By Nathan Solak
Director of Youth and Children
Ridgewood Baptist Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin
In October, twelve of us twenty- and thirty-somethings gathered in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the initial in-person cohort in the Year of Equipping. Coming from every corner of the NAB, we were excited to finally meet each other in-person – having met on Zoom calls – to continue our journey to learn what it means to join God on mission. We began the week as mostly strangers and left as friends growing closer together. In just the few days we were together, we were challenged in what it means to be the church, how we have reduced the Gospel into a plan of salvation when it is much more, and most importantly how God’s mission for his followers is vastly larger than any of us had thought of before.
Many of us left the week reflecting back on the ministries we are a part of and how we’ve been caught by the pitfalls of “doing church.” Perhaps NorCal Regional Minister Kent Carlson summed it up for us best: we weren’t learning any new information but rather learning the fuller calling of God to his people.
One of the most encouraging things I experienced as someone who has been through Ethos was seeing the excitement and hope in our conversations during the week. We were receiving this teaching as people who haven’t been in ministry for twenty or thirty years. As Cam Roxburgh and Wayne Stapleton told us, We have much less unlearning to do than others simply due to our age.
I am so thankful for the NAB pouring into younger leaders like us and inviting us to participate in what God is doing. The conversations that happened after our sessions for the day were over revealed a deep excitement for how each one of us was seeing God move, and for what he was calling us to do in our own contexts.
The younger generations are hungry for the truth of the Gospel, and we are all excited to see the ways in which God’s Kingdom will continue to be revealed and continue to move.
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If you are a younger leader at an NAB church interested in learning more about Year of Equipping, send us an email and we’ll be sure to keep you informed about when the next Year of Equipping kicks off next year.
Email Wayne about Year of Equipping 2025/26
Are you a youth leader looking for a transformative mission opportunity for your youth group? We’re thrilled to invite you to a Q&A Zoom call on November 21 to learn more about The Gathering – a life-changing experience for students happening in July 2025!
The Gathering brings together youth from across North America for a week of powerful worship, impactful service projects, and tons of fun in Orange County, California. This event only happens every three years, so it’s a rare chance for your students to be part of a larger community, grow in their faith, and make unforgettable memories.
Join us on November 21 at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific) for a 30-minute question and answer session where we’ll dive into the details of The Gathering. You will learn what to expect, find out some of the logistics, discover fundraising support, and hear how you can prepare your students for this journey. It’s a perfect chance to ask any questions and see how this trip could impact your youth ministry.
Add the Zoom Link to Your Calendar
Link to Zoom Call (November 21 at 10 a.m.
Every year, the NAB puts together a ministry prospectus that highlights the different ways God is at work through the various ministries of the NAB International Office. It is full of stories of ordinary individuals all across the NAB impacting their communities with the support of the NAB.
Check out the 2024 Ministry Prospectus to find out more about where your giving goes and how it resources Kingdom work all around the world through the ministries of the NAB.