Well everyone… here we are. The very last Crew Week of 2025.

I’ve been so encouraged hearing story after story of what God has done this year—through Crews, through community, and through you. You’ve shown up, led faithfully, opened your homes and hearts, and helped build strong, life-giving communities across every one of our locations. Thank you. Truly.

But before we step into our Off-SZN, I want to lean into a thought:

“What You Build Before You Gather.”

Because leading a Crew doesn’t just happen on Crew night. It comes from the overflow of what’s happening in your own walk with God long before anyone shows up in your living room.

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Manou said something that hit me like a ton of bricks, and honestly, I haven’t stopped thinking about it:

“If you only eat one or two times a week, you’ll be malnourished.”

It’s true physically, but it’s even more true spiritually.

If the only time we get fed is on Sundays and Crew nights, we’re going to end up spiritually starved. We need daily bread. We need moments with God that nourish us day by day, not just week by week.

So what does that look like?
It looks like the simple stuff we sometimes overlook:

• Personal prayer
• Reading Scripture
• Worship
• Fasting
• Reflecting and journaling
• Setting aside noise to hear His voice

Think about it:
You cannot pour out of an empty cup.
And you can’t fill your cup at the same time you’re pouring it out.

Healthy leadership, and honestly, a healthy life, means taking intentional time to fill that cup every single day.

Maybe you’re wondering, “How do I keep that up? How do I stay disciplined?”

This is where rhythms come in. Habits. Intentional moments you protect.
Where in your day can you carve out space for God? Morning? Lunch break? Commute? Before bed?

And don’t try to do it alone. Build accountability with the person you lead Crew with. Check in on each other:

• Did you read today?
• What’s God showing you?
• How can I pray for you?
• How can we grow together?

You’ll be surprised how much that private discipline begins to overflow into public leadership. This isn’t just good Crew leadership, it’s good life leadership.

So as we step into the final week of Crews, let’s give our very best. Let’s finish strong, present, joyful, and expectant.

And as we step into Off-SZN, let’s commit to something even more important:

Nourish your soul. Strengthen your spirit. Eat your daily bread.
The best leaders aren’t just prepared on Crew night—they’re prepared every day before it.

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