Word of the Year 2026
Senior Lead Pastor Landon Schott
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Mercy Culture Worship's new song "Encounter Song" releases January 9, 2026!
This is where I tell You “I love You, I love You, I love You!”This is where I tell You “You’re Holy, You’re Holy, You’re Holy!”This is where I tell You “Thank You, thank You, thank You!”This is where ...
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Encounters & Visitations
Exodus 3:1-15
BSB
1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.
3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.
3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
BSB
You choose your Daily Encounter.
God chooses your Holy Visitation.
God chooses your Holy Visitation.
The word of the year for 2026 is:
Encounters & Visitations
Encounters & Visitations
If you want to spiritually grow, be all in!
Psalms 92:13
BSB
13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
BSB
3 Ways To Be All In
1. Go through MC Connect
1. Go through MC Connect
3 Ways To Be All In
1. Go through MC Connect
2. Be planted in a church
1. Go through MC Connect
2. Be planted in a church
3 Ways To Be All In
1. Go through MC Connect
2. Be planted in a church
3. Steward prophetic words
1. Go through MC Connect
2. Be planted in a church
3. Steward prophetic words
The power of a prophetic word is not in receiving it; it's in stewarding it!
Practical Advice for Stewarding Prophetic Words:
- Write it down and revisit it often.
- Pray it through.
- Engage it creatively.
- Bring your family into it.
- Repeat it.
- Write it down and revisit it often.
- Pray it through.
- Engage it creatively.
- Bring your family into it.
- Repeat it.
Your next assignment is in the obedience of your current assignment.
Practical Advice:
Go back to the places where God encountered you and thank Him for it!
Go back to the places where God encountered you and thank Him for it!
Hebrews 13:2
BSB
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
BSB
I heard the Lord say: "Encounters & Visitations!"
The Prayer of Encounters & Visitations
This is where I tell You “I love You, I love You, I love You!”
This is where I tell You “You’re Holy, You’re Holy, You’re Holy!”
This is where I tell You “Thank You, thank You, thank You!”
This is where I tell You “I need You, I need You, I need You!”
This is where I tell You “Speak LORD, Your servant is listening!”
This is where I tell You “I love You, I love You, I love You!”
This is where I tell You “You’re Holy, You’re Holy, You’re Holy!”
This is where I tell You “Thank You, thank You, thank You!”
This is where I tell You “I need You, I need You, I need You!”
This is where I tell You “Speak LORD, Your servant is listening!”
Practical Advice:
Pray the prayer of Encounters & Visitations every day in 2026!
Pray the prayer of Encounters & Visitations every day in 2026!
Hebrews 1:1
BSB
1 On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.
BSB
Warning:
Encounters never contradict biblical doctrine; they reinforce it!
Encounters never contradict biblical doctrine; they reinforce it!
Encounters Simplified: Encounters are intentional opportunities we choose to meet with God.
Hebrew: פָּגַע (pāgaʿ) = To meet, encounter, or come upon.
Simplified: God crossing paths with a person on purpose!
Simplified: God crossing paths with a person on purpose!
Hebrew: רָאָה (rāʾâ) = To see, perceive, behold.
Simplified: Noticing what God is doing.
Simplified: Noticing what God is doing.
Hebrew: קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš) = Holiness, sacredness, set apart.
Isaiah 6:3
BSB
3 And they were calling out to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”
BSB
Visitations Simplified: Visitations take place when we have encountered God. Now He wants to encounter us.
Greek: ἐπισκοπή (episkopē) = A divine visitation involving oversight, inspection, or intervention.
Greek: ἐπισκέπτομαι (episkeptomai) = To visit or look upon carefully.
Encounters are when we engage God.
Visitations are when God engages us.
Visitations are when God engages us.
Luke 19:44
BSB
44 They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. ”
BSB
You choose your Daily Encounter.
God chooses your Holy Visitation!
God chooses your Holy Visitation!
Why I Love God Encounters
1. I spiritually grow
1. I spiritually grow
The fastest way to spiritually grow is to spend time with God every day!
Why I Love God Encounters
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
1 Samuel 3:9-10
BSB
9 “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’”
So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
10 Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
BSB
Why I Love God Encounters
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
Deliverance is when your flesh submits to the Holy Spirit!
Psalms 31:1
BSB
1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
save me by Your righteousness.
BSB
Psalms 31:5
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5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
BSB
Luke 23:46
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46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
BSB
John 1:14
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14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
BSB
Matthew 4:1
BSB
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
BSB
John 3:3
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3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ”
BSB
Deliverance is when your flesh submits to the Holy Spirit!
Deliverance is in your Daily Encounter!
Why I Love God Encounters
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
4. He gives me wisdom and revelation
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
4. He gives me wisdom and revelation
1 Corinthians 2:16
BSB
16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
BSB
Practical Advice:
Ask for wisdom every day.
Ask for wisdom every day.
Why I Love God Encounters
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
4. He gives me wisdom and revelation
5. He gives me direction
1. I spiritually grow
2. I hear God
3. I experience deliverance
4. He gives me wisdom and revelation
5. He gives me direction
Proverbs 3:5-6
BSB
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
BSB
Question:
What causes encounters with God?
What causes encounters with God?
5 Biblical Reasons for God Encounters
1. God’s sovereign purpose
1. God’s sovereign purpose
Ephesians 1:11
BSB
11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
BSB
Ephesians 1:9-10
BSB
9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
BSB
5 Biblical Reasons for God Encounters
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
Luke 18:3-5
BSB
3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”
4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”
BSB
Jeremiah 29:13
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13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
BSB
Hebrews 11:6
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6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
BSB
Practical Advice:
Tell the Holy Spirit, “You are welcome here.”
Tell the Holy Spirit, “You are welcome here.”
5 Biblical Reasons for God Encounters
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
Numbers 12:3
BSB
3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
BSB
James 4:6
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6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says:
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
BSB
Greek: ἀντιτάσσεται (antitássetai) = To arrange oneself against, to set in opposition, to take a stand against, to line up for battle.
Warning:
Pride keeps you from encountering God!
Pride keeps you from encountering God!
5 Biblical Reasons for God Encounters
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
4. Holiness
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
4. Holiness
Encounters place the fear of the Lord in the heart.
Visitations display the fear of the Lord to the world.
Visitations display the fear of the Lord to the world.
Psalms 24:3-4
BSB
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
BSB
Practical Advice:
Sing songs about “holiness.” Call Him holy! He will show up!
Sing songs about “holiness.” Call Him holy! He will show up!
5 Biblical Reasons for God Encounters
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
4. Holiness
5. Affliction
1. God’s sovereign purpose
2. Passion for God
3. Humility
4. Holiness
5. Affliction
Psalms 34:18
BSB
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
BSB
Exodus 3:3
BSB
3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
BSB
Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH or YHVH) = “I am that I am.”
God's presence becomes holy ground!
Exodus 33:13
BSB
13 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
BSB
You choose your Daily Encounter.
God chooses your Holy Visitation!
God chooses your Holy Visitation!
2026 is the year of Encounters & Visitations.
This is a year of holy ground experiences.
Your greatest season of God encounters begins to take place this year!
This year will be an adventure with God.
He is going to visit you!
God is making people and places holy!
You will learn how to get into the Holy Place.
There will be many moments that you will take your shoes off because you will be on holy ground.
You will entertain angels this year!
Most of these angelic encounters you will be unaware of, but some you will be aware of! (Hebrews 13:2)
There will be testimonies of angels. It will start with our children, then go from the children to the youth, then from the youth to the adults.
I heard in my spirit: "Make room, make more room, rooms for the Lord."
I heard the Lord say: "More churches and campuses are being birthed in prayer rooms!"
Holy Visitations will take place in the places you make room for Him.
They will be continual and consistent where you make a place for Him.
These encounters will mark your children's children's lives!
It's the year for men to begin to spiritually lead in their homes!
Fathers, your children need to see and hear your encounters.
The world won't slow down—will you?
The Lord is inviting you into the gift of Sabbath rest!
You will do more and accomplish more in rest this year!
This is a year you create with God!
There will be a new revelation of "Easy" this year!
Matthew 11:30
BSB
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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I heard: "Consecrated people and places."
I heard the word: "Dedicated."
It's a 2 Kings 4 year: the woman who had vessels dedicated them to the Lord; God filled every vessel dedicated to Him!
God will "receive" what's dedicated to Him.
This year: dedicate your body, your marriage, your children, your home, your business to the Lord!
I saw the act of dedication this year!
I heard the word: "rededicate." I saw massive amounts of marriage rededications; "Renewals of vows!"
If there has been any form of sexual adultery, renew your vows and rededicate your marriage to the Lord!
What's dedicated to Him will become "qodesh"—His Holy Place!
You will see His power in purity!
The Lord is going to surprise you with His glory in unexpected places; unexpected moments with unexpected people.
Your personal encounters will become public this year. Visitations will come in public places!
SLS, I saw public miracles this year!
The Lord said: "SLS, meet Me in the place of faith—I'm waiting for you there!"
This year, the Lord is going to keep you and surround you.
He is going to speak to those who made a mess of their lives and situations.
I heard the Lord say: "Just ask Me for help!"
This year we wage war on the Spirit of Fear!
This year we declare war on the Spirit of Fear!
We go to fear, fear doesn't come to us!
Radical love prepared you for this.
1 John 4:18
BSB
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
BSB
I heard in my spirit: "Season of Jehu."
Elijah confronted fear but Jehu defeated fear!
God is raising up undistracted servants with a Spirit of Jehu!
This year you stop being afraid of warfare!
You will see the deliverance of your God this year!
Oppression and depression will break off the people of God!
Oppression go in Jesus' name!
This year we will confront the enemies of God!
We will come in the name of the Lord—the name He gave us in the Holy Place!
He will give more warfare strategies when you're on holy ground!
The enemies of God will see His mighty hand.
The God of angel armies fights with us this year!
The Lord will rebuke the Devil!
I saw the hedge of protection around Mercy Culture rise!
As we go lower in humility and biblical submission, I saw the hedge rise!
God will teach you greater places of submission!
I heard: "You will learn from your mistakes!"
I saw you breaking patterns in your life and family!
This year we weed rebellion out!
Rebellion go!
From 6 years old to 60 years old, rebellion will be eradicated from the hearts of God's people!
Rebellion = witchcraft
Witchcraft is leaving your home!
1 Samuel 15:23
BSB
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
BSB
We will wage war against the witchcraft of rebellion in the people of God.
I heard this: "We will break the back of rebellion."
Warning:
Those in rebellion will not enter the Promised Land—"promises" of God.
Those in rebellion will not enter the Promised Land—"promises" of God.
Like in Luke 13:6-9, you have 1 year to unroot rebellion in your heart and soul.
The way the people of God steward these words this year will determine if the seeds of rebellion ever take root in their families.
The spiritual seeds we sow and the way we steward this will prevent rebellion from ever making its way into our families.
The Lord will show us, like a good Father, how to lead rebellion out of our lives and our homes!
I heard in my spirit: "This year rebellious sons and daughters will come home."
Caution:
When rebellion is out of your home, rebellious sons and daughters will come home.
When rebellion is out of your home, rebellious sons and daughters will come home.
This is a Luke 15:4 year: "We will leave the ninety-nine and go after the one."
It's a year of reconciliation!
Prepare for testing. This is not the season of testing, but the season of preparation.
Warning:
When we have a prophetic word, we tend to be tested with a contradicting demonic spirit that resists the prophetic word!
When we have a prophetic word, we tend to be tested with a contradicting demonic spirit that resists the prophetic word!
This year the Lord is redefining prosperity!
I saw a vision: the last 6.5 years we were living in faith! I saw the next 6.5 years would be years of fulfillment!
This year you will possess promises and promised lands!
There is a new mantle of prosperity!
I heard in my spirit: "God is blessing faith and the faithful!"
This is a Luke 16 and 19 year: those who have been faithful with little will steward much!
Look in your hands—this is your new little!
This is a Proverbs 13:22 year: the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous.
This is a Proverbs 6:31 year: the Enemy pays back seven times what he stole.
As Mercy Culture turns seven years old this year, you will see a seven times payback.
The gifts you give this year will impact the gifts you receive next year.
I heard the Lord tell me "You will spiritually mature this year."
You will go from "knowing" God to "believing" God.
This will be a year of petitioning Heaven!
I saw your prayers from the Secret Place moving the heart of the Lord.
Like the persistent woman in Luke 18:1-8, you will have the attention of the King!
I saw your prayers being stored up in Heaven.
Like prayer bowls, this year they make their way to Earth.
This year the Holy Spirit becomes your best friend!
This year you go from friendship to intimacy.
This year the Lord is returning the joy of your salvation.
