When we’re fully devoted to God, not only are God’s eyes fixed on us – He also shows himself strong to us. We don’t have to do what God is calling us to do on our own strength. God’s strength becomes our strength. His might becomes our might. His power becomes our power.
With those promises in mind, this is the vision we have for 2026:
Goal #1 — We’re FULLY DEVOTED to Multiplying Pastoral Leaders
According to a 2022 Barna study, only 16% of senior pastors are 40 or younger. 25% of all pastors plan to retire in the next 7 years. 42% of pastors have considered quitting in the past year. 15,000 churches are expected to close this year, many because of a lack of pastoral leadership.
While most pastors agree that developing future leaders of the church matters, most churches have no leadership pipeline and no plan for raising up the next generation of church leaders.
We want to take a major step to not only raise up the next generation of leaders for Fairfax, but for the church at large.
- We have budgeted to accept up to 15 students in our Fairfax Lead pastoral mentoring program this year.
- We have 6 different tracks within Fairfax Lead that provide different starting points for different students feeling called to pursue ministry.
- We are investing not only more financial resources, but us as a staff and congregation, investing time into mentoring, encouraging and equipping the next generation of future church leaders.
How you can get involved:
We need host families and people who can provide a car for students who may need transportation. We are praying for individuals who might be able help with the cost of housing or who may be able to provide access to housing. We would love to have a house (or townhouse) that could house students in the program.
Goal #2 — We’re FULLY DEVOTED to Bringing Renewal to our City
In 2026, we want to continue to use our building seven days a week to love our neighbors and see lives raised to new life in Christ. One conviction we had as a church coming out of COVID was to use the space God has given us to bless our community. This year we are continuing to expand and grow that vision:
Expanding the Resource Center
We will continue to expand the capacity of the Resource Center to provide food and essential resources to front-line workers who are serving the needs of this community. But in addition to that, we are launching Bridge to Hope. Bridge to Hope will allow us to provide direct services to a select group of people who have been referred to us by partner organizations in the County.
By providing food and essential resources directly to those in need in our community, it will allow us to move beyond just providing transactional support and give us the opportunity to form life-transforming relationships with those we serve.
Immigrant Connection
This year, we hope to open our Immigrant Connection office as a place of advocacy and service for those who need legal counsel and support but cannot afford it. Through Immigrant Connection and our Bridge to Hope program, we will offer social services that provide guidance, dignity, and hope to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Making Room for Others to Belong
Across all our spaces, we are committed to welcoming the stranger and making room for those God brings through our doors. This means inviting coworkers and neighbors to worship on Sundays or into our small groups, continuing to rely on parking missionaries who sacrificially park off-site, and maintaining an outward-focused mindset.
The gospel is radically inclusive and living it out often requires sacrifice, intentionality, and a willingness on our part to put others first.
Goal #3 — We’re FULLY DEVOTED to a Faithful Rhythm of Generosity
We believe that a faithful rhythm of generosity is one of the ways that God shapes our hearts and teaches us to learn to trust in God’s provision on a regular basis. It’s what the Bible calls “firstfruits” giving. When the harvest came in, the “firstfruits” was the amount you set aside to give to God, before you spent your income on anything else. In the Bible, the baseline for “firstfruits” giving is the tithe – the first 10% of what God has entrusted to you back to him.
For some, giving a tithe of your income to the Lord may be incredibly overwhelming. For others, your “firstfruits” giving is way more than a tithe. But wherever you are, the most important thing is learning to trust in God’s provision on a regular basis. And then, as the Apostle Paul says, “Grow in the grace of giving.”
In 2026, we’re inviting our church into a new expression of generosity. We’re forming a Dream Team of people who commit to giving regularly (at least once a month) regardless of the size of the gift, and commit to grow in the grace of giving.
Last year, 512 people gave at least once a month. In 2026, our goal is to reach 1,000 monthly givers.
Taking a step in Generosity this year may not be about the amount for you it may just be about consistency. Wherever you are on the journey, we’re grateful for every gift and we invite you to take this step with us in 2026.
Goal #4 — We’re FULLY DEVOTED to Seeking God’s Presence
In 2026, we want to be Fully Devoted to Seeking God’s Presence as a way of life. More than anything else, we want to be a people who consistently place ourselves before God, attentive to His voice and be in the Yes Position to him.
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
After Easter, we will begin a 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting initiative as a congregation. We’ll use this time to realign our hearts and remind ourselves that all that we do and accomplish is the product of being totally and completely dependent on God.
Prayer Room Experiences
Throughout the year, we will host a Monthly Prayer Room, creating unhurried space to be with God in silence, intercession, Scripture, and reflection. This will be a simple, accessible rhythm where anyone can come and practice listening for God’s presence without pressure or an agenda.
Nights of Worship
We will prioritize gathering in worship both in our weekly Sunday services, through more Nights of Worship, through spending time in prayer in small groups. These gatherings are not performances or programs, but shared spaces where we lift our attention to God, remember who He is, and allow our hearts to be shaped together.
Daily Practices of Prayer & Scripture
Beyond the times we gather together on Sundays, or in small group, or for the prayer room we want to prioritize daily time with God through prayer and Scripture. Whether it’s a few minutes or a longer rhythm, these daily practices form us over time form us and draw us in a deeper trust with God, and grounding our lives in God’s presence
Increased Support & Care
We want to increase the opportunities for people to receive counseling and participate in support groups and care groups. Sometimes the reason we are not fully devoted to God is not because we don’t want to be fully devoted. It’s because we have unaddressed brokenness in our lives that makes being fully devoted to God almost impossible. In 2026, we want to set even more people free to be fully devoted to God.
