As pastors and church leaders look toward 2026, many are asking the same question—how do we start the year strong? Not just strong in attendance, programming, or momentum, but strong in the deeper work of discipleship that fuels everything else.
At the heart of that work sits a reality we often acknowledge but don’t always lead intentionally: a healthy culture of giving and generosity does not happen by accident. It is formed over time, shaped by clarity, trust, spiritual maturity, and consistent leadership.
The beginning of a new year offers a rare leadership moment. People are naturally reflective. They are thinking about priorities, habits, faith, finances, and purpose. How pastors steward this moment will go a long way toward determining not only the church’s financial health in 2026, but the spiritual health of the people God has entrusted to them.
Starting strong in 2026 is not about launching a bigger ask or a slicker campaign. It is about advancing a culture of generosity that is biblical, joyful, transparent, and sustainable—one that disciples people into freedom rather than pressure.
Below are 8 ways pastors can start 2026 well by intentionally developing and advancing the culture of giving and generosity in their church.
1. Start with Vision Before Need
One of the most common mistakes churches make—especially early in the year—is leading with need rather than vision. When people primarily hear about budget gaps, rising costs, or looming challenges, generosity becomes reactive rather than aspirational.
Generous cultures are built when people understand why the church exists, what God is doing, and how their giving connects to eternal impact.
As you head into 2026, ask yourself:
- Can our people clearly articulate our mission?
- Do they understand the spiritual and community impact of our ministry?
- Do they see generosity as participation in God’s work, not simply institutional support?
Starting strong means casting vision early and often. Not just once in January, but consistently. Vision fuels generosity because people give more freely when they believe deeply in what God is doing through their church.
Generosity follows clarity.
2. Teach Generosity as Discipleship, Not Fundraising
Pastors are called to make disciples, not fundraisers. Scripture is unambiguous: how people steward money is a core discipleship issue.
Jesus talked about money not because the temple needed funds, but because the human heart needed transformation.
Starting strong in 2026 requires reclaiming generosity as a normal, biblical part of spiritual formation. That means teaching:
- God’s ownership versus our stewardship
- Trust and surrender rather than obligation
- Freedom from fear, scarcity, and consumerism
- Joyful obedience instead of guilt-driven giving
When generosity is framed primarily as “keeping the lights on,” it shrinks the gospel. When generosity is taught as a pathway to spiritual maturity, it expands faith.
Healthy churches normalize generosity conversations because they love their people enough to disciple the whole person—including finances.
3. Lead with Integrity and Transparency
Trust remains one of the most valuable (and fragile) currencies in church leadership today. People give generously where they trust deeply.
As you start 2026, evaluate the level of financial transparency and accountability in your church:
- Do people know how funds are stewarded?
- Are financial decisions communicated clearly and appropriately?
- Are leaders modeling integrity and restraint?
Transparency does not mean overwhelming people with spreadsheets, but it does mean communicating responsibly, honestly, and proactively.
When people trust leadership, generosity grows. When trust erodes, giving becomes hesitant—even among faithful believers.
Starting strong in 2026 means reinforcing trust early, not waiting until questions arise.
4. Normalize Generosity Across the Church, Not Just Among a Few
Many churches unknowingly depend on a small percentage of highly committed givers to carry a significant portion of the financial load. While those individuals are often deeply generous and faithful, this dynamic can mask a larger discipleship gap across the congregation.
A thriving culture of generosity invites everyone into the journey:
- New believers
- Young families
- Fixed-income seniors
- Emerging leaders
- Long-time attenders
Starting strong means communicating that generosity is not about equal gifts, but equal surrender. It’s not about how much people give—it’s about whether they are learning to trust God with what they have.
When generosity becomes normal rather than exceptional, the entire church grows spiritually stronger.
5. Celebrate Stories of Life Change, Not Dollar Amounts
Generosity is sustained by stories, not statistics.
One of the most powerful ways to advance a culture of giving is by celebrating what generosity makes possible:
- Lives changed
- Families restored
- Communities served
- The gospel advancing locally and globally
Avoid the temptation to focus on totals, percentages, or year-over-year comparisons. While those metrics matter internally, they rarely inspire spiritually.
Starting strong in 2026 means telling stories that remind people why generosity matters. Stories reframe giving from obligation to opportunity.
People give more freely when they see God at work.
6. Equip Leaders to Model Generosity Authentically
Culture always follows leadership. If generosity is valued publicly but avoided personally by leaders, people will sense the disconnect.
Pastors and ministry leaders don’t need to share personal numbers, but they should model:
- Consistent generosity
- Humility around money
- Willingness to talk about stewardship biblically
- Trust in God’s provision
Starting strong in 2026 includes investing time with elders, staff, and key volunteers to ensure alignment. A unified leadership culture around generosity creates clarity and confidence throughout the church.
People follow what leaders embody more than what they explain.
7. Move from Short-Term Appeals to Long-Term Formation
Many churches rely heavily on annual pushes or emergency appeals. While there may be times those are necessary, they are not substitutes for long-term generosity formation.
Starting strong in 2026 means shifting the question from:
“How do we meet this year’s budget?”
TO
“How do we disciple generous followers of Jesus over time?”
This shift changes everything:
- Messaging becomes more pastoral
- Planning becomes more strategic
- Giving becomes more consistent
- Faith becomes more resilient
A mature generosity culture doesn’t spike once a year—it grows steadily over time.
8. Invite People Into the Joy of Participation
At its core, generosity is about participation in God’s work. People don’t want to be treated like donors; they want to be treated like partners in mission.
Starting strong means regularly inviting people to:
- Pray over the church’s mission
- Understand ministry priorities
- Engage relationally, not just financially
- See themselves as part of something bigger than themselves
When people feel ownership in the mission, generosity becomes joyful rather than transactional.
A Final Encouragement for Pastors
As 2026 approaches, many pastors feel the weight of leadership—budgets, staffing, ministry needs, and expectations. But generosity leadership is not about pressure; it’s about faithful shepherding.
When pastors lead generously—with clarity, integrity, vision, and trust—people respond not because they are compelled, but because they are inspired.
Starting strong in 2026 is less about the size of the offering and more about the depth of discipleship. Churches that invest intentionally in a culture of generosity will find not only greater financial stability, but greater spiritual vitality.
And that kind of strength lasts far beyond a single year.
NEXT SUNDAY PODCAST
To go deeper on bridging generations, cultivating generosity, and leading lasting change, listen to The Next Sunday Podcast. It’s a community of church leaders committed to what happens next—because what happens next Sunday could change everything.
About the Author
Jim Sheppard is the Chairman and Principal of Generis, a consulting firm that helps churches, Christian schools, and faith-based organizations accelerate generosity toward their God-inspired vision.
With more than 30 years of experience guiding leaders and congregations, Jim is a trusted voice in stewardship, generosity, and organizational health.
Learn more at www.generis.com
This blog post originally appeared on Church Leader Insider. For more information or to subscribe to Church Leader Insider, click HERE.
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