A Thank You to Church Leaders: A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and a Free Leadership Gift

A Thank You to the Leaders Who Walked With Me This Year

As this year comes to a close, I want to slow down long enough to say thank you.

Not a rushed thank you.
Not a polite one.

A real one.

2025 was an incredibly impactful year.

Not because it was easy.
Not because everything worked.
But because something shifted in how I lead, how I serve, and how I carry responsibility.

And many of you walked with me through that shift.

You read these Leader Letters.
You shared them.
You responded to them.
You trusted me with your stories, your frustrations, your hopes for healthier leadership.

I don’t take that lightly.

The Year That Changed How I Lead

If I’m honest, the biggest changes this year didn’t come from strategy sessions or planning days.

They came from small, daily leadership moments.

Five-minute conversations.
Short pauses before reacting.
Asking better questions instead of giving faster answers.
Naming weight instead of pretending it wasn’t there.

I learned this truth the slow way.

Church culture is not built in big moments.
It’s built in the moments leaders repeat.

How decisions are explained.
How mistakes are handled.
How leaders are listened to.
How people feel after meetings, not during them.

Those moments shape everything.

Why ChurchLeaderOS Exists

ChurchLeaderOS began in April of 2024 out of a very simple conviction.

Church leaders need support systems that are:

• practical

• pastoral

• sustainable

Not another inspirational talk.
Not another leadership trend.

A system that helps leaders lead themselves, lead people, and lead organizations without losing their soul in the process.

I started ChurchLeaderOS because I saw too many faithful leaders carrying weight alone, trying to figure things out in isolation, and blaming themselves for problems that were actually systemic.

What Happened in 2025

This year exceeded anything I expected.

In 2025, we:

• Tripled the number of church leaders we served

• Released Pew Patterns, helping leaders understand why people sit, switch, and search

• Hosted our first Momentum Meetup, bringing leaders into the same room for clarity, connection, and encouragement

• Released the ChurchLeaderOS Complete Leadership Pipeline, equipping churches to intentionally make, mature, and multiply leaders

None of that happened because of hype.

It happened because leaders trusted the work.

And that trust matters to me.

What I Learned the Hard Way

Here’s what 2025 taught me.

Most leadership burnout doesn’t come from doing too much.
It comes from carrying too much alone.

Most culture problems don’t start with rebellion.
They start with unaddressed confusion.

Most churches don’t need new vision.
They need healthier leadership rhythms.

And most leaders don’t need another goal.
They need support, clarity, and permission to slow down enough to lead well.

A Small Gift, With a Grateful Heart

Because of that, I want to end this year with generosity.

As a thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your trust, I want to give you a small gift.

ChurchLeaderOS: 5-Minute Culture Shifts.

This is a simple 30-day guide built around five-minute leadership Asks that help rebuild trust, care, and clarity.

No prep.
No slides.
No pressure.

Just small leadership moments that quietly shape culture over time.

You can use it:

• with your staff

• with volunteers

• with ministry leaders

• with elders and boards

• or simply on your own

This isn’t a course.
It’s a rhythm.

And it’s my way of saying thank you.

👉 Download Your Free Copy of ChurchLeaderOS: 5-Minute Culture Shifts

Why I’m Giving This Away

Because generosity builds trust.

And because I believe leaders lead better when they are resourced, not rushed.

This guide reflects the biggest lesson I learned this year.

You don’t fix culture all at once.
You shape it in small, consistent moments.

Five minutes at a time.

What Often Happens After the Five Minutes

Here’s what many leaders discover.

Once you slow down enough to pay attention, you start noticing patterns.

What drains you.
What confuses your team.
What keeps repeating year after year.

That awareness isn’t failure.

It’s clarity.

And clarity is a gift.

Looking Ahead With Intention

As we step into a new year, my hope for you is simple.

That you would:

• lead with less pressure

• carry less weight alone

• build systems that support people, not exhaust them

• and experience leadership as sustainable again

ChurchLeaderOS will continue to exist for that reason.

To support leaders.
To create clarity.
To help churches multiply leaders, not burn them out.

One Final Word

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for trusting.
Thank you for showing up again and again.

This year mattered to me because you were part of it.

May the next year be marked by:

• healthier rhythms

• clearer leadership

• deeper trust

• and lighter shoulders

Five minutes at a time.

Five minutes at a time is enough to begin.

See you next Saturday!

Eric V Hampton

Whenever you're ready, here are 4 ways I can help you:

1. ChurchLeaderOS: The Complete Leadership System for Church Leaders
My signature framework that helps pastors design strategies that work, implement systems that last, and develop leaders with a heart for people. ChurchLeaderOS gives you the structure, clarity, and tools to build a sustainable leadership pipeline and a healthy, high-impact team.

2. Pew Patterns: The Modern Church Attendance and Engagement Guide
A research-based resource that helps pastors understand why people hop, shop, and drop from church. Pew Patterns breaks down today’s spiritual behavior, connection trends, and engagement triggers so you can increase retention, strengthen community, and create a church people truly call home.

3. The Church Leader Annual Review: A Strategic Tool for Growth and Clarity
A comprehensive, pastor-focused annual review system that helps you evaluate your ministry, assess your leadership health, identify blind spots, and set goals that actually move the church forward. This tool brings structure, confidence, and direction to your next year of ministry.

4. The Real MVP (Most Valuable Pastor): A Coaching Resource for Healthy Leadership Rhythms
A practical guide that helps pastors rediscover their value, strengthen their spiritual and emotional well-being, and lead from a place of stability instead of struggle. The Real MVP helps you build rhythms that protect your calling, fuel your growth, and keep your heart strong for the people you serve.