Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
On The Rise: Which Pastors Are Seeing the Next Generation Engage? These.
Published about 19 hours ago • 4 min read
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.
Today, Barna’s new data on what pastors, denominations and regions are seeing the next generation lean in spiritually, the hardest leadership decision (cutting), self-awareness and the cheapest and most generous states when it comes to tipping.
Here’s Who’s Seeing the Surge in Next Gen Church Engagement
Barna asked pastors what they’re seeing.
For the last few years, we’ve been hearing stories and seeing fresh data pointing to small surges in renewal and revival in the church.
But how exactly is it happening? Well, Barna asked pastors what they’re seeing. The results are fascinating.
The trend isn’t geographical as much as it is cultural and generational. Younger pastors leading newer, non-denominational churches seem to be seeing the most momentum with the next generation right now.
You can find the data for your area and demographic here.
3 Things You'll Learn At The Art of Leadership Live
It might not be what you'd expect...
Most conferences give you a dopamine hit… and a filled-up notebook that you never open again.
Sure, we’ll talk about AI, leadership, church growth, and the future at The Art of Leadership Live. But the most valuable takeaways might not be what you’d expect:
The typical “sit-and-listen” conferences may not be as impactful as you’d think. Instead of simply consuming, a built-in rhythm of teaching, connection, table discussions, and space to process helps you start applying insights before you go home.
That your next breakthrough might come from honesty, not inspiration. A hand-selected room creates the kind of unfiltered, no-judgment conversations most leaders can’t find anywhere else—not even in a keynote.
That you don’t need more content. With content everywhere, curated keynotes, conversations, and live Q&A let you test ideas and leave with a real foundation for what’s next.
As an All-Access member, you save $200 on your ticket and get in at the best rate available.
Ready for growth that sticks? I’d love to see you in Nashville!
Are You Willing To Refuse to Deliver 20 Messages in 2026?
Diary of a CEO Decides Not To Air 20 Episodes a Year
One of my team members passed along this Steven Bartlett poston LinkedIn, describing why they refuse to air about 20 episodes of their podcast.
In case you’ve somehow missed its meteoric rise, Diary of a CEO is the top business podcast in the world, and I am a regular listener.
Steven outlines that the hardest thing they do on the show is fly a guest in, invest hours in the conversation and prep, and then decide not to air the episode. Steven then personally calls the guest to let them know of the decision.
And of course, that’s awful.
But the reality is that’s what great leadership is. As Steven says:
“The narrative working against it is CONSTANT and VERY TEMPTING:
"Book this guest because they're famous"
"Book this guest for the optics."
"Land them and we'll get access to a bigger name later."
"We've got an empty slot - just get someone in."
Remember, they only interview world-class experts and leaders. That decision must be gut-wrenching.
The most important part of your job as a leader is not just what you publish, share, or release; it’s also what you cut—what you refuse to allow to see daylight.
And that’s the hardest part of the job. It’s also what separates the very best from the rest.
P.S. Because you’re likely wondering, yes, on my podcast, we have decided not to air episodes after recording them. Painful, but necessary. Not 20 a year, but a few. This post also challenged me to be a little more discerning moving forward. Argh.
From Tax Deductions to Discipleship
How Federal Tax Policy Reshaped Christian Giving.
The tax code did not just change giving in churches. It exposed it.
When deductions shrink, undiscipled givers often lose one of the only reinforcements they associated with generosity. That is why this moment is not mainly a financial problem. It is a discipleship problem. This article names the quiet drift toward transactional giving, explains why it is no longer working, and offers a better path: teaching generosity as worship, formation, and joyful obedience in a post-deduction world.
You can read the full article here, share it with your team, plus access a free downloadable resource.
Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute
This was one of the first books I read in leadership when I began ministry. I should have listened to its message earlier, but it’s a great introduction to self-awareness and stopping the blame game.
Tipping has gotten super complicated since COVID. In addition to outrageous prompts (35%!!!), everybody wanting a tip (like gas station stores), and self-serve kiosks asking for tips when you didn’t have any human interaction, I still want to be generous. But to people, not to screens.
Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0
Carey Nieuwhof
Where 100,000+ leaders get top insights to thrive in life and leadership.
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
