Blog - Podcast Episode 204: v18 Just Released & 2026 Goal Setting

In this episode of Rock Cast, Jon, Emily and Nick share three big updates: the v18 release, a conversation with a successful entrepreneur and practical ideas for setting 2026 goals in your digital ministry.

v18 went live today with an important shift in how releases will work going forward. The first dot release will now drop alongside major releases, so churches can update straight to the dot release for a smoother, lower‑risk upgrade.

They recap their recent and encouraging discussion with a successful business entrepreneur who's equally excited about Rock's inclusion of an Essentials model that makes Rock more accessible for small to medium sized churches.

As we look ahead towards 2026, they challenge you to set clear goals for your digital ministry. Here are just a few of those practical ideas:

• Keep the mission in front of you. Print the six anchors framework and leave it on your desk so your planning can stay aligned with mission.

• Start a steady content rhythm. Begin with five articles from the Content Library, then publish and share one per week across your communication channels.
• Tackle your technical debt. Technical debt isn't always bad, it's accidental. It can hide in the Lava you wrote as a temporary patch, overly complicated check-in configurations, outdated clone blocks, or the riskiest one of all - customization of core blocks. Use the prioritization framework to chip away at your debt in 2026.

Rock Sponsors

We are thankful for our Rock Sponsors and their support of the Rock Community. Visit their websites through the link above to learn how they can help your ministry and confirm that those you work with are as invested in the success of Rock as you are!

Quick Links

• Watch the bones and muscles video to learn why workflows should function more as flexible muscles than brittle bones.
• v18 is now available for Early Access! Read the release notes for more details and learn about changes in our release process in our previous Rock Cast episode.
• Print and place these six daily reminders on your desk to help drive your digital ministry towards success as you set goals for 2026.