January has a way of being loud. It brings new goals, new plans, and new pressure to become a better version of ourselves. And if you lead in kids ministry, that noise often shows up wrapped in responsibility—expectations, calendars, and the quiet awareness that this year is supposed to be better than the last.

But as I step into 2026, what I find myself craving isn’t a better plan, but a better way of leading —one that sounds more like Jesus, feels lighter in my chest, and doesn’t ask me to prove my worth by how much I produce. What if making this year better isn’t about adding something new, but about returning to who we already are?

What Happens Over Time
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Over time, leadership can subtly shift. Without realizing it, we can begin to measure success by output instead of presence, by momentum instead of faithfulness, and by how much we can hold together instead of how deeply we’re rooted. It rarely happens all at once, and it’s almost never intentional—it’s simply what can happen when responsibility piles up, and the pace keeps moving.

Jesus never led that way. He wasn’t rushed or performative, and He wasn’t trying to impress the crowds that followed Him. He led from love, from identity, and from a deep trust in the Father. And that same invitation still stands for us today. Before we ask what we want to build this year, maybe the better question is who we want to be while we lead, because who we are shapes everything—our tone, our pace, our expectations, and the way people experience the love of God through us.

The Way Jesus Loved People
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Maybe the best place to start is by looking at the way Jesus loved people.

He walked with them instead of rushing past them. He noticed those others overlooked and stayed when it would’ve been easier to move on. He allowed interruptions and treated them like moments that mattered. He repeated Himself—not because He lacked something new to say, but because He understood that transformation happens slowly, in the context of relationship.

Jesus didn’t see people as projects or problems to fix. He did life with them—listening, staying present, and loving in ways that revealed the heart of God.

Leading this way doesn’t mean we care less or expect less; it means we lead the way Jesus loved —unhurried, attentive, fully present with people, and trusting that God is already at work.

Letting Grace Set the Tone
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So much of what we long for in ministry—joy, connection, transformation—doesn’t come from trying harder. It often comes from releasing pressure. What if grace sets the tone this year? Grace for ourselves when things don’t go as planned, grace for volunteers who are learning as they go, and grace for kids who are still discovering who God is and who they are.

Jesus didn’t lead with anxiety about results. He trusted the work of the Father, trusted the process, and trusted that love, freely given, would bear fruit in time. And maybe that’s the invitation for us, too—to stop gripping so tightly and allow grace to shape not just what we teach, but how we lead.

A Quiet Hope for 2026
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Like many of us, I do have goals for 2026. They’re required, they matter, and they help give direction. But I’m learning that those goals are deeply shaped by how I lead, not just what I plan. What I carry into rooms, how I speak to people, the pace I set, and the grace I give all determine whether a year feels heavy or hopeful.

I don’t have a bold declaration or a formula for making ministry better. What I do have is a growing awareness that things feel different when I lead from a steadier place—when I remember I’m already loved, already called, and already held. And maybe that’s where making this year better than last year actually begins—not with a massive shift or a brand-new vision, but with a quieter decision to show up as who we already are, rooted in Jesus, shaped by grace, and open to learning as we go.

When I lead that way, Sundays feel lighter, conversations feel more honest, and the work—while still important—doesn’t feel so heavy.
This kind of leadership is quiet and steady—unrushed, unforced, rooted in grace, and faithful in the way Jesus has always been faithful to us.

As you step into 2026, what might change if you gave yourself permission to lead with a little more grace—for yourself and for others?

Tish Striegel has served passionately in children’s ministry for over 25 years and currently serves as the Children’s Pastor at Hill City Church in Southern Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, KY. A proud graduate of the inaugural KidMin Academy class of 2016, Tish is also an engaging author and advocate for children’s and family ministry. Her warm approach and creativity inspire others to discover their own potential, often over a good cup of coffee.