Investing in the Next Generation

2026 has been a year of preparation for Sonlife as we get ready for a new season of investing deeply in the lives and ministries of youth leaders across North America.

While our team has continued investing in youth leaders and students this year, we have also been working hard to refine our training and coaching pathway to better meet the needs and schedules of today’s youth leaders.

The landscape of youth ministry is changing. Todd Rhoades of Chemistry Staffing, in his book Silent Alarm, points to a growing challenge facing churches: fewer people are pursuing full-time ministry roles, making it increasingly difficult for churches to find qualified leaders. For many smaller churches, the challenge is even greater. A pastor carrying the needs of an entire congregation often has little time or capacity to personally train and equip a part-time or volunteer youth leader.

That makes Sonlife’s mission increasingly important.

We want to come alongside churches and invest deeply in their youth leaders—whether they are full-time, part-time, or volunteers—helping them build ministries around the life and strategy of Jesus.

Over the past year, we have been refining a pathway that will allow our team to invest in youth leaders for one to two years, not simply through a one-time training event. Our refined Strategy Training is now divided into two parts, allowing us to slow down and teach the strategy of Jesus in understandable and applicable pieces. From there, youth leaders will be invited into 16 sessions of ongoing coaching, designed to help them put that strategy into practice in their own ministry.

The goal is not simply to give leaders more information. We want to walk alongside them as they develop Jesus-centered, disciple-making ministries that win, build, equip, and send passionate young people into their world with the life-giving truth of Jesus.

2027: Taking the Next Step

In 2027, we currently have six Strategy Tour locations planned across the United States, with another two to three locations being developed in Canada.

We are intentionally moving toward regional events so that part-time and volunteer youth leaders can access training closer to home without having to take significant time away from their jobs and families.

Our goal is to see an average of 50 youth leaders at each location, with 10–15 from each event continuing into a year-long coaching cohort.

That means that in 2027 we are praying to see:

• 400 youth leaders trained.
• 100 youth leaders coached for an entire year.

And we believe this is only the beginning.

Our long-term vision is to see 16,000 youth leaders trained and implementing Jesus’ model of disciple-making by 2035.

We know that will require multiplication.

Over the next five years, we are working toward adding 10 Regional Directors who will develop the ministry in their regions. They will train and mentor youth leaders who can become Area Coordinators, Certified Trainers, and Coaches—leaders who can then invest in other leaders throughout their communities.

Leader investing in leader.
Disciple making disciple.
Ministry multiplying ministry.

Our prayer is that this multiplication will help spark a movement toward youth ministries across North America being transformed around the disciple-making model of Jesus.

We Can’t Do This Alone

A vision this large will require a team.

First, we need prayer warriors who will faithfully pray for our staff, Regional Directors, youth leaders, training events, and coaching cohorts.

We also need an expanding team of financial partners who believe in investing in the next generation. Your financial gifts help us onboard and launch Regional Directors, keep training and coaching affordable for youth leaders, cover the growing costs of taking training into regions across North America, and strengthen Sonlife organizationally for the opportunities ahead.

As we enter 2027, two immediate needs are before us:

1. Launching two new Regional Directors — $60,000
   We are seeking $30,000 for each new Regional Director to help provide initial funding during their support-raising period and give them the resources necessary to begin developing ministry in their region. Our desire is to launch each Regional Director well and position them for long-term success.
2. Strategy Tour travel — $12,000
   As our team travels to regional Strategy Tour locations, our travel expenses will increase significantly. We estimate approximately $1,500 in travel expenses per location, or roughly $12,000 for the year.

Together, these represent an immediate year-end opportunity of $72,000 to help launch what we believe can become a multiplying movement across North America.

Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us?

Perhaps God is calling you to commit to pray regularly for Sonlife throughout 2027. Perhaps He is leading you to make a special year-end financial gift. Or perhaps He is inviting you to do both. Every prayer, every gift, and every partnership helps us invest in leaders who are investing in the next generation.

Thank you for the many ways you have supported Sonlife through the years. We are deeply grateful.

Together, let’s continue pursuing Jesus and connecting the next generation to Him.

Sonlife Ministries