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DirectionJul 2026

Direction readiness is seasonal — and it peaks in January

Readiness to act on the next step rises sharply in Q1, then erodes through the summer.

Direction Readiness — MSTRD's measure of whether a church is prepared to act on its stated next step — moves with the calendar more than any other dimension.

It peaks each January, alongside new-year planning cycles and renewed attendance, then erodes steadily through the summer before recovering again in the fall. Churches that lock in a decision during the Q1 peak report meaningfully less second-guessing later in the year than churches that wait.