New Pinnacle Initiatives In 2026
by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader
Perhaps you thought we went dormant this Winter… not launching new services, publishing more books, or breaking new ground in observable ways.
I could see how this is what Pinnacle looks like from the outside. But on the inside, the past two years have included high congregational engagement and great generativity. We have not publicly shared what we are doing, given the early stages of development. Each of the following Big Three Initiatives have actually been underway for many years, and strangely, all emerging simultaneously here in 2026. We didn’t plan it that way; simply paying attention to the growth and flow of each initiative, describing when ready.
So, with great joy, we are glad to describe Pinnacle’s Big Three Initiatives formally launching in 2026. Following along with this E-news is an excellent way to stay updated as these roll out this year, while we are ready to talk through them when you contact us directly.
Looking back from here, our team is extremely appreciative of the clergy, church staff persons, denominational leaders, and congregations who are engaging these initiatives. Forming services, publications, and training through live engagement with you is the stream in which we swim at Pinnacle. Certainly quality research and expert input is valued, yet we are focused on what actually contributes to missional progress. So, thank you for your interactive engagement, contributing to services designed to help us live into our best selves as servant leaders and congregations. As you can see, these Big Three Initiatives are about Forming Congregations, Forming Christ Followers, and Forming Leaders.
Forming Congregations – Crossing Thresholds Family Of Services
This Initiative grows out of our engagement with churches who are moving forward missionally, crossing into new seasons of missional progress. Through engagement, this family of services is taking shape, with ongoing refinement informed by healthy and vitalized congregations (Baptist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian so far). The outcome is approaches to vitalization and visioning in churches that is field tested and vitalization focused. Now the CT Team at Pinnacle is in place, currently offering many of the following services, while developing others.
Crossing Thresholds Visioning Journey – Visioning process for churches already underway. Two levels of engagement available.
Crossing Thresholds Missional Strategy Weekend – A very focused weekend of visioning and strategy formation, including worship leadership.
Crossing Thresholds Missional Strategy Workshop – One day event with church leadership yielding an actionable missional strategy.
Crossing Thresholds Prayer Guide – A substantive devotional book with forty days of prayer designed to stimulate spiritual imagination before congregational visioning. This resource is part of the visioning journey as well as available for churches to use on their own. Crossing Thresholds Prayer Guide.
The Crossing Thresholds Congregational Survey – An online tool which gathers input on 16 areas of church life, resulting in a substantive report for church leadership. This survey is part of the visioning journey, as well as available for church assessment… the survey plus an interpretation and feedback consultation with a CT Consultant.
The Crossing Thresholds Church Assessment Weekend — Interviews, gathering documents, experiencing worship, and the CT Congregational Survey… these activities are included in this structured weekend experience for churches, resulting in an informative report and feedback consultation with a CT Consultant.
Presentation — Crossing Thresholds: Breaking Through Invisible Barriers To Missional Progress — A one-day learning experience for clergy, church staff, churches and denominations from Mark Tidsworth, including:
Three Faith Statements For Empowering Missional Movement
Crossing Thresholds – A Forward Facing Spiritual Posture
Pinch Points Constraining Missional Movement
Four Missional Movement Principles
Eight Vitality Markers To Cultivate And Pursue
Includes workbook for event participants.
Forming Christ Followers – SpiritFlow: Forming In The Way Of Jesus
Christian formation services are a new, emerging part of Pinnacle’s ministry. Certainly this has been part of what we do all along, yet SpiritFlow is a very intentional new ministry focused on discipleship; on forming one another in the Way of Jesus. The SpiritFlow Team is formed and meeting, developing content and approach. Look for the following activities, resources, and services coming this Spring.
The SpiritFlow Online Community
The SpiritFlow Retreat – Conference center gatherings and spiritual enrichment experiences with particular churches
The SpiritFlow Book and Guidebook
The SpiritFlow Course
SpiritFlow Coaching – Individuals and Groups
SpiritFlow Small Groups and Sunday School Curriculum
Seminars, Workshops, Classes
The Mountain Retreat
The Beach Retreat
Forming Leaders – The Lead Pastor Learning Community
What contributes to vitality in moderate to progressive churches? What’s the role of Lead Pastors when it comes to cultivating vitality in moderate to progressive churches? These are the driving questions behind the LPLC. We are gathering a strong faculty of practicing Lead Pastors and Lead Pastor Trainers, followed by establishing this learning community online, gathering several times each month for pursuing the answers to our driving questions. Launching, Fall 2026.
Ongoing Pinnacle Services – While all this generative work is rising, we continue coaching, consulting, and training, along with providing content through resources. See our website for guidance toward what may fit your needs and aspirations, while contacting us for exploratory conversations anytime.