Top To Watch In 2026
You've been waiting for the big reveal, well, now here it is! Here's Chrstianpreneur Magazine's picks for the top people to watch in 2026!
Christianpreneur Staff
Christianpreneur Magazine is stepping into year seven with momentum, confidence, and a clear sense of where we’re headed. As we push toward our goal of 100,000 subscribers, we knew this was the right moment to introduce something bold, intentional, and forward-looking: The Top To Watch in 2026. This list exists to shine a light on people who are not just talking about impact, but actively creating it. These are individuals influencing culture, building community, and advancing the Kingdom in ways that matter right now.
Let’s be clear. This is not a popularity list, a social media flex, or a who’s-who of viral moments. It’s a watch list. These are people worth paying attention to. We divided the list into two groups for a reason. Our featured leaders are those we took extra time with. We leaned into their stories, their vision, and what makes their work stand out. Our honorees are just as important. They are included to spark curiosity and encourage you to go explore, follow, and discover more for yourself. Either way, everyone on this list deserves a spot on your radar. If your social feeds need more purpose, more faith, and more positive influence, start here.
The Top To Watch in 2026 spans four categories: Influencers, Leaders, Business and Ministry, and Entrepreneurs. Many of the names on this list could easily sit in multiple categories, but we placed each person where their influence is most visible in this season. Influence shifts, grows, and evolves, and this list reflects what is happening right now, not what worked five years ago.
You’ll see Kingdom builders like Eric Hampton, founder of Church LeaderOS. Through his work at EricVHampton.com, Eric is helping churches and leaders move from overwhelmed to organized, from scattered to strategic. You’ll also meet Quenjana, owner of the Präze Bar in Chicago. What started as a bold idea has become a thriving non-alcoholic Christian social space, now expanded into a new facility. Community is being built, conversations are happening, and culture is being reshaped without compromise.
And yes, there are familiar names too. Sadie Robertson Huff, known for A&E’s Duck Dynasty and host of the Whoa That’s Good Podcast, is featured for a reason. With more than five million followers across social platforms, she continues to use her voice to point people toward faith, purpose, and authenticity in a very public way.
What makes this list powerful is that it celebrates both arrival and momentum. Some of these individuals have already seen significant success. Others are still building, still growing, and already making real impact along the way. That’s the point. This list is about trajectory, not just trophies.
Whether you’re here for the familiar faces, curious about the rise of faith-driven businesses like a non-alcoholic wine bar, or simply looking to discover voices worth listening to in the year ahead, you’re in the right place. Read it. Follow them. Learn from them.
This is Christianpreneur Magazine’s Top To Watch in 2026. These are the people shaping what’s next, and you’re going to want to say you were paying attention early.
Trevon Campbell
Trevon, a recent graduate of Michigan State University, is absolutely someone to watch in 2026. With a strong foundation in advertising and marketing, he stepped into the role of Director of Marketing and Advertising for Christianpreneur Magazine. The Top To Watch in 2026 marks his first major campaign, and it has already driven thousands of new readers to the magazine, expanding its reach at the intersection of faith and business.
Eric Hampton
We love Eric Hampton. Father of two boys, Jacob & Ethan, husband of an amazing woman, Jennifer, and the creator of Church LeaderOS. He is a pastor, executive leader, and coach who helps church leaders build ministries that are healthy, structured, and sustainable. With more than 20 years in ministry leadership, he brings lived experience from the frontline of church life, not just theory from a desk. He’s known for turning complexity into practical with systems that actually work for real leaders with real pressure. Eric leads operations at New Life Covenant Church Southeast, one of the largest churches in Chicago, and coaches pastors nationwide to lead with clarity, courage, and consistency.
Sadie Robertson Huff
Star of Duck Dynasty: The Revival, Sadie Robertson Huff is an author, influencer and the founder of Live Original, a ministry designed to cultivate sisterhood and teach truth. On a mission to reach her generation with the message of Christ, Sadie hosts an award-winning podcast WHOA That’s Good, speaking to millions of monthly listeners.
IG: @LegitSadieRob
Echo Church
Founded in 2024 by Pastor Rich Saunders in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Echo church is already making an impact in the Kingdom. Practical word, powerful worship, and a community-centered vision are what drive Echo to be great. Their mission is simple: "Until ALL have heard." Pastor Rich is a long-time Executive Pastor with a servant's heart.
Hill City Church
Led by one of the most well-known gospel artists on the planet, Hill City is an amazing ministry doing great things for the Kingdom. Alongside his wife Dominique, they launched in 2016 and recently moved to their new location. Their community efforts, excellence in ministry, and powerful worship make this a ministry to be reckoned with. God is doing a work in Los Angeles through the ministry of Hill City.
Kev On Stage
Kevin Fredericks, known as Kev On Stage, is taking the TV world by storm. This former youth pastor turned clean comedian is known for putting out 3-5 social media videos per day over the past decade. His unwavering faith has been a major encouragement to all who've watched his come-up. He is an NAACP Image Award winner and is the co-author, with his wife, Melissa, of the New York Times bestseller Marriage Be Hard. His work and commentary have been featured by Good Morning America, Complex, Ebony, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and MSNBC.
Love Church
Love Church is a dynamic, community-focused church in Chicago led by Pastor Kyrus Killingsworth (also known as @iirockit on Instagram) and First Lady Vicki Killingsworth, known for outreach, impactful services, and building a loving family atmosphere. This ministry focuses on faith, community, and serving those in need. Catch a service while in Chicago, you won't regret it.
IG: @LoveGlobalMin
Jermaine Stearns
Pastor Jermaine Stearns is a pastor after God's own heart. He pastors one of the most vibrant, anointed and powerful churches in Fayetteville, NC, Victorious Hope. He sites that his personal journey overcoming challenges, including losing his mother at 28, led to a focus on positive change. That change has resulted in a successful marriage to his partner in crime, Lady Roni, and him becoming a father to 3 amazing kids. His books, Food For Thought and Note To Self are on Amazon.
Quenjana Adams
Quenjana creates elevated faith-forward experiences for both Believers and the God-curious. What began as a God-given vision is now unfolding across Chicago through Prazbar, a Christian R&B lounge and the city’s first non-alcoholic wine bar, and the Chicago Christian Social Club, a shared space where believers from different churches and backgrounds connect, work, and build community. She focuses on setting the atmosphere and curating meaningful experiences, leaving room for God to do what only He can do.
TT: @prazbar
Dr. Renee Sunday M.D.
Every leader reaches a point where purpose begins to speak louder than fear, and that moment helped define the journey of Dr. Renee Sunday. With more than two decades of medical expertise, she pairs deep knowledge with a passion for helping people grow in clarity, confidence, and visibility. Her work spans healthcare, software development, corporate wellness, AI integration, media strategy, and purpose-driven coaching, all focused on helping others recognize what is possible for their own lives. At the core of everything she does is a commitment to service and a vision rooted in legacy.
FB: @ReneeSundayMD
Anthem Church
Sam & Taylor Hamstra founded Anthem Church in March of 2020 with a vision & heart to lead people to know Christ & make Him known. Over the past few years, they have seen this mission become a reality as Anthem Church has grown into a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, family made up of thousands of people from all walks of life from Northwest Indiana, Chicagoland, & beyond.
Pastor Corey Brooks
Pastor Corey Brooks is the prominent founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and CEO of Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny), known nationally as the "Rooftop Pastor" for living on a rooftop for extended periods to raise awareness and funds to combat violence and poverty on Chicago's South Side, leading to community transformation efforts like building a community center and launching a "Walk Across America" to spread hope and faith-based solutions.
IG: CoreyBBrooks
2819 Church
2819 Church is a fast-growing, Christ-centered church in Atlanta, Georgia, led by Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, focused on spreading the Gospel and making disciples, inspired by Matthew 28:19. People have waited in line for literally hours to attend worship because of the presence felt in this church. If you find yourself in the Atlanta area, check out this amazing ministry.
Higher Level Church
Higher Level is one of those churches that you just know that God has His hand on. Led by the dynamic pastor Chris Hill, Higher Level is doing great things in Denver. You'll find powerful worship, impactful preaching and a welcoming environment at this great church. Denver is lucky to have Higher Level Church.
Brittney Holmes Jackson
Brittney Holmes Jackson is a trauma-informed family therapist, mental health coach, and founder of BHJ & Co., a mental health agency serving children, individuals, families, and organizations across Metro Atlanta. After 15 years in education, she transitioned into the mental health field to meet the deeper emotional needs of her students and community. She now provides trauma-focused therapy and coaching rooted in systemic practices, incorporating tools like therapeutic writing to support healing, and offering faith-based services for clients who desire spiritual integration in their wellness journey.
IG & TT: @thebrittneyjayway
Tramone Tate
Tramone would be a quiet storm if you've ever seen one. He's talented, powerful, intellectual, and has an eye for photography that is unmatched. He is an entrepreneur and freelance creative in the greater Chicagoland area. With his 10 years of photography experience, he is now broadening his horizons and stepping into film production. Watch out for this top 26 nominee!
IG: Tramone Tate
Steve Jones
Steve Jones is a prominent producer, brand strategist, and author known for his significant involvement with the OWN Network's hit docuseries Black Love, serving as a producer who helped bring authentic Black love stories to the forefront. He's also the creator of "The Hollywood Confidential," a series and upcoming book offering guidance for aspiring entertainment professionals, where he shares insights from working with stars like Angela Bassett and Issa Rae. Jones, a "Cultural Architect," focuses on providing tools and a roadmap for Black creatives in Hollywood. His new book with the same name, Hollywood Confidential, is available on Amazon.
IG: @IAmSteveJones
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