Bringing Research into our Resolutions: How To Be Outcome-Based in the New Year

A new year often comes with fresh ideas about what we want to change or do differently—personally, in our families, or in ministry. Maybe you’ve even mapped out the concrete steps needed to reach your goals.

But if you’re like most people, by mid-January or February, those new gym shoes are still looking too new, and your New Year’s zeal has gotten buried under the usual pressures of work and family. Or maybe you started off strong, only to realize your resolutions needed some tweaking. Am I even aiming at the right target? you wondered.

Or perhaps you asked, How will I know when I’ve hit the mark? Fitness apps may track your miles, but for the bigger goals—spiritual growth, meaningful impact—it’s harder to measure success.

That’s why this idea reminds us so much of what we ask ourselves every day at OneHope as we strive to develop programs that make a real difference in the lives of children and youth around the world.

Asking the Right Questions

“Have we hit the mark?” Are our programs creating the kind of impact we hope for?

Nearly 20 years ago, OneHope made a strategic, ministry-wide shift to include early testing (validation) and ongoing evaluation of our programs to ensure they are actually having the impact we intended.

“Are we aiming at the right target?” As we began to measure results, we also realized the need to clarify our goals. What do we really hope to see change in the lives of young people? Before we can define outcomes, we have to deeply understand the people we’re reaching—their needs, struggles, and context. That’s where discovery research comes in.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Let’s walk through what we call outcome-based ministry using two real-world examples from this past year.

1. Discovery Research with Gen Alpha

The goal of our discovery research is to gain a window into the real lives of young people—what they believe, what they’re struggling with, how they engage with technology, and more. Most recently, we launched a global study of Gen Alpha, the newest generation of children born after 2010. This research was highlighted in a previous News & Stories article, and new country-specific reports are now available for Australia, Brazil, and Canada, with five more countries on the way.

The findings are already being used to shape program design, inform partner strategy, and drive innovation at scale. They’re helping us clarify the target—what messages matter most to Gen Alpha and how to communicate those messages effectively.

2. Measuring Program Impact with Called to Thrive

But understanding our audience is only part of the equation. After a program is piloted and launched, we also need to ask: Is the program working?

That’s why we recently conducted a validation of Called to Thrive, a OneHope program designed to help African teens and young adults view work and vocation through the lens of faith. We piloted the program with 200 youth across seven countries, measuring their responses before and after completing the curriculum.

The results were insightful and fruitful. The surveys revealed areas where the program resonated—and where it could be improved. Based on the feedback, we condensed some lessons and added entirely new modules and resources to better meet students’ needs.

What This Means for You

We hope these stories inspire you to bring some of these same outcome-based principles into your own life or ministry in 2026. Maybe you’ll:

• Take a few minutes to learn more about Gen Alpha and how their worldview is shaping up.
• Rethink a ministry goal by asking: What exactly are we hoping will change in a young person’s life?
• Invite a few youth or parents to share openly in a small focus group setting or guided discussion.
• Create a simple online survey with 1–2 key questions to better understand your ministry’s impact.
  

You don’t need a research degree to get started. In fact, we’ve created a set of Research Guides to walk you through how to run a short focus group or survey. The sky’s the limit!

Let’s Make 2026 Count

This year, don’t just set resolutions—measure them. Let 2026 be the year we clarify what we’re aiming for and gain deeper insight into how God is working in the hearts of young people.

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