

Three Books On My Reading List:

1. Lest We Drift by Jared C. Wilson: A timely call for theological rootedness and spiritual clarity in our age of distraction

2. The Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take On the World by Trevin Wax & Thomas West: Any book title with the word 'catechism' is going to catch my eye. This book looks to break down fundamental biblical truths for those hungry for history and context.

3. Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Matt Smethurst: Admittedly, I am/was a Keller fan. God used his teachings and writing in formative ways in my life. I am looking forward to stepping back into his life and being reminded and challenged by the everyday implications of the Gospel.

Three Cargill Initiatives That Energize Me:

1. Monthly Webinars

• Beginning in January, Cargill will launch a new monthly webinar series designed to equip and encourage church leaders. From generosity insights to leadership tools, case-study reviews, interviews, and more, we are excited to create a consistent rhythm of learning, support, and partnership.

2. The Cargill Generosity Estimator 

• In early 2026, we will be launching a groundbreaking digital tool that help churches quickly assess their generosity capacity, identify giving trends and receive personalized next-steps strategies. This tool, I believe, will open up incredible new opportunities for church leaders to make more well-informed decisions. 

3. The In-Focus Vision Clarity Workshop

• Having retooled our vision clarity services, I am excited to share that we are offering a streamlined, high-impact one to two day experience designed to help church leaders clarify their mission, align their strategy and gain unity around next steps for the church. The goal here is to help churches create clarity and alignment so that leadership decisions can be made with the right information and within a structured framework. 

I can't help but look back with tremendous gratitude; and I believe the year ahead is full of opportunity. Thank you for trusting Cargill and most importantly, thank you for serving faithfully.

Email me directly to make sure your 2026 Church initiatives are ready to launch! Here's to a hopeful, courageous and Gospel-centered 2026 serving alongside you. 

Now one firm, DickersonBakker and Cargill Associates together are dedicated to providing expert solutions to our nonprofit clients. For nearly five decades, our consulting firm has assisted in raising billions of dollars through capital campaigns, fund development, agency, executive search, and grant services. With physical offices in North Carolina and Indiana, and full-time consultants in almost every region of the country, our firm employs over fifty full-time professionals. Together, we have served roughly 8,000 organizations, including over 6,000 churches, located across Canada, the USA, and overseas.