New Year Goals for Tentmaking Pastors: Less Resolution, More Direction

The start of a new year has a way of making us reflective.

What needs to change?
What do I need to take seriously this year?
What can’t be left vague anymore?

For tentmaking pastors, those questions often land in a very specific place: income, capacity, and freedom.

Not because money is the mission - but because money affects whether you can stay in the mission long-term.

Paul Didn’t Make Resolutions. He Made Room.

When Paul talks about his tentmaking, he never frames it as a compromise.
It’s not a fallback plan.
It’s not a lack of faith.

It’s wisdom.

“You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.” (Acts 20:34)

Paul didn’t set abstract goals like “trust God more” or “be more disciplined.”
He made practical decisions that created margin - financial, relational, and missional.

That’s the heart of tentmaking.

So as you think about goals this year, here’s a reframing that might help:

👉 Don’t ask, “What do I want to achieve?”
👉 Ask, “What do I need to put in place so I can do what God's calling me to while providing for my family and others?”

The Real Enemy Isn’t Lack of Vision - It’s Drift

Most pastors I speak to don’t lack vision.
They lack a concrete next step.

They’ve been meaning to:

• Explore an income stream

• Learn from someone who’s actually doing it

• Test something small before committing big

But another year passes… and nothing really changes.

Not because they’re lazy.
But because everything stays conceptual.

I was exactly the same. For years I had this idea that I wanted to do something different to lay out a different way of supplementing or replacing income. But I just never quite made the intentional step to actually do something about it!

This year doesn’t need better intentions.
It needs movement.

Tentmaking Works Best When You Don’t Do It Alone

Both Chris Galanos and I learned from others when we started our tentmaking journeys. We invested in ourselves.

For some of you, this could be the first non-theoretical step you’ve taken toward tentmaking income.

And that matters.

A Simple New Year Challenge

Here’s a grounded challenge as you step into the year:

1. Stop promising yourself you’ll “figure it out later.”
   Later rarely comes without a trigger.

2. Choose one environment that moves you from thinking to implementing.
   Not five. One.

3. Sign up!
   Decisions without dates stay imaginary.

Joining Chris on this house flipping journey might not be your final tentmaking model - and that’s fine.

Instead you could join me and learn how to turn your expertise into a scalable income through online coaching or a course.

Or you could pick another model entirely!

The main question is will 2026 be the first year you take a step out of abstraction and into action.

And first steps change trajectories.

Final Thought

As the year begins, don’t aim for dramatic resolutions.

Aim for clear direction and a real next step.

Paul didn’t wait for perfect conditions.
He worked with what was in front of him.

You can too.

Standing with you

Simon