February 2026 | WESTMONT, IL—Outreach magazine has named three IVP titles 2026 Resources of the Year. The honored books include Remissioning Church by Josh Hayden, Nailing It by Nicole Massie Martin, and Global Christianity and Islam by Wafik W. Wahba. Now in its twenty-third year, the 2026 Outreach Resources of the Year honors the past year’s best books that emphasize outreach-oriented ideas that churches and organizations of all sizes can use.
Church 2026 Resources of the Year
Remissioning Church: A Field Guide to Bringing a Congregation Back to Life was one of two Resources of the Year in the Church category. This title was also recently named the 2025 Englewood Review of Books Readers’ Best Award Winner.
For church leaders longing to bring their declining churches back from the brink, Remissioning Church outlines the path of inside-out transformation through discipleship while focusing on serving your neighbors and the world.
“Here’s the book that is needed by about 90 percent of all churches and 100 percent of all clergy in North America,” said Will Willimon, professor of the practice of Christian ministry at Duke Divinity School. “Josh Hayden’s book is an enthusiastic invitation to today’s congregations to refit themselves for vital participation in Christ’s mission. Practical, proven, biblical, and very wise, Remissioning Church is destined to help scores of churches find their way into the future.”
Leadership and Calling 2026 Resources of the Year
One of two honored titles in this category, Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender challenges leaders of all ages to crucify their ministry idols and nail outdated leadership practices to the cross. Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin walks through seven areas of traditional leadership that need to be reframed: power, ego, speed, performance, perfection, loyalty, and scale.
“We desperately need new models of leadership, ones grounded in the humanity and flourishing that Jesus invites us into. Nicole Massie Martin offers just that in Nailing It, rejecting abuses of power and toxic egos in favor of collaboration and mutuality,” said Sandra Maria Van Opstal, author, pastor, and executive director of Chasing Justice. “With experience leading in corporate, nonprofit, and church settings, Nicole brings her invaluable wisdom at a much-needed moment for today’s leaders. This book is a powerful call to rethink leadership for a more just and thriving future.”
Missions and Cross-Cultural 2026 Resource of the Year
Global Christianity and Islam: Exploring History, Politics, and Beliefs provides a comprehensive overview of Christianity and Islam. Wafik W. Wahba highlights key points of similarity and difference and particular factors that contributed to divergence between the Western world and the Muslim world. Exploring the various narratives that have shaped both Christianity and Islam, he argues, is crucial to understanding current trends in Christian-Muslim interactions and their impact on future relations between the two communities globally.
Kenneth R. Ross, professor of theology and dean of postgraduate studies at Zomba Theological University in Malawi, said, “In our fragmented and polarized world, mutual respect and understanding between Muslims and Christians are more important than ever. To navigate the terrain where they encounter one another, you could not hope for a more trustworthy interpreter than Wafik Wahba. Fair, balanced, sympathetic, patient, irenic, concise, and clear—this is an indispensable guide for all who travel the frontiers of Christian-Muslim relations.”
The Outreach Resources of the Year aims to highlight valuable resources for church leaders and bring deserved attention to tools that can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach their communities for Christ.
For a complete list of IVP award-winning titles, visit ivpress.com/award-winners.
Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com
